Examination of Witnesses (Questions 10180
- 10199)
10180. MR ELVIN: There are provisions
in the regulations which I can show you.
10181. CHAIRMAN: If you could tell us
about that before the end of the day, it would be very helpful.
10182. MR ELVIN: There is, and I will
have it distributed it now just so you have it, the Department's
note on clauses 40 and 41 which I will refer to when I close at
the end of both cases today; I am going to refer to the note so
I thought it was probably better if I circulate that in advance.
You also have the note on costs which I will ask Mr Berryman to
speak to in due course.
10183. CHAIRMAN: I think we can start
again at 2.30 pm.
The Committee adjourned from 1.07 pm until
2.30 pm
10184. CHAIRMAN: I trust that the parties
dealing with freight and that sort of subject will forgive me,
but I would like to interpose the SS Robin Trust for a very short
statement on a matter that we, as a Committee, have been to see
and I think they have something very brief to say. Is that right?
10185. MR LEWIS: Indeed, my Lord, that
is right. I am here to deal briefly with the return of the Petition
of the Trustees of the SS Robin on behalf of the Promoter, and
I say "briefly", my Lords, because I am happy to say
that we have managed to reach agreement in this matter and shortly
I will ask my learned friend, Mr Robin Knowles QC, who is here
to represent the Trust, to read out his statement. That statement
has been agreed between the parties, my Lords.
10186. Before that, insofar as it may be helpful
for me to jog the memories of the Committee, you will recall of
course from your site visit that the SS Robin, if we can
put up the plan, is, my Lords, the oldest-surviving complete steamship
in the world, located here at the west end of North Dock which
is part of the West India Quay dock complex in the Isle of Dogs,
just west of the DLR bridge (indicating).[30]
Now, the Crossrail station, my Lords, is to be built here (indicating)
and, as part of those construction works, you will see that a
dam is to be erected here (indicating) and the current proposal
is that the boat will have to be moved slightly westwards here
(indicating), but that of course creates a challenge because the
normal practice is that commercial vessels need to be maintained
and dry-docked at least once every two and a half years. This
water will be locked in as this part of the construction works
for some five years and the Trust understandably had some concerns
and we had to have some negotiations with them in relation to
that, my Lords.
10187. Well, I am pleased to say, having given
that background, that it gives me great pleasure to confirm that
we have managed to reach an agreement with the Trust and an acceptable
solution to both parties which, we are confident, strikes an appropriate
balance between ensuring that the Crossrail works are able to
go ahead, but doing so without prejudicing this most important
element of British naval history, so, with that introduction,
my Lords, I pass the baton to my learned friend.
10188. CHAIRMAN: And it does not upset
your heritage grant?
10189. MR LEWIS: My learned friend will
be in a position to give you further details on that. The application
is in train, my Lord, and we can understand that the first stage
of that application will be dealt with later in the year, but
I think that my learned friend is in a better position to update
you on the position in relation to that.
10190. MR KNOWLES: My Lords, to deal
with that briefly, the answer is no, it does not upset the path
which is an adjusting path of engagement with the National Lottery.
May I put the position to the Committee shortly, and, as my learned
friend indicates, in agreed terms.
10191. Your Lordships are aware that the Petitioner
was previously before the Committee on 19 March. The Petitioner
asked the Committee to take no action then other than to defer
the Petition for a period pending further work which the Petitioner
and the Promoter were to undertake during that period. The Committee
kindly agreed. The context of that request was that the Petitioner
and the Promoter were embarked on what were then constructive
discussions, supported by survey work and by examination of the
financial options and relocation options. The Committee was informed
that there was potential for the discussions to resolve the concerns.
10192. As your Lordships have heard, agreement
has been reached and this could scarcely be more important or
welcome. As the oldest surviving complete steamship in the world,
your Lordships will recall that the SS Robin is one of
only three vessels in London listed by the National Register of
Historic Ships as a `Core Collection' vessel, the highest category
for vessels of extraordinary maritime importance, reflecting Britain's
world-class naval history. The other two in London in that class
are Cutty Sark and Belfast and, as the Chairman
of this Committee noted on the last occasion, the disaster that
happened to Cutty Sark placed further emphasis on resolving
the present problem.
10193. CHAIRMAN: It is being repaired
though, is it not?
10194. MR KNOWLES: Yes, so we may have
the best of all outcomes across the board. To give a further indication
elsewhere in the United Kingdom, the Core Collection includes
the Victory, the Great Britain, the Discovery, and the Mary Rose;
we are in that league.
10195. CHAIRMAN: And not Warrior?
10196. MR KNOWLES: I cannot be sure,
but I think Warrior is on the list.
10197. CHAIRMAN: She deserves it.
10198. MR KNOWLES: Perhaps I can respectfully
agree with that remark as well. Now, the vessel is going to be
moved from West India Quay so that works may be undertaken on
it. If the works, as currently envisaged, can be completed by
the year end, then the vessel will be brought back into West India
Quay. It will then be locked in for the duration of the works.
In the event that the vessel, however, cannot return in time to
be locked in for the duration of the works, it will be brought
back to an alternative, suitable mooring until it can return to
West India Quay after the Crossrail works are complete.
10199. It will be no surprise that these arrangements
involve material financial support, and that includes support
from the Promoter. It is right to note that there are default
arrangements in the event that the works needed are found to be
so great as to be out of reach financially, but clearly that is
an equation that also involves the Lottery and other fund-raising
initiatives.
30 Crossrail Ref: P67, Isle of Dogs Station-Scenario
2 Construction Method Site Plan (TOWHLB-XR6-002) Back
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