Examination of Witnesses (Questions 16780
- 16788)
16780. We would like the Committee to recognise
the importance of this bridge and to approve our amendment so
as to keep the bridge and save the public right of way. Although
this Petition is brought on behalf of OSS and the RA, it is in
a sense brought for the public as well. It is not for our own
interests, it is to safeguard the way for the benefit of the public.
On behalf of the OSS and the Ramblers, thank you very much.
16781. Chairman: Thank you.
16782. Ms Lieven: Sir, there is just
one very small point. Mr Suggett made reference to us doing a
survey at seven to 10 in the morning. I do not want the Committee
to think there was anything nefarious about that. There was one
earlier survey done in April on a Thursday to check whether there
was any commuting, anybody walking to school or work, and that
was done in the morning to check whether there were any movements
but, again, all the answers were zero. That was why it was done
at seven to ten, it was not in order to catch non-ramblers on
a Sunday morning.
16783. Chairman: Mr Suggett, you do have
the last word.
16784. Mr Suggett: We were not supposing
there was any nefarious choice of that time, we simply make the
point that use can be irregular.
16785. Chairman: Thank you very much,
that concludes the Petition. What I am going to do now is suspend
the Committee and clear the room whilst we consider this particular
matter. Just for a bit of organisational help, it might be better
if we leave the room and you stay.
After a short break
16786. Chairman: Can I just say that
the Committee has had a deliberation on this. We want to say that
we are not minded to apply for extra provision to require a new
bridge or replacement bridge to be built. However—however—we
are not minded either to make a decision on this matter today.
We want the parties to go away and examine other ways that might
facilitate a solution of the problem, and therefore we ask them
to keep on discussing matters. We are perturbed and we have not
closed the decision that we may retain a foot access over this
line. However, we are not minded at this present time to make
application for provision for a replacement bridge to be built.
So we are asking for the Promoters and the Petitioners to go away
and see if there are ways there that a solution can be found and
to do that as quickly as possible, and when that is done we will
return to the subject in due course.
16787. Now, ladies and gentlemen, this is the
finest announcement that I have had to make in the last seven
months. We are about to break, other than for a private session
in September for Committee members and others who are invited
to be at that meeting, for the summer recess, long after our colleagues
have already disappeared over the nearest horizon! We wish you
all a very pleasant summer and hope to see you all when we return.
16788. Ms Lieven: Sir, on behalf of the
Promoters and the Counsel team, we wish all the Committee a very
good summer and a very well-earned break, at least from Crossrail.
I know you will be working but at least it will be a break from
Crossrail.
| 
