Examination of Witnesses (Questions 960
- 979)
960. Well, depending on where they are in Newham.
(Mr West) Depending on where they are in Newham. If they
are in proximity to an accessible station, then they will benefit
fully. If they live or work in proximity to a non-accessible station,
then they will not benefit in any material respect.
961. I was just trying to look at it from the
Borough of Newham's point of view, Mr West. If one was to accept
the overall benefit, surely the glass is half-full rather than
half-empty at least? Three out of those five stations have total
step-free access.
(Mr West) And two out of five do not.
962. LORD YOUNG OF NORWOOD GREEN: Yes,
but still I put it to you that the glass is half-full rather than
half-empty.
963. BARONESS FOOKES: If I may put it
another way, would you prefer it if there was no Crossrail provision
going through Newham?
(Mr West) Not at all. That is, if I may say, my Lady, not
a rational argument.
964. LORD SNAPE: Well, we will decide
at this end, if you do not mind, what is rational and what is
not, Mr West. Looking at slide number 4, I think it is, which
you put forward of the Crossrail proposals in Newham, Maryland
is shown as a non-Crossrail station on your original slide.[67]
(Mr West) Sorry, bear with me, my Lord.
965. Actually it is slide 3 of Crossrail proposals
in Newham, attached to the document bearing your name. Maryland
is shown as a non-Crossrail station.
(Mr West) That was in the original Bill, yes.
966. Indeed and I think that was Baroness Fookes'
point, that, if you had not petitioned to include Maryland in
the Crossrail proposals, then we would not be having this debate
this afternoon.
(Mr West) I take that point, my Lord.
That is a valid point.
967. In your Petition in 2005, did it specifically
say that not only did you want a Crossrail station at Newham,
but that you wanted it fully compliant with the disability regulations?
(Mr West) I am sorry, my Lord, do you
mean Maryland?
968. I am sorry, yes, when you petitioned in
2005 for a station.
(Mr West) In our original Petition, we
asked for all stations to be step-free.
969. But specifically as far as Maryland was
concerned, which was not in the original Crossrail proposals,
did you say, "Not only do we want Maryland Station, but we
want Maryland Station to be completely compliant with disability
regulations?
(Mr West) Well, we did insofar as we asked
for all stations that would be constructed within Newham to be
step-free, so that would be the case, yes.
970. Perhaps I can put it then in the same way
that I put it to Ms Lieven this morning. Do you think that, if
you had proposed specifically for Maryland that not only was the
station included in the Crossrail proposals, but it would be made
completely disability-compliant, then the Promoters would have
been as eager to accept your original proposals?
(Mr West) I do not see that they would have been less eager.
971. LORD SNAPE: Forgive me for interrupting
you, but they are not enthusiastic, are they?
(Mr West) Having
seen the information submitted only today, clearly the Promoters
are showing to us how lift access can be provided at Maryland.
They are not telling us, from the information I have gathered
today, that it cannot be done for engineering reasons. They have
actually shown the provision of lifts on the drawings, so I take
it that the Promoters are content that that can be easily provided.
972. But you are not for the purpose of this
exercise this afternoon?
(Mr West) No, we are not because we have not been told that
it will be provided.
973. CHAIRMAN: Would it be convenient
for you, Lord Snape, if you wanted to go on with this to do it
after the Division?
974. LORD SNAPE: Of course.
975. CHAIRMAN: I think I ought to adjourn
the Committee for ten minutes so that those who wish to vote can
go and do so. That is to say 4.20 pm, and I think it probably
is worth starting again.
The Committee adjourned from 4.11pm to
4.20pm for a Division in the House
976. CHAIRMAN: Ms Lieven, were those
all the questions you wanted to ask?
977. MS LIEVEN: My Lord, if I was given
the opportunity to ask one other question I would revert back
to it, slightly naughtily.
978. CHAIRMAN: I cannot see any reason
why you should not.
979. MS LIEVEN: If we could put up the
ward map again, the one, Mr West, you disavowed as being out-of-date,
can I just put to you that this is the ward map that we took off
Newham's own website yesterday?[68]
67 Crossrail Ref: P8, Crossrail Proposals in Newham
(NEWMLB-53_05-004) Back
68
Crossrail Ref: P9, London Borough of Newham (SCN-20080226-014) Back
| 
