Alliance against road building

PRESS RELEASE – 29th April 2005

12 HOUR MARATHON - Local protesters force "longest day in Public Inquiry history"

The pre-Inquiry Meeting of the controversial 6 lane Thames Gateway Bridge in East London sat yesterday for a record breaking 12 hours, until 10.30pm. At the last meeting a few weeks ago, the Inspectors walked out, and one subsequently stood down. Local protesters forced the Public Inquiry Inspector to hear evidence about the lack of consultation, the enormous obstacles put in the way of anti-bridge campaigners, and argued strongly for a postponement. Despite having children waiting, local campaigners were determined they would not go home until all the evidence had been laid before the Inspector, making him and the Transport for London team stay into the night. 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.

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.

Protesters claim:

• They are being charged between £100 and £5,500 for key documents needed to fight the case.
• Local resident Jacqui Wise was charged £40 to photocopy a 21 page letter
• Documents are not in public places
• There are over 20 unanswered Freedom of Information requests

Victoria Harvey of Road Block, who was there in support of residents, said,

"Local campaigners showed that they will not be bulldozed over. They face an extra 20 million vehicles a year going through their areas, and they showed how strongly they will fight this madness. 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 motorway. The Government has said that local people must be at the heart of planning decisions, and local people in East London ensured that this was not just Government rhetoric."

This was the second Pre-Inquiry meeting. The first one, held in Charlton a few weeks ago, ended in chaos when protesters seized the microphone following the refusal of the Inspector to grant a postponement. That Inspector was subsequently replaced because of a "conflict of interest" (2).

ENDS

Contacts: Jacqui Wise of local residents group, Action Group Against the Bridge (AGAB) on 020 8301 4243, Victoria Harvey of Road Block on 07815 817108 or Rebecca Lush on 07854 693067.

Notes for Editors:

(1) The second pre-Inquiry meeting took place at Woolwich Town Hall on 18 April, starting at 10.30am and running through until 10.30pm.

(2) The first pre-Inquiry meeting took place on 4th April. See press release on Road Block website.