Thames Gateway Bridge

Not exactly new news - I've been going through my large backlog of items:

The six lane Thames Gateway Bridge has been rejected following a public inquiry, which finished on 23 May 2006. It is suspected that the Government is trying to bury the news by publishing it today at the end of the Parliamentary session after sitting on the decision since last October.

While environmental groups such as Friends of the Earth and Transport 2000 put the public transport and environmental arguments and local residents their concerns of motor traffic generation, LCC used its expertise to work with them to highlight the issues affecting what TfL dismissed as the "slow modes" - cycling and walking - and helped mount a very strong and comprehensive case.

All were helped by support from Greens on the London Assembly who used their budget veto to secure funding for experts to contest TfL's technical evidence. LCC was the only objector to be represented by a barrister and had the support of national cyclists organisation CTC plus the latest research from Sustrans. LCC had opposed the TGB's predecessor in 1992 which would have also cut through Oxleas Wood but this was the first time LCC appeared at a public inquiry. TfL's claims that the bridge would "maximise walking and cycling" and included a "dedicated cycleway" were soundly rubbished by showing that it would result in a reduction in journeys walked or cycling and that the cycleway was in fact an obstacle course shared with pedestrians that had a maximum speed of 10mph.

The full inspector's report could prove useful to campaigners, particularly cycling groups, fighting road schemes across the country. In particular TfL's plans for a road tunnel at Silvertown is now likely to hit the buffers.

All inquiry documents are at: www.persona.uk.com/thamesgateway

Hazel Blears plans to reopen the public inquiry. This will be an uphill struggle given increasing awareness of climate change by the general public and planning guidelines not to mention the fact that one of the local councils has gone from Labour to Tory and now opposes the bridge. It is very rare that major road schemes are rejected in inquiries and shows the Government's contempt for due process that it is trying to press it through a second time. Another inquiry would cost millions, which could be spent on attractive bridges for cyclists and pedestrians only, such as the winking Millenium Bridge in Gateshead.