Examination of Witnesses (Questions 2020
- 2039)
2020. BARONESS FOOKES: I wonder if you
could clarify precisely what is meant by "a strategy for
community support during the relocation process".
2021. MR MOULD: Yes. What is meant is
that there should be a sharing of information between those affected
by the relocation process itself, so, for example, that the residents—the
gypsies and travellers—who reside at the site should be
supported during the course of the relocation process, and a strategy
should be prepared to plan for that aspect of the process being
undertaken in a way which takes account of their concerns and
makes appropriate provision to meet them, and to deal with the
disruptive effects of the relocation process itself.
2022. BARONESS FOOKES: So community support
is for the gypsies and the travellers; we are not talking about
people in the location living in houses.
2023. MR MOULD: I think it is principally
focused upon supporting the gypsies and travellers. I would not
wish to say that it will necessarily exclude any relevant matters
that might need to be dealt with in relation to the wider community.
There may be matters that would need to be dealt with in that
way. I cannot say to you that I am aware of any particular matters
that might arise in that respect, but I hope I am right in saying
that one would not, as a matter of principle, exclude it.
2024. BARONESS FOOKES: A supplementary
to that—unless you are going to deal with it later: I am
not clear about the timing of this from the point of view of the
gypsies and travellers. Do they always stay on the site and get
moved around within it, or do they have to move off completely
and come back?
2025. MR MOULD: No, the idea is that
they would remain within the Bow Triangle. As I said, one of the
key aspects of the commitment we have made is that the move should
be a single, permanent move. That was one of the things that the
Borough Council were concerned to secure. That is the position.
It is a matter on which I believe (again, Mr Drabble will confirm
his reaction to that), subject to the further words of comfort
that I have now explained to the Committee, we have now reached
a position where I believe we can now agree the project plan and
the matter can proceed on that basis. Unless there is anything
else in relation to that point, I shall give way to Mr Drabble.
2026. CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much.
Yes, Mr Drabble?
2027. MR DRABBLE: My Lords, my Lady,
it is probably sensible to start with what Mr Mould has just said
in his four points, indicating the approach that the Promoters
take to the approval of planning conditions in relation to the
project plan. We accept that, in the event of a highly unlikely
development which means the Secretary of State thinks it is wrong
in public law terms to proceed down the route that is outlined
in the project plan, she must have the right to do so, but we
would regard that as very much a bolt from the blue. As far as
we are all concerned, there is no foreseeable reason why proceeding
via the planning conditions should not be followed through. On
basically the assurance that Mr Mould has read on to the transcript,
we are content with that way forward.
2028. That does in fact mean, if I can move
on to my short statement that I wish to make in relation to the
Bill in general, that the first point I wish to make is that I
am pleased to say that the Council has reached agreement with
Crossrail on all the matters set out in its Petition and is satisfied
that it has secured the appropriate formal undertakings and, for
that reason, the Committee will be glad to hear that we will not
be presenting evidence to the Committee. However, in view of the
fact that the Committee have made site visits to the area and
will be hearing evidence from a number of other Petitioners from
the borough who may well make references to the Council, we consider
it most important that the Select Committee have a full understanding
of the Council's position in relation to Crossrail.
2029. As you will have already been made aware,
the Crossrail Bill was published in 2005 and there have been a
further four sets of amendments to the original Bill proposals,
all of which affected Tower Hamlets in one form or another. In
response, the Council submitted three Petitions to the House of
Commons Select Committee, detailing its various concerns about
the Bill proposals. However, the Council's approach has always
been to negotiate and secure undertakings in advance of appearing
at the Select Committee. As a result, the Council has found it
necessary to present formal evidence on only one occasion which
was in respect of the original Bill proposals.
2030. The matters on which we gave evidence
were in respect of securing undertakings on the employment of
local people on the construction of Crossrail, the location of
the shaft in Spitalfields and improvements to the entrance to
Whitechapel Station. We reached agreement with the Promoters on
an undertaking to secure employment of local people, but unfortunately
the Select Committee did not agree with our case on the other
two matters to which I will refer later.
2031. By way of background to the Council's
approach to Crossrail, it is important to recognise that, notwithstanding
the major developments and employment growth on the Isle of Dogs
and indeed elsewhere in the borough, Tower Hamlets is the third
most deprived borough in the country. You will also have seen
from your site visits that it is densely developed, is very lacking
in open space and has a very diverse community both in terms of
wealth and culture.
2032. In the light of this situation, the Council
supports the principle of Crossrail, subject to the fundamental
proviso that there will be stations at both Whitechapel and the
Isle of Dogs. In addition and fundamentally, the Council support
has been conditional on minimising the environmental impact of
the construction works, but maximising the potential transport
and economic regeneration benefits of the project. To quote the
Leader of the Council at the time of the publication of the Crossrail
Bill, "We support Crossrail—but not at any price,"
this remains the view of the Council's current leader. In this
address, I will deal first, therefore, with the stations, then
the other construction sites and, finally, generic issues.
2033. In respect of the Isle of Dogs, the need
for Crossrail and a station will have been self-evident from your
site visit. Clearly, further major developments and the consequent
growth of employment in the area will not be sustainable without
greatly improved public transport. However, the Council objective
has always been to ensure that Crossrail and the improved transport
links it provides will equally benefit the deprived areas of Poplar
as well as the major developments at Canary Wharf. To this end,
we have secured a number of important undertakings which will
secure improved access to Poplar by improvements to footpath links
as well as the sub-surface tunnel which will eventually link the
Billingsgate Market site to the new station.
2034. As you will also have seen, there are
many residents living within close proximity to the proposed station
construction works as well as a number of businesses who could
be adversely affected. There are also buildings and structures
of historic interest, including the Museum of Docklands, which
will be affected. We have, therefore, sought to secure undertakings
that protect residents, businesses and the buildings from what
will be a very major construction project.
2035. The second station in the borough is at
Whitechapel and, as you will have seen for yourselves, is located
in a completely different type of area. Much of the property in
the area is run-down and in need of regeneration. The area is
congested, but it is also vibrant and very heavily populated with
many residential buildings in close proximity to the construction
site. The construction sites are also very close to Swanlea School
and the Royal London Hospital, both of which are very heavily
used.
2036. Our first priority at Whitechapel has
been to secure the maximum protection for residents, businesses,
schoolchildren, the hospital and other users in the area from
what will inevitably be major construction impacts. In this respect,
I am pleased to say that we have secured a range of undertakings
which are designed to protect the area from heavy lorry traffic
and construction activities, particularly in the vicinity of Kempton
Court and Durward Street. We have also worked very closely with
Swanlea School and, as you will see from the Register of Undertakings,
the school has secured a number of important undertakings to protect
its continuing progress as a successful school.
2037. In relation to our objectives to maximise
the transport and regeneration benefits of Crossrail, we have
sought to optimise the accessibility and convenience of the new
station for local users because we believe that this will be the
best way to encourage regeneration of the surrounding area. We
have also taken into account the need to provide the best possible
access to the Royal London Hospital which is now being redeveloped
and which will be considerably expanded to provide a state-of-the-art
healthcare facility with a sub-regional catchment.
2038. As you have heard, Whitechapel is the
only Crossrail station with a single entrance. Crossrail suggests
that this is because passenger numbers do not justify a second
entrance, although this may seem surprising bearing in mind the
large number of people that already use the station. Bearing in
mind the rather inconvenient relationship between the main access
to the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel Road and the proposed
new station entrance in Fulbourne Street, the Council considers
it essential to retain the existing entrance on to Whitechapel
Road, albeit it is extremely difficult for people with restricted
mobility. Furthermore, in order to take account of possible future
development to the east of the station, we also consider it essential
to retain passive provision for a further entrance on Cambridge
Heath Road.
2039. Since there will only be one entrance
to the station in the foreseeable future and bearing in mind its
somewhat hidden location, the Council consider it essential that
this entrance is as accessible and visible as possible. For that
reason—
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