Examination of Witnesses (Questions 7660
- 7679)
7660. MS LIEVEN: I am not wishing to
take away Mr Carrier's glory, my Lord, but it is right to say
that that was agreed with Bexley some days ago. As I said in opening,
Bexley are concerned about traffic impacts and wanted some additions
to the undertaking they had had already. Can I emphasise, for
the record, that it is not a revision of the original undertaking,
it is an additional undertaking. So there are two, effectively,
covering some of the same points. We will make sure that before
he leaves today Mr Carrier has a copy of it.
7661. CHAIRMAN: Mr Carrier and his neighbours
are residents of Bexley and there has been a change since they
started looking at this. I think they are entitled to have a copy
of the document that is now going to be incorporated in the register.
7662. MS LIEVEN: Yes, absolutely, my
Lord. I will make sure, as I said, that Mr Carrier gets a physical
copy today. However, just so the Committee understand, and all
the other Petitioners, there are two other points I should make
about that. First of all, the register is on the internet, so
everybody has access to it who has access to the internet—you
can get it that way. It is a public document. Secondly, we have
undertaken to the Commons that we would write to all Petitioners,
and any Petitioner gets a copy of the register. That does not
escape the need to give Mr Carrier the specific undertaking that
is particularly relevant to him, but the Committee can be conscious
that all Petitioners do have full information on undertakings
that have been given. Thank you, my Lords.
7663. CHAIRMAN: Mr Carrier, I think things
have moved on, partly as a result of your Petition. Is there anything
you would like to say to us in conclusion?
7664. MR CARRIER: Thank you, my Lords.
First of all, Lord Young mentioned the positive sides of Crossrail
and I am 100 per cent behind the positive sides of Crossrail—I
make that clear. I was not surprised to hear that there had been
an enhanced undertaking given. As you know, I was unhappy with
the previous one. This is, as Ms Lieven mentioned, an enhanced
undertaking, but of course I am not completely happy about that.
I do not want to take up any more of your time, but I just mention
that Transport for London's traffic modelling for the bridge was
judged of limited reliability so I wait with some trepidation
to see the new figures for the Transport Impact Assessment.
7665. Greenwich Council informed Mouchel that
it considered that almost from the opening the effect of the Crossrail
station would be to overload the adjacent highway network. The
Environmental Statement states that there would be significant
impacts resulting from the loss of car parking spaces and significant
impacts on traffic levels. The Thames Gateway Bridge Inspector
said that traffic conditions would be worsened to an extent that
has not, so far, been considered. Lastly, I just reiterate that
my concerns, perhaps, would be met if there were a road show or
an exhibition, given that, again, there are two councils involved.
7666. I would also, finally, like to thank my
Lady and my Lords for their consideration of my Petition in the
way that it has been handled, and, also, my colleagues I have
met at Crossrail for the way they have dealt with me.
7667. CHAIRMAN: Mr Carrier, in the light
of the revised undertaking, I do not think there is a lot more
that this Committee can do, is there, at this stage?
7668. MR CARRIER: I accept—
7669. CHAIRMAN: Or at all, because we
will disappear.
7670. MR CARRIER: I appreciate your difficulty,
but I have brought forward my concerns to you, my Lord.
7671. CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much indeed.
I think that completes your presentation, does it not?
7672. MR CARRIER: I will take my leave,
thank you, my Lord.
7673. CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much for
coming. Ms Lieven, the programme?
7674. MS LIEVEN: I think, my Lord, I
can say that that is the business for the day—a happy moment
for the shorthand writers after their very kind and lengthy efforts
yesterday.
7675. LORD SNAPE: And their impeccable
timing this morning.
7676. MS LIEVEN: The British Board of
Film Classification have confirmed that they have reached agreement;
it has gone off for engrossment and they will not be appearing.
Bond Street Investments have confirmed that they are not appearing.
Bonhams have confirmed that they are not appearing. Grand Central
have been reprogrammed for tomorrow on the basis that your Lordships
and your Ladyship may have noticed vast quantities of people in
the corridor when you came in this morning; that was largely Grand
Central and us. We think they are very unlikely to take any substantive
time tomorrow, if I can put it like that.
7677. CHAIRMAN: It is the same point
they raised in the Commons, is it not?
7678. MS LIEVEN: I believe so, my Lord,
but I have to say I have done my utmost to keep out of it. It
has been a very longstanding negotiation which appears to be very
slowly creeping together. I think it is largely the same issue,
it is all about noise. Lloyd Christopher Biscoe as liquidator
confirmed he was not appearing earlier. Standard Life, we had
some difficulty finding their position this morning but I think
they have now confirmed they are not appearing. That is the rest
of today's business all not appearing.
7679. As far as tomorrow's business is concerned,
David Duncan Coode Monro and Adam Scott, who are the trustees
of the House of St Barnabas-in-Soho, I believe are likely to appear
although we have had quite extensive discussions with them and
I hope some of the issues may be narrowed, but they are likely
to appear. Grand Central Studios I have mentioned. The London
Borough of Camden, I understand, are likely to appear just to
make a statement, so are not likely to be a very extensive period
of time. The rest of tomorrow's business, I think the fairest
thing to say is they are all unlikely to appear although the marginal
percentages of likelihood vary a little between them. Our assessment
is that it is unlikely that any of them will turn up and fight.
The substantive business tomorrow is likely to be St Barnabas
with a short appearance by Camden and possibly a short appearance
by Grand Central.
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