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Monday 17 Nov 2003

THAMESLINK 2000 EXHIBITIONS TO BE HELD AT BLACKFRIARS AND LONDON BRIDGE STATIONS

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Members of the general public and business community are invited to attend two forthcoming exhibitions, which will provide them with an update on the Thameslink 2000 project. During November, Network Rail is holding two separate exhibitions.  One, at Blackfriars station, is part of its consultation with the public, which will result in the submission of new planning applications for Blackfriars station and Blackfriars railway bridge. The plans include a refinement of the original concept for the bridge put forward at the Thameslink 2000 public inquiry.  The other, at London Bridge station, will once again outline the approved plans for the remodelling of London Bridge station. During the exhibition, members of the project team will be available at both exhibitions to answer questions.  The timings and venues for the exhibitions are as follows: BLACKFRIARS STATION EXHIBITION: Venue - special trailer parked: Date Opening times Outside 165 Queen Victoria Street, EC4 (North Bank) Tuesday 18 November 12.00pm – 7.00pm Outside 165 Queen Victoria Street, EC4 (North Bank) Wednesday 19 November 12.00pm – 7.00pm Outside 165 Queen Victoria Street, EC4 (North Bank) Thursday 20 November 12.00pm – 7.00pm On Blackfriars Road at the junction with Southwark Street, SE1 (South Bank) Friday 21 November 12.00pm – 7.00pm Thameslink - 2 LONDON BRIDGE STATION EXHIBITION Venue - special trailer  parked on: Date Opening times Station forecourt, Station Approach SE1 Tuesday 25 November 12.00pm – 7.00pm Station forecourt, Station Approach SE1 Wednesday 26 November 12.00pm – 7.00pm Station forecourt, Station Approach SE1 Thursday 27 November 12.00pm – 7.00pm Station forecourt, Station Approach SE1 Friday 28 November 12.00pm – 7.00pm The exhibitions form part of Network Rail’s forward programme for the Thameslink 2000 scheme as it works to resolve the three outstanding issues identified by the inspector to the public inquiry and endorsed by the Deputy Prime Minister.  These issues are: ·        the need to develop proposals for a replacement building at 167-179 Queen Victoria Street at Blackfriars Station – the so-called ‘Missing Tooth’ ·        the design of London Bridge station ·        the need to develop proposals for replacement buildings in the Borough High Street conservation area Network Rail and the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) are working together to address these issues.  During the past few months new planning applications have been developed for Blackfriars station which will address not only the replacement building for 167-179 Queen Victoria Street but also the further development of the design for the Blackfriars railway bridge. The design of London Bridge station is being taken forward on the basis of the ‘Masterplan’ scheme - a strategy for the comprehensive redevelopment of the station which has already received planning permission from the London Borough of Southwark. Three of four planning applications for the replacement building in the Borough High Street area were submitted in January this year, the fourth is being developed in conjunction with local stakeholders. Once these issues have been resolved and the necessary planning applications submitted, the application for powers to build the project can be taken forward to conclusion. - more - Thameslink - 3 Network Rail is also currently undertaking an Environmental Impact Assessment for the Thameslink 2000 scheme as a whole and this will lead to an Environmental Statement for the scheme being issued next year.