Lib Dem parliamentary candidates launch four-point plan of attack on bridge proposals

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Sun 27th Mar 2005

Chris Le Breton, Dave Raval and Dr Steven Toole protesting against the bridge proposals

Liberal Democrats in East and South East London have come together ahead of the pre-enquiry preparation meeting on the proposed Thames Gateway Bridge due to take place on 4th April ahead of the public inquiry.

The Liberal Democrats have long been consistent in our opposition to the proposals which we believe, in their present form, will be disastrous for the area with the 'motorway' bridge bringing little more to the area than more traffic, more pollution and more congestion. East London will not be helped by a six-lane motorway bridge and the Mayor of London's 'big bridge', backed up by Labour and John Prescott will only benefit company car commuters from Kent and Surrey, not the real needs of our local communities.

Six local parliamentary candidates Ajmal Masroor in West Ham, Christopher Le Breton in Greenwich and Woolwich, Ian Gerrard in Eltham, Nick O'Hare in Old Bexley and Sidcup, Dave Raval in Bexleyheath and Crayford and Steven Toole in Erith and Thamesmead, have today launched their four-point action plan to continue our fight against the plans:

1) We will be placing in writing a call for a postponement of the beginning of the main inquiry, given the low levels of awareness of the process, and the distraction of the coming General Election;

2) We will be making a request to both the Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and the Mayor of London Ken Livingstone under the freedom of information act to try and uncover whether there may have been a secret plan to stifle the public inquiry;

3) We will be launching local surveys over the coming weeks in which we will be seeking true local views on the proposals for the Bridge, which we will then use in evidence at the inquiry;

4) We will ensure Liberal Democrats are present and represented at the pre-inquiry meeting to raise each of these objections and present evidence from the London Liberal Democrats.

Dave Raval, parliamentary candidate for Bexleyheath and Crayford, said:

"In Bexley we are about to deliver a survey to local residents asking for their views on a number of issues, including the Bridge, and I encourage any concerned local people to contact me on 07788 780250 or by email at dave.raval@ttp.com if they would like to get involved."

Dr Steven Toole, parliamentary candidate for Erith and Thamesmead, said:

"The Liberal Democrats in this area are not going to stand back and allow this scheme to bulldozed through. The public inquiry must be postponed as so few residents are actually aware it is happening and it appears that Labour may well be attempting to hide it behind the smokescreen of the coming General Election.