Examination of Witnesses (Questions 2100
- 2119)
2100. LORD JAMES OF BLACKHEATH: It is
fine provided the traffic is not there, but my impression of what
I saw are that entry gates are likely to be too broad to be supervised
by a single supervisor stopping children coming through if they
run through, as children do, competing with each other. It is
easy to get out quickly and there would be mayhem on those narrow
roads if there was any traffic and if the children come through
in any numbers.
2101. MR DRABBLE: Sir, I repeat that
the way we have addressed that issue is to ensure that there no
lorry movements at the time the children are exiting and entering
the school. That is the precise way it has been taken forward.
2102. CHAIRMAN: Mr Drabble, I suspect
that the only way Lord James would be satisfied about this is
if he sees the text of the undertaking.
2103. MR DRABBLE: I hope Mr Mould, while
I have been talking, has been looking for the text of the undertaking.
2104. LORD JAMES OF BLACKHEATH: My only
comment would be it would require extremely careful management
and supervision because of the potential to go wrong if the supervision
fails.
2105. CHAIRMAN: Shall we see the text
of it first? I do not think it is any use putting it up on the
board now because I imagine it is fairly complicated.
2106. MR MOULD: What I can show your
Lordships is the Promoter's response to, I think, essentially
this very point that was raised by the Committee in the other
place. This is the response we made to their interim decisions
in July 2006. Perhaps if I just show your Lordships our response.[6]
If your Lordships would have a look at 13.5, which I have marked,
and I have underlined the word "any" there. That is
the start. We have entered into an undertaking with the borough
council in relation to this, which broadly reflects that response,
but I think it is crucial that the Committee should also note
this and that is we have established a schools' working group
in which Swanlea School, in particular, is an active participant.
That working group is intended to enable the Promoter, the schools
and, indeed, the borough council, as I understand it, to share
on a regular basis operational and practical concerns about managing
the impact of the project as it affects schools and school children
in the area of Tower Hamlets. Our experience thus far is that
has been a successful and productive process and we had every
reason to think it would continue to be so and the sort of concerns
that Lord James raised are precisely the sort of concerns that
are the subject matter of discussion at that group.
2107. CHAIRMAN: I suspect that Lord James
would like to see the text of the undertaking, it is in the register.
I am sure he does not need to see every word of it now, but could
it be supplied to him so he can see it?
2108. MR MOULD: We can certainly supply
it, but we can show your Lordships the text. I am told it is number
187.[7]
I will read it out: "The Promoter undertakes, where a proposed
lorry route passes a school that is not currently subject to heavy
goods traffic, it will restrict the hours during which Crossrail
construction traffic will operate and/or introduce appropriate
traffic management measures to be agreed with the Council. These
measures are to include the 30-minute prohibition of Crossrail
construction traffic when the school pupils are arriving at school
and a 30-minute prohibition when the pupils are leaving. The exact
hours would be agreed on a case-by-case basis with each school.
The Promoter will work with the Council to develop a strategy
for lorry routes and that takes into account the nearby sensitive
uses. The Promoter will consult on the day-to-day management of
lorry holding sites". It very much reflects the response
we made to the Committee in the other place which I showed your
Lordships a moment ago.
2109. CHAIRMAN: Mr Mould, that is very
good, but I think Lord James would like to have a copy of the
text.
2110. MR MOULD: We will do that.
2111. CHAIRMAN: Two of my colleagues
have questions but I want to finish this one first. The schools'
working group plainly will include Tower Hamlets' local education
authority?
2112. MR MOULD: Yes.
2113. CHAIRMAN: And in so far as they
are only going to be here today, I would like to know if they
would have any comment on this. We can raise these matters with
you again on another occasion but we may not see Tower Hamlets
again and, therefore, I would quite like to know whether Mr Drabble
has anything further to say on this matter.
2114. MR MOULD: I will give way.
2115. MR DRABBLE: My Lord, the position
is we have accepted the undertaking on the schools' working group
and intend to make it work, if I can put it like that.
2116. CHAIRMAN: You have accepted that
undertaking?
2117. MR DRABBLE: We have accepted that
undertaking, absolutely. These issues were issues that were raised
in our petition in the other place and, as far as we are concerned
on this issue, we have satisfactorily disposed of the undertaking
and we are committed to carrying that forward.
2118. CHAIRMAN: That is very helpful.
What we will do about this is let Lord James have a copy of the
text of the undertaking and at some suitable stage we can raise
it with the Promoter. If that is the position of Tower Hamlets,
we do not need to call you back again.
2119. MR DRABBLE: That is our position,
my Lord. It may be sensible for a full collection of the undertakings
that relate to school management issues, if I can put it like
that, to provide them to Lord James so he can see the whole picture.
6 Crossrail Ref: P14, Promoters Response Document
for Petition No. 86-London Borough of Tower Hamlets (SCN-20080304-003) Back
7
Crossrail Register of Undertakings and Assurances, No.187-Schools
lorry rerouting (SCN-20080304-004) Back
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