Media centre

Tuesday 6 Sep 2005

THAMESLINK INQUIRY REOPENS

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National

This week will see the reopening of the public inquiry into the proposed Thameslink Programme of works which looks to deliver big benefits to tens of thousands of rail passengers and to regeneration initiatives across the South East.   This follows on from the first inquiry that was carried out under the Transport and Works Act in 2000/2001, and will focus on areas that the Inspector felt were not adequately addressed at that time. The inquiry has been called by the Deputy Prime Minister’s office and the Secretary of State for Transport. The main areas to be covered are; 1. Proposals for the redevelopment of London Bridge station 2. Design proposals for the station and railway bridge at Blackfriars 3. Design proposals for the replacement buildings in the Borough Market area. The Secretaries of State have made it clear that this new inquiry will be restricted to genuinely new matters and will not provide an opportunity for parties simply to re-iterate points covered in the original inquiry. Earlier in the year, the First Secretary of State also decided to hold a public inquiry into the various applications for planning permission and listed building consent made in 2003/2004 to the Corporation of London and London Borough of Southwark by Network Rail.  This inquiry will be held at the same time as the re-opened inquiry. It is anticipated that the inquiry, which is to be held at Bankside House, 24 Sumner Street, London SE1 9JA, will last until early November 2005. More details about the inquiry can be found on the official inquiry web site - http://www.tl2000inquiry.org.uk/