Examination of Witnesses (Questions 2681
- 2699)
Ordered that Counsel and Parties be called in.
2681. CHAIRMAN: Good afternoon, everybody.
I think we might as well start. Mr Elvin, I have seen a lot of
umbrellas blown away today, so I am sorry your glasses went too!
2682. MR ELVIN: Yes. I am afraid I am
in the interesting position, I cannot see the Committee at all.
I am extremely short-sighted.
2683. CHAIRMAN: We can see you!
2684. MR ELVIN: I can tell my Lady, Baroness
Fookes is here because she is the only one who has a colourful
jacket, but other than that, I am afraid I cannot even see your
faces, so I do apologise. I will be able to at least read out
factual opening remarks in due course, but I am going to ask Mr
Mould to do the rest, if that is convenient.
2685. CHAIRMAN: That is fine. Perhaps
before we do this, I believe that all the Petitioners from the
Spitalfields area are now able to proceed, is that right, except
for Mr Carpenter.
2686. MR ELVIN: That is correct. We have
had a revised timetable revised yet again this morning, but I
think we can cope with that if the Committee finds that acceptable.
2687. CHAIRMAN: I am not sure, let us
find out what the revisions are. I have got a list of when people
are proposing to appear.
2688. MR ELVIN: Yes. Today, short of
Mr Carpenter making submissions to you, you are due to hear from
the Spitalfields Community Association. Tomorrow, Selina Mifsud
and others presented by Mr Wheeler. Nicholas Morse and others
presented by Mr Adams, that is tomorrow. Then Wednesday, Spitalfields
Small Business Association and Khoodeelaar and Thursday, Patricia
Jones on her own account and then the Spitalfields Society. That
was the latest intelligence we have had this morning.
2689. CHAIRMAN: Can I say that I think
all my colleagues very much appreciate the efforts which have
been made by the Petitioners to be able to get here and be ready
to go ahead, only Mr Carpenter, you have got a problem.
2690. MR CARPENTER: Yes, I did not realise
that I would be making a statement today. I was informed that
I would be awaiting upon a decision from you.
2691. CHAIRMAN: You have not told us
what we have got to decide on yet.
2692. MR ELVIN: I have written several
letters to you and I assumed you had them.
2693. CHAIRMAN: Let me hear what the
problem is.
2694. MR CARPENTER: I have written it
in letter, so I could read out the letters if you would like.
2695. CHAIRMAN: Why can you not just
tell us what the problem is?
2696. MR CARPENTER: In short, there are
some documents that we have requested from Crossrail and we have
waited months and we have not received them.
2697. CHAIRMAN: What documents?
2698. MR CARPENTER: They are revisions,
A1, B1, C1 and C2 of one of their documents. I will have to read
it out to you.
2699. CHAIRMAN: No, I want to know in
a nutshell, is this about alternative routes?
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