River Crossing Plans To Be Given A 'Green' Health Check

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 19th Jun 2002

Any future river crossings in East London will be first subjected to 'green' assessments to ensure that they do not damage the surrounding environment.

GLA Liberal Democrats welcomed the Mayor's agreement at today's London Assembly meeting to their demands for environmental impact assessments.

Graham Tope, Leader of the GLA Liberal Democrats, commented:

"Liberal Democrats won an assurance from the Mayor today that all plans for river crossings in East London will be subject to an environmental impact assessment. As the "greenest" of the three main political parties, we welcome this most warmly."

"Most transport experts agree that new major road projects, and especially bridges, act as a magnet attracting traffic from long distances. East London badly needs regeneration with the local population able easily to get to jobs on both sides of the river. Crossings dedicated to public transport would be a real benefit.

"The last thing the area needs is to have its environment wrecked by a huge increase in long distance traffic trying to avoid the Dartford or Blackwall crossings."