Examination of Witnesses (Questions 16590
- 16599)
Ordered: that Counsel and Parties be called in.
16590. Chairman: The Committee has commenced.
Today we are hearing petitions, firstly, of Mr John Payne and
then from The Open Spaces Society and The Ramblers Association.
The Petition of Mr John Payne
The Petitioner appeared in person
16591. Chairman: Ms Lieven?
16592. Ms Lieven: Mr Mould is doing this
one, sir.
16593. Mr Mould: Sir, Mr Payne is the
owner of a residential property at 22 Stanhope Terrace, that is
the property which you see shaded in brown with the number 195
on the plan in front of you.[1]
It lies, as you see, just to the north of the Bayswater Road in
Bayswater and it is a property beneath which the running tunnels
of the railway, particularly the eastbound running tunnel, are
proposed to be located at a tunnel depth of approximately 26 metres
below ground level.
16594. My understanding is that Mr Payne is
raising concerns about the design of the railway in relation to
groundborne noise and also is going to revisit the question of
alternative alignments for the central section of the railway.
I believe that Mr Winbourne is here again to say something about
that. So far as the first issue is concerned, the Committee has
heard extensively from Mr Rupert Thornley-Taylor. He is here again
today if we need to hear more from him. I rather think we may
not, but we will hear what the Petitioner says on that. I should
say that predicted groundborne noise from the operation of the
railway on the assumption of the design and maintenance of the
railway, in accordance with the undertakings which we have given
and with which the Committee is now very familiar, is at a level
which is below 30 dB(A)LAmaxS.
16595. Mr Mould: In relation to the issue
of alternative alignments, the Committee has heard in response
to the Residents Association of Mayfair's Petition back in the
spring extensive evidence from Mr Berryman on the work which had
been done in relation that and other alternatives, and I can give
the references to that evidence in due course when we have heard
from the Petitioner. That is all I propose to say.
16596. Chairman: Mr Payne, you worried
me greatly when you first came in this morning with that huge
bag; I thought it was full of evidence. I hope it is not, because
we have already heard quite a lot on the Paddington area on groundborne
noise in that area, so it is really down to you to present the
case in the best way that you can.
16597. Mr Payne: Thank you very much,
sir. Sir, I am John Payne. I am Chairman of the Hyde Park and
Stanhope Terrace Residents Association and Chairman and shareholder
of the company which owns the freehold of the land and buildings
known as 25-31 Hyde Park Gardens and 22-35 Stanhope Terrace W2.
I will refer to this as "the estate". I live at 23 Stanhope
Terrace, a lower ground floor flat.
16598. The estate consists of originally a terraced
block of houses surrounded by gardens and vaults. It was constructed
circa 1830s of brick with stucco finish and it was converted in
the 1950s to form eight apartments on five floors plus a deep
residential basement. The footings are of stepped-out brickwork.
It is an impressive listed building situated on the edge of Hyde
Park and within a conservation area. A copy of an illustrated
article in the Architect Building News dated 28 May 1953
describes the block and its conversion in some detail. It is in
my accompanying exhibits. The freeholders acquired utilising the
leasehold format 1993 two years ago after a lengthy battle of
10 years with the Church Commissioners. Your Petitioner has sought
an undertaking from the Promoter to use floating slab track in
the construction of the railway as a measure to mitigate the effects
of groundborne noise and vibration in the tunnelling below the
estate if the scheme should go ahead. This is not likely to be
sufficient in any event so I am advised, as you will hear shortly.
There is potential for direct and continuing damage to our buildings
which will only be about 16 metres above the works. This is contrary
to the impressions given out by Crossrail along the route. I am
advised that Crossrail calculations forwarded to me require detailed
examinations. Your Petitioner has considered for some time that
there is a better route for the central London section linking
the stations of Paddington, Farringdon and Liverpool Street. I
am aware of the long-standing outlying plans for the northern
interchange route.
16599. I have here with me in support my neighbour,
Martin Horgan. I attended the hearing of Petition number 326 of
Mrs Marina Morrison-Atwater and the Residents' Society of Mayfair
and St. James. As a result I have been able to compress the delivery
of my Petition taking advantage of some of their evidence. I have
deposited, with your Clerk, copies of annex papers in a ring book
together with those of Mr Winbourne. I shall call Mr Norman Winbourne
FRICS as my expert witness. You have already had his extended
qualifications before you for petition 326. Can I call Mr Winbourne.
Mr Norman Winbourne, recalled
Examined by Mr Payne
1 Crossrail Ref: P117, Location of Petitioner, 22
Stanhope Terrace (WESTCC-35903-001). Back
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