Bridge opposed
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'THE GREATER London Council has confirmed today that it will oppose Government plans for an East London River Crossing and that council officers will be giving evidence in support of objections to the scheme at the public inquiry due to start early next year.
Paul Moore, vice-chair of the GLC transport committee, said: "This innocently-named river crossing is in fact a 'new' version of the Ringway Two motorway scheme scrapped in the early Seventies.
"A study of this £138m Government folly by GLC officers shows that it is likely to be a poor investment, that its alleged traffic benefits are low, its damage high, and the so-called wider economic case for this massive new route is unproved.
"The scheme would mean the loss of nearly 260 homes and other properties on both sides of the river and would cut the expanding town of Thamesmead in half with its massive approach ramps. The Government seems to be treating this area as though it were just a wasteland.
"The new road would also split Plumstead in two and destroy large areas of ancient woodland at Oxleas and Shepherdless woods which could not be replaced.
"Neither would the new road finish at Falconwood. If the Government succeeds in taking over the South Circular Road, it will want that to be widened and brought into the new motorwaystyle networks as well.
"At a time when the M25 is just beginning to Welp take through traffic out of London it is lunacy to start encouraging it back in with schemes like these."