Londoners' job chances at risk for a pile of bricks

12.30.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 11th Apr 2003

Judicial review hearings next week must not block the East London line extension project.

This was the strong line taken by Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson at the London Assembly, currently Vice-Chair of the Assembly's Transport Committee, in a letter to the Project Director John Francis.

In her letter, Ms Featherstone said: "The job opportunities and life chances of thousands of Londoners are in danger of being squandered for a pile of bricks."

She points out that the longer the East London Line project is delayed the more its business case is weakened, with a serious risk that the Strategic Rail Authority may withdraw funding.

"The time is now. If the Government and the SRA see endless delay ahead through legal challenges, they will switch the funding elsewhere. "

"The extensions will pass through some of the most deprived areas in London such as Peckham, Dalston and Hoxton. If the project can go ahead there will be a boost to regeneration initiatives around the capital worth at least £10 billion. It will open up business and employment opportunities for many thousands of our citizens.

On the heritage case, Ms Featherstone commented: "Culture Minister Tessa Jowell rightly listed the Braithwaite Viaduct outside the Bishopsgate Goodsyard, but made it clear that the rest of the site was of no special interest."

1. Buxtons' solictors have obtained an ex-parte injunction against the demolition of Bishopsgate Goodsyard on behalf of Mr A. Prokopp, of Tarling Street, Stepney, seeking the submission of a new environmental impact assessment by the project.

2. The judicial review hearing will take place before Mr Justice Collins on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.