PRESS RELEASE 11 JANUARY 2006

Thames Gateway Bridge Threatens Ancient Woodland

Objectors to the Thames Gateway Bridge (TGB) have uncovered proposals by Greenwich Council to widen Knee Hill.

In a TGB update document dated 14 December 2005, Bexley Council state “Greenwich Council has indicated informally that it will be seeking the straightening and widening of Knee Hill to be funded from the contingency sum for mitigation measures.” Bexley’s border with Greenwich runs down the centre of Knee Hill.

Jacqui Wise of Action Group Against the Bridge (AGAB) says, “If allowed to proceed, these proposals would cause irrevocable environmental damage to the ancient woodlands bordering Knee Hill. Increasing capacity on Knee Hill would further increase demand for vehicles wanting to travel between the Thames Gateway Bridge and the A2 through what is a residential area. It is totally unacceptable and we and many others will vehemently oppose this to the end.”

AGAB wrote to the Mayor Ken Livingstone in November 2004 and again in July 2005 asking him to publicly pledge that the Thames Gateway Bridge and its associated roads would not affect Bostal Woods, Lesnes Abbey Woods and Bostal Heath. To date no such pledge has been received.

In 2003 the Mayor, Transport for London (TfL) and Greenwich Council all publicly pledged that Oxleas Wood would not be affected by the TGB proposals after massive opposition to the ELRC (East London River Crossing) scheme.

Jacqui Wise says, “Local people are being deceived by those who wish to see the Thames Gateway Bridge plans pushed through at any cost. It is ridiculous to believe that this is a local bridge for local people. Local people play no part in these plans.”

Plans are also proposed to increase capacity to 4 lanes on Harrow Manor Way, which leads to Knee Hill, as part of the Greenwich Waterfront Transit scheme and Crossrail proposals are expected to increase road congestion in the Abbeywood area. TfL have suggested increasing capacity at the Knee Hill junction with Brampton Rd along with other mitigation measures to deal with rat-running and higher traffic levels due to the proposed TGB. These include traffic calming in the Bedonwell Rd and Sandgate Rd areas, signalising of problematic junctions, banned turns, making Hurst Lane one-way (west-to-east) and possible mitigation measures at Heron Hill/Picardy Rd.

Local people must realise the detrimental impact the TGB would have on their local area and oppose TfL’s plans before it is too late. The next phase of the TGB Inquiry is due to start at Charlton Athletic Football Club on Tuesday 21 February 2006 at 10am. A further evening session of the Inquiry is planned in Bexley.

Action Group Against the Bridge (AGAB) Website www.pvr.co.uk

Jacqui & Steve Wise Contact 020 8301 4243 or 07748 132161 (Mobile)

St. Michael’s Residents’ Association (SMRA)

Terry Grant Contact 020 8298 1105 or 0780 1265713 (Mobile)