The Public Inquiry into the controversial 6 lane Thames Gateway Bridge in East London is set to go into the history books. On Thursday 28^{th April 2005 local protesters forced the Public Inquiry Inspector to hear evidence for 12 hours. And the Public Inquiry itself has not yet started! The meeting, held in Woolwich Town Hall, was simply to confirm arrangements for the Inquiry itself, which is due to start in early June. The meeting started at 10.30am and ended at 10.30pm.}

Local objectors argued strongly that the full Public Inquiry should be postponed and accused Transport for London, who are promoting the bridge, of rushing things through. The Public Inquiry Inspector agreed to write a report to John Prescott's office with a recommendation about whether or not the Inquiry should be postponed. Prescott's office will make the final decision.

Jacqui Wise of Action Group Against the Bridge said, "This was the longest day. Almost certainly the 12-hour marathon will go down in the Guinness book of Records as the longest day in Public Inquiry history. The fact that local people were prepared to stay until 10.30 at night arguing their case shows the strength of feeling there is about the proposed bridge."

This was the second Pre-Inquiry meeting. The first one, held in Charlton a few weeks ago, ended in chaos when a protester seized the microphone following the refusal of the Inspector to grant a postponement. That Inspector was subsequently replaced because of a "conflict of interest".

^{For more details please contact: -}

Jacqui Wise

Action Group Against the Bridge (AGAB)

TEL: 020 8301 4243

Terry Grant

St.Michael’s Residents’ Association (SMRA)