Examination of Witnesses (Questions 10720
- 10739)
10720. So it is the second of those reasons?
(Mr Lawrence) Possibly, yes.
10721. The other question I want to ask you
about is this; a point touched on by my Lord, Lord Brooke. Smithfield
Market is located within the City of London, is it not?
(Mr Lawrence) Yes.
10722. And, as we know, the City of London is
a very vibrant and successful commercial district and is subject
to regular redevelopment and development schemes. You are aware
of that, are you not?
(Mr Lawrence) Yes.
10723. I think it is fair to say that the Smithfield
area itself has experienced relatively little large-scale redevelopment
in recent years, but that has not been for want of trying, has
it, because there is one particular scheme that has been in gestation
for some years now, the scheme for the redevelopment of the general
market building, promoted by Thornfield Properties.
(Mr Lawrence) That is correct.
10724. And that is a scheme which the Market
Traders' Association is fully in support of, is it not?
(Mr Lawrence) Yes.
10725. And you spoke in support of it at a recent
public inquiry and expressed your frustration at the fact it was
being held up by the heritage lobby?
(Mr Lawrence) That is correct.
10726. Now, that is quite a significant scheme,
is it not?
(Mr Lawrence) That is correct.
10727. And there is clearly potential for that
scheme, when it is being constructed in the event that planning
permission is obtained, which is what you hope will happen, for
that scheme creating dust and other inevitable disturbances due
to major construction works?
(Mr Lawrence) That is correct.
10728. But, as we have seen, you actually wholeheartedly
support that scheme, do you not?
(Mr Lawrence) Yes, we do. Would you like the reason?
10729. No, I am happy with that.
10730. LORD SNAPE: I should think it
is the last thing he wants to hear!
(Mr Lawrence) The reason we do support this scheme is we
are talking about a derelict building, part of which has been
empty I think for approximately 12/15 years and the other part
has been derelict for the last 30 years, and we do not think it
does the market any favours. We fully support the development
scheme because we think it will not only enhance Smithfield Market
but we are convinced it will enhance the area and will bring more
custom to the market, and that is the reason we support the scheme.
10731. And presumably in making that judgment
you have taken the view that the works to construct that scheme
can be carried out without causing severe or significant damage
to the operation of the market whilst construction is going on?
(Mr Lawrence) Yes, but when we have discussed it with Thornfield
we have undertakings with Thornfield that the market will not
be stopped, and I think, if my memory is correct, they are starting
at ten o'clock in the morning.
10732. LORD BROOKE OF ALVETHORPE: Would
you be claiming compensation from them in the same way as you
are from Crossrail?
(Mr Lawrence) We have not discussed that.
10733. Have you that in mind?
(Mr Lawrence) Yes, we have.
10734. MR MOULD: But, as things stand,
you have been prepared to express your unqualified support for
that scheme without securing any special arrangements as regards
compensation for loss of trade and business with the developers?
(Mr Lawrence) That is correct, but we will be discussing
that.
10735. No doubt you will. You have touched on
working hours and you said they are going to be starting at ten
o'clock in the morning. Are you aware that the core construction
hours for Crossrail are between the hours of eight o'clock in
the morning and six o'clock in the evening?
(Mr Lawrence) Yes, I am.
10736. And I think you said that, insofar as
the carcass meat operation is concerned, they tend to finish at
about nine in the morning?
(Mr Lawrence) That is correct.
10737. Although, in fact, the hours are getting
a bit earlier for various reasons that you gave earlier?
(Mr Lawrence) I think it would be impossible for us to start
any earlier than we do now.
10738. To stop any earlier than you do now?
(Mr Lawrence) And to stop.
10739. So on that basis, so far as the carcass
meat is concerned, what we are looking at is an overlap between
market operations and Crossrail dust-producing operations, if
I can put it that way, core construction activity, of about an
hour a day? That must follow, must it not?
(Mr Lawrence) Not really. It would be in the market hours
possibly two or three hours a day, and, if the dust is still there
when the containers arrive at seven/eight o'clock in the evening,
the dust will still be in the air.
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