I quote an extract of a letter released under the Freedom of Information Act from Bexley Council to Greenwich Council dated 22nd November 2004 under the heading Thames Gateway Bridge

‘The traffic and environment impacts on Bexley are as great if not greater than any other authority.’

‘If through traffic is to be encouraged on to a particular route it should be where high traffic flows and robust flow speeds can be sustained by the highway infrastructure’

Can Bexley Council please confirm which roads or routes they feel are capable of high traffic flows and robust flow speeds within the Bexley highway network in relation to the proposed Thames Gateway Bridge?

I quote an extract of an internal memo released under the Freedom of Information Act from Bexley Council’s Traffic & Transport Department dated 11th August 2004

‘It has been noted that the north of the area, which bounds the Thames, has a number of large and significant developments pending. This would obviously contribute to traffic generation, which may adversely impact on the surrounding highway network when coupled with generated and diverted traffic from the construction of the proposed TGB. This is one of the key concerns raised by Dartford ….that the construction of the bridge will not compromise the future possibility for development on the southern bank of the Thames Gateway Area.’

Given the accepted fact that the bridge would generate traffic and concerns that this could compromise the development of sites in the area and thus economic regeneration, will Bexley add this to their reasons for objection to the scheme?

I quote an extract of a letter released under the Freedom of Information Act from Bexley Council to Transport for London (TfL) dated 29th July 2004.

‘There are particular health issues in Bexley that can be exacerbated by traffic fumes such as asthma where the levels in children are amongst the highest in the country. Therefore this authority considers that the four Care Trusts must be consulted and that a comprehensive health impact assessment is an essential part of the planning application.’

Bexley Council say that a comprehensive Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is essential and yet this has not been done.

Can Bexley Council give us their assurances that they will maintain their objections and instruct their ‘Counsel’ to call for a postponement of the Inquiry until adequate traffic figures are produced, a comprehensive Health Impact Assessment has been produced which is then evaluated by the Care Trusts before a Public Inquiry can take place and if not give reasons?

We will put the answers on the website when we have them in writing.

However Bexley Council did confirm they would not be supporting us in asking for a postponement as it was stated that all ‘statutory requirements’ had been met. Also they felt we had enough time to prepare as we knew on January 19th that the planning applications had been ‘called in’. They are however either not taking into account our concerns raised at the pre-inquiry meeting or do not feel these are valid reasons for postponement. Also we are inexperienced and each step of the way has been a major hurdle for us. This has been further hindered by confusing & conflicting information we are receiving from Government offices.

Although Bexley Council are ‘objecting’ they are still supporting the proposed bridge.

By being ‘objectors’ we believe we can now not cross-examine them at the Public Inquiry.

We received an e-mail shortly before the Council meeting from Councillor Donna Briant (Cabinet Member for Social Care & Health) which confirmed that ‘the Care Trust is working with South East London Strategic Health Authority to commission an independent review of the evidence that has presented in support of the proposed TGB. Following the outcome of that independent review, the Care Trust will submit its view to the Inquiry.’

Donna has also requested that the Care Trust be prepared to meet with local people, who have concerns over the possible impact of the proposed bridge, in time to ensure that the Trust can take full account of such views before finalising its position prior to the deadline for submission of proofs of evidence. We will chase this up.

Although we feel this is a positive step in the right direction, the review is of existing evidence and we strongly believe that a new (commissioned) comprehensive Health Impact Assessment is needed. These are views also shared by some Members of Bexley Council so why do they not demand this is done & withdraw their support if it is not? If they truly felt that residents’ health was of utmost importance would you not think this request would be at the top of their list??