Examination of Witnesses (Questions 11620
- 11639)
11620. CHAIRMAN: The sooner you can get
us up-to-date the better.
11621. MS KHELA: Yes, I am trying.
11622. CHAIRMAN: Good.
11623. MS KHELA: Crossrail reported to
the Department for Transport on the outcome of the consultation,
published reports in August 2004 indicating only 148 visitors
to Wodeham Gardens. On 30 March the Spitalfields Society were
invited to meet with Crossrail. Gordon Torp Petersen and Tom Mantey
attended a private meeting where they said: "We are currently
working on an Environmental Impact Assessment. Translation of
information is not available yet. Translations in other languages
will only be available on request".
11624. I am going to now just basically start
giving you examples. The Promoter has given the impression that
the people of Spitalfields are alone and that they are the problem—
11625. CHAIRMAN: Ms Khela, can I just
interrupt you for a moment. At this stage of the proceedings,
what we want to know is what do you want us to do.
11626. MS KHELA: Well, what I would like—
11627. CHAIRMAN: You can go back into
history for a bit, but there is a limit to the amount of time
we can spend on that, I am sure you appreciate.
11628. MS KHELA: I do appreciate that.
On that point, I will answer you directly. There was a statutory
duty to consult with the public on the routes. That did not occur.
11629. CHAIRMAN: This is the EIA point,
is it?
11630. MS KHELA: This is an EIA point,
if you like, yes, the adequacy of the consultation that has taken
place in Spitalfields over alternative route alignments.
11631. CHAIRMAN: Supposing we agreed
with you, what happens?
11632. MS KHELA: Well, I think that would
be for you to determine, not myself.
11633. CHAIRMAN: It would be what?
11634. MS KHELA: I said that surely would
be for yourself to determine, not myself.
11635. CHAIRMAN: We are always open to
suggestions.
11636. MS KHELA: What I would suggest
is that there is an examination of the alternatives and the veracity
of the information that has been presented by the Promoter to
date is actually tested for the first time.
11637. CHAIRMAN: You go on for the moment,
but, remember, in the end what we want to know is what do you
want us to do.
11638. MS KHELA: I think I have kind
of said that really.
11639. LORD BROOKE OF ALVERTHORPE: I
am struggling to see where consultation arises in the Petition.
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