Smoke on the Thames Water!

Thames Water's first contribution to local community infrastructure has ignited passions locally. The smoker's den, constructed by Murphy's on Crossfields Green, seems a very unpromising start to the £4bn super sewer project, being built soon on our doorstep.  The plywood shed at the corner of Coffey Street and Crossfields Street (pictured above) seems designed to shelter the teachers of St Joseph's from the elements as they take their daily drag.  We can only hope that the tunnel itself is constructed a little better, though we know that it's of equally limited value!  For full story see here.

Crossfields Green part closure as works get underway

An unspecified contractor working for Thames Water will be cordoning off most of the East side of Crossfields Green from tomorrow for eight days. They will be digging two trial trenches, working 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays. It looks like a couple of the parking bays in Coffey Street will be suspended for good measure. This is bad news especially for dog walkers and the first taste of how the Supersewer works will affect us on the estate (though the main works are not until 2016-2020). It's not really clear why these trial holes are necessary though the notification implies it is a follow-on from previous ground investigations work. Nor is it clear precisely where the trenches are being dug, but it seems inevitable that two thirds of the space overlooking Deptford Church Street will be inaccessible while it's going on. 'Sections' of the grass area will be reseeded afterwards. Generous! A detailed map is available at here.

 

Thames Tunnel decision – a blow for Deptford

You may have heard on the news that the government have given the go ahead for the Thames Tideway Tunnel. And if you visit this blog often you'll know there's been a local campaign to stop Thames Water building a 17m wide 48m deep shaft on the Crossfields green space on Deptford Church Street.

The campaign initiated by Don't Dump on Deptford's Heart started in 2011. This year we reported in detail the well attended Open Floor Hearings held by the Planning Inspectorate at Deptford Lounge in February. Also that month, along with a small number of Crossfields residents and others, we took part in some air quality testing to map the pollution levels on Deptford Church Street, surrounding areas and beyond. We announced the shocking results in May. The aim was show to how the partial closure of Deptford Church Street required to build a tunnel shaft at this site would have a severe impact on local residents.

Whilst the final decision on the Thames Tunnel was in the hands of the Secretaries of State, the Deptford High Street Garden Association began to develop a container garden on the Deptford Church Street site.

The campaign by Don't Dump on Deptford's Heart (with assistance this year from Joan Ruddock MP, plus Joe Dromey and Brenda Dacre who have since become New Cross councillors), the opposition of Lewisham Council, plus the work done by a few folk on Crossfields, all seems to have made an impression on the Examining Authority. In their view "the use of the Green as a work site would be a serious loss to the local community" and even with the mitigation measures proposed by Thames Water, there will be significant impacts on St Joseph's School and St Paul's Church. But...

The Secretaries of State Decision Letter and Statement of Reasons can be found here. A paragraph on Air Quality mentions the local air quality testing we did in February:

"(para 28) The independent Deptford air quality surveys contained within representations from J.Ruddock MP / S. Lawes agree with the findings of the Applicant that Deptford’s current air quality has pollutants in excess of EU targets. The Report states that the construction phase of the tunnel will add to pollution levels in Deptford. The ExA conclude that this increase will not be substantial and the Secretaries of State agree with this and are content that the impact is acceptable". 

The section on Deptford Church Street can be found in paragraphs 113-115:

"113. The Secretaries of State accept that the ExA’s examination revealed limitations with this site, particularly in terms of loss of open space in an area of deprivation and in respect of noise impacts on St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Primary School and on St Paul’s Church, for a period of three and half years during construction."

"114. The Secretaries of State acknowledge that the ExA consider the loss of open space at this site to be a matter weighing against making the Order. They agree with the ExA, that Crossfield Amenity Green is not surplus to requirements and that even the temporary period in which it will be used as a work site will represent a serious loss to the community. However, the Secretaries of State agree with the ExA that the impact will be mitigated and the adverse impact on the landscape will be reversed . They also note that it will be open to the local authority to secure with the Applicant through the consent process under section 61 of the Control of Pollution Act 23 1974, additional mitigation measures in the form of noise enclosures, to help minimise noise impacts predicted on receptors."

"115. The Secretaries of State agree that the alternative sites considered offer no less significant impacts, that the need for, and benefits of, the project overall outweigh the adverse effects and the temporary loss of open space, and are satisfied that impacts are mitigated as far as practicable since some disruption is unavoidable in a project of this scale."

The actual Planning Inspectorate's recommendations on which the Secretaries of State have based their decision can be found here. Skip through the huge report to page 357 to find out what they said about the site at Deptford Church Street.

Because campaigners had focused on the only alternative presented by Thames Water (another 'interceptor site' at Borthwick Wharf) the panel restricted themselves to considering only that alternative. They did not look in detail at previously suggested alternatives. And they did not think Borthwick Wharf was suitable either because it was so close to people's homes. Never mind that one residential home at Millennium Quay was given the same weighting (as a "receptor") as one whole school of a few hundred children at Deptford Church Street!

The panel noted that Thames Water had not presented the alternative "of avoiding the use of an interception site by redirecting the storm overflow direct to Greenwich Pumping Station, which is only approximately 400m from the Deptford Church Street site". Unbeknownst to us, the panel questioned Thames Water on this but they demonstrated that such a proposal was much worse – including the requirement to demolish the Birds Nest pub!

The Planning Inspectorate concluded that "a suitable alternative is not before us" and consequently the government have approved the Deptford Church Street site.

Now, as the news sinks in, there's a bit of fighting talk about judicial reviews on the whole project, or trying to get better mitigation locally. If you want to contribute to the debate, get in touch with our local councillor Joe Dromey.

But the Thames Tideway Tunnel isn't the only juggernaut heading our way. Whilst the development at Convoys Wharf (which, from a Crossfields point of view, will bring hundreds of HGVs thundering down our road) can be partly blamed on the policies of the current Mayor of London, Lewisham Council's own plans for our little area are not that short of a steamroller...

Shocking new pollution results for Deptford!

This is a screenshot of the online map that displays the results of a Citizen Science Air Pollution Survey carried out earlier this year by local residents (see our previous post).

The results are now published. View the full results for Deptford here.

The survey measured Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) levels only (it is too expensive to monitor carbon particulates), and the results show extremely dangerous and illegal levels on Deptford Church Street, Creek Road, Deptford Broadway and New Cross Road. The black dots are readings of over 60µg/m³ (micrograms per cubic metre). The red dots show readings between 40 and 60µg/m³. The EU legal limit is 40µg/m³.

Crossfields Estate itself has readings as high as 46µg/m³ inside the estate. Higher readings were found on the estate near both Deptford Church Street and at Creekside. Opposite Wilshaw and Holden on Creekside the reading was 48µg/m³. At the Birds Nest roundabout it was 62µg/m³ and on the Crossfields side of Church Street at the crossing to Giffin Street it was 63µg/m³.

A tube on Deptford Church Street opposite Giffin Street measured 63µg/m³

Deptford High Street had much higher readings than expected (as high as 54µg/m³), but most of the over 60µg/m³ readings were at both ends of Deptford Church Street (84µg/m³ at Deptford Broadway) and the south end of Deptford High Street (69µg/m³). Levels immediately increase on New Cross Road – the junction at Amersham Vale gave readings of 110µg/m³!

Students at Goldsmiths College are exposed to extremely high levels, whilst our local schools do not fare very well either: 98µg/m³ at Addey & Stanhope, 68µg/m³ at Deptford Park, 62µg/m³ at Deptford Green, 56µg/m³ at St Alfeges, 55µg/m³ at Clyde Early Childhood Centre, and 40µg/m³ at Tidemill and St Joseph's.

Putting up a tube outside Frankham House on Deptford Church St. The tube reading was 57µg/m³, whilst at the Birds Nest it was 62µg/m³

Back in January, four Crossfields residents teamed up with four other local residents and the Don't Dump on Deptford's Heart campaign to conduct the survey in Deptford. They worked with the No to Silvertown campaign and the Network for Clean Air to produce a survey that covers five local boroughs. See the combined boroughs map on the Silvertown website.

It shows that even Lewisham is not safe. A tube placed almost at the entrance to Lewisham market gave a reading of 109µg/m³ !

Diffusion tubes were put up on lamposts in the week commencing January 6th and taken down in the week of February 3rd. Under the direction of the Network for Clean Air, the tubes were then sent to a lab. Unfortunately, the results took two months to process, so were too late to use as evidence in two grass roots Deptford campaigns against Thames Tunnel and Convoys Wharf.

A tube put inside the estate by Browne House and near the main road recorded 45µg/m³

Thames Tunnel

The consultation conducted by the Planning Inspectorate on Thames Water's plans to site a shaft on Deptford Church Street closed on March 12th. However, the Citizen Science Pollution Survey results have been submitted to them and will accompany the Inspectorate's recommendation to the Secretary of State on June 12th.

The Don't Dump on Deptford's Heart campaign are arguing that Thames Water should revert to their original choice for a shaft site on the river at Glashier Street – where the survey measured very low pollution levels of 14µg/m³. At this site, spoil could be transported by river and there would be no need to partially close Deptford Church Street for over a year that would cause gridlocked traffic to divert onto Creekside and Deptford High Street. If Thames Water's plans succeed, there will be 17400 extra HGVs using their site on Church Street for over three years.

A tube put up next to Crossfields ballcourt by the main road recorded 45µg/m³

Creekside and Convoys Wharf

These will be in addition to the 90 HGVs per day that will be using Creekside when the Faircharm redevelopment begins. And now that Convoys Wharf has got the go ahead, there will be hundreds of HGVs pouring into and out of Evelyn Street and heading for the A2 via Deptford Church Street.

At the Creek Road junction readings were as high as 74µg/m³

The results show our area is already highly (and illegally) polluted. These Deptford construction projects have the unique advantage of being able to access the river directly. The Creekside redevelopments could be using Deptford Creek. Lewisham Planners should force the Creekside developers to use the Creek, whilst ongoing discussions between them and GLA Planners over the transport plans for Convoys must make it an absolute condition for the developer to use the river and not our local roads.

In addition, Boris Johnson needs to speed up the conversion of our highly polluting buses to hybrid models, a former pledge he has fallen way behind on.

The Network for Clean Air wants the Mayor of London to bring forward the start date of the proposed Ultra Low Emission Zone, extending it to include Greenwich and Lewisham. That presumably would include taxis as well.

Find more detail and information at the No To Silvertown website.

The Don't Dump on Deptford's Heart study was funded by the residents who took part plus a generous donation from Deptford First via Dame Joan Ruddock MP.

Thames Tunnel update

We gave a digest of the Open Floor Hearing held at Deptford Lounge on 5th February in our previous post, but some of the speakers at the hearing have since submitted written versions of their oral representations. They can be found in the "document" section of the Planning Inspectorate's website (see below for specific links).

Thames Water have replied to some of the points raised at the hearing, with a characteristic dismissive air. Read their response here.

Meanwhile, the Inspectorate are staging another site visit to Deptford Church Street on Thursday 27th February at midday. This is to visit St Paul's Church which they were unable to access on their last site visit on 30th January because filming was taking place.

A resident's analysis of the Transport assessment can be found here, along with photos and video links of recent congestion in Deptford Church Street here.
Letters of objections from Crossfields residents can be read here.
Another Crossfields resident has written here.
A resident living close to St Paul's writes here.
Deptford High Street Community Garden Association's comments can be read here.
Dame Joan Ruddock's speech from that evening can be found here.
Representations from campaigners against the entire Thames Tunnel project (who also spoke at the Deptford Lounge open floor hearing) can be found here, here and here.

LB Lewisham has subsequently submitted a draft Section 106 agreement to Thames Water, but there is very little in it to mitigate the 3-4 years of noise, dust and pollution – mainly because Thames Water consider most of the construction work to be of 'negligible' consequence to local residents (see their analysis here).

Regarding the roadworks Thames Water currently have in operation, it appears the Wavelengths bus stop has not been removed contrary to what some of us were told back in January. Fortunately there have been no accidents or tunnel closures during this period, so congestion has not been worse than usual.

Some Crossfields residents may have also received notification that 'investigative works' will take place on Crossfields between 3rd-7th March, though footpaths will be unaffected.

Temporary lane closures on Deptford Church Street this February + Thames Water demo

On Thursday morning, Crossfields residents received a letter from Thames Water announcing lane closures on Deptford Church Street planned to start on February 10th and go on for two weeks. They want to dig a trench on the western side of the dual carriageway in order "to locate underground services in both the footway and highway."

Only Crossfields residents have received this letter so far. Those who live on or near the high street (many of whom attended the demonstration yesterday) have not been informed yet, if they ever are.

A map accompanied the letter which showed where the road would be dug up. It indicated that the work would happen in two phases over the two week period, but there was no information on how the traffic phasing would work, at what point the lanes would be closed, nor how it would affect the buses and bus stops.

So we called them (0800 0721 086) to find out more. It turns out it is not quite as bad as feared – certainly not as bad as it will be if they get permission for this site. Only one lane on the western side will be closed (rather than the two lane closures proposed for 2017-2020). However, the bus stop next to Wavelengths will be withdrawn. Other bus stops will remain in operation.

We were also told that two weeks was the maximum time the work would take and it may finish sooner. Since the information given has been rather inadequate, we've drawn up a quick map to show the two phases of lane closures as it was explained to us on the phone (click to enlarge).

 

Deptford residents meet the Planning Inspectorate on Crossfields Green

A good turn out of hardy locals yesterday – some with their dogs! – at Crossfields Green. They had come to meet the Planning Inspectors charged with making the decision on all the proposed Thames Tunnel sites in London. The Inspectors, accompanied by two Thames Water representatives and a Lewisham Council planner, had been walking around the area to acquaint themselves with the site's environs before they arrived back at the green to face the angry and very vocal residents.

Leading the Inspectorate's team, a Ms Bessell told the campaigners that they were here to look at the site, and not to 'receive representations'. "People can do that at next Wednesday's Open Floor Hearing at Deptford Lounge", she said. But that didn't stop the complaints. One very upset Crossfields resident cried "You lot want to ruin our old age! You don't give a monkeys about people and kids!" The team took a verbal battering for almost fifteen minutes before moving on to look at the businesses on Crossfields Street, the bus stops on Deptford Church Street, and St Paul's Church.

Thames Tunnel on Deptford Church Street : The Facts!

Planning Inspector's site visit to Crossfields Green – Thursday 28th January at 2pm
Thames Water plan to reduce Deptford Church Street to two lanes for three years on the Crossfields Estate side of the road. Bus stops will be moved, bus journeys slowed down, there’ll be no room for cyclists or emergency vehicles, and 140* Thames Tunnel vehicles a day will be added to traffic – in addition to 100s of construction lorries coming from new developments. Here's a map we drew ourselves showing lorry movements from new developments that will happen at the same time as the Tunnel construction site * (click to enlarge):

ALSO!... 
Open Floor Hearing at Deptford Lounge: Wednesday 5th Feb at 8pm
The Don't Dump on Deptford's Heart campaigners with the help of Crossfields residents have distributed leaflets locally. Unfortunately the wrong day was posted for the Open Floor Hearing – it's Wednesday, not Tuesday. Please come along to the Lounge next Wednesday if you can! There is an alternative site by the river from which spoil and materials can be transported by river – tell Thames Water to use that instead!

Meanwhile, although the campaign against the use of the Crossfields Green site has been waged for some time now, it was only recently that the partial road closure was announced. Although we knew it would be bad, we've had a quick look at their Transport Assessment dated January 2013...(see below) which was prepared before the site was even chosen. As far as we can tell, it hasn't changed much since...

* THE FACTS...(Download the TRANSPORT ASSESSMENT here). 

We were told '32 HGVs per day'. However the Transport Assessment shows "an average peak flow of 140 vehicle movements a day is expected during the months of greatest activity during Site Year 1 of construction of this site (2017). At other times in the construction period, vehicle flows would be lower than this average peak figure." (p.9)

OK, that's:
32 HGVs to and fro = 64
Light-medium or other constuction vehicles to and fro = 36
Workers' vehicles to and fro = 40

These 140 construction vehicles will operate between 8am-6pm on weekdays and up to 1pm on Saturdays. However, "in exceptional circumstances HGV and abnormal load movements could occur up to 10pm on weekdays for large concrete pours and later at night by agreements with the LB of Lewisham and TfL." (p.65) 'Large concrete pours' means that several concrete mixers will line up in a row at the site, churning away loudly with their engines running before they get to 'pour'. Lucky Frankham, Congers and Finch! Lucky Holden and Wilshaw when this happens at Faircharm! Which it will! At Paynes & Borthwick Wharf it happened at 6am in the morning!

In addition, there's the possibility that at least another 10 HGVs per hour may use Deptford Church Street coming from their Chambers Wharf site (and probably from their Earl Pumping Station site too). (p.88) The following image shows the predicted vehicle movements that do not include other development traffic (click to enlarge).

Parking
As with all the other developments, there are also workers/staff vehicles and other related vehicles to take into account regarding parking. No provision is ever made for workers' vehicles (which is why Crossfields and Creekside are packed with parked vehicles owned by workers from the Cathedral construction site on the other side of the Creek). Expect Controlled Parking Zones and Residents Permits very soon!

Pedestrians
Surveys were conducted to assess pedestrian and cyclist flows. The pedestrian survey did not cover the signalled crossing by Wavelengths used by Crossfields residents exiting and entering the estate to access Wavelengths, the high street or the 47 bus stops. Of course it is not just Crossfields residents using this crossing, since members of the public use it to access Creekside and Greenwich.

Statistics – who can disprove them?
The cyclist survey shows up to 142 cyclists using Deptford Church Street during peak hours (see page 35). Their analysis of traffic flows shows approximately 1170 vehicles per hour on Church Street during the evening peak hour (5-6pm), and 905 in the morning (8-9pm). (Of course, any fool knows that evening peak hours are 4-7pm and morning starts at 7am). Their graph shows a rather low percentage of HGVs which locals may find hard to believe.

On Saturdays during the peak hours of 1.30-2.30pm they recorded approximately 1300 vehicles per hour. And on Sundays between 4-5pm, it is apparently 1100 vehicles! How very odd! Almost as much traffic on Sunday as a weekday! What was going on in 2011 when these studies were carried out?

Junctions
Junction surveys indicated there was a total flow of 3,360 and 3,600 in the AM and PM peak hours respectively using the junction at Deptford Broadway, of which 1,375 (AM) and 1,493 (PM) entered or exited Deptford Church St.

They note that this was an increase on TfL's own 2010 survey. (And also conflicts with the above figures!) There are no figures supplied for the junction with Creek Road.

However they note that at the junctions at Giffin Street/Deptford Church St and Church St/Broadway traffic operates "above capacity during the PM peak hours". (p.47)

Accident analysis
This is based on TfL figures which reported a total of 2 serious and 17 slight accidents over five years between 2006-2011, with no fatal accidents. They conclude the accidents were due to poor driving, not 'road geometry' and involved light and medium goods vehicles (not HGVs) and five cyclists. (See p.49). These figures are out of date. Young cyclist TJ was killed by a hit-and-run driver right next to the site in March 2012. Does his death not count? (They promise to give their HGV drivers 'awareness training').

New developments
They have into account new developments that would be complete or under construction within the vicinity of the site by Year 1 (p.52). Faircharm (which already has planning permission) is not listed at all – 180 lorries per day along Creekside and pouring out onto Deptford Church Street and Creek Road! Creekside Village East and Kent Wharf are also not listed (see our previous post).

Delays
In tables we don't fully understand (pp.53 ad nauseum) they estimate delays to buses, traffic, cyclists and pedestrians in seconds – apparently no one will ever be delayed by more than a minute or two. It's worth noting they intend to remove the central barrier where the road narrow to two lanes, to give cyclists more room not to get mown down by HGVs, but how are emergency vehicles going to get through?

Emergency Access
We did a word search on the 312 pages of this document and searched for 'Emergency', 'Ambulance', 'Police', 'Fire'. Apart from a reference to a Fire Assembly Point for St Joseph's School, these words are not mentioned once in the entire document.

What do TfL really think?
We couldn't find any evidence via the public access to the Inspectorate website what negotiations may be going on between public bodies such as TfL. The information may be there, but we've lost the will to live.

Where is Lewisham Council and Lewisham Homes in all this?
The Lewisham Planning Team have been in charge of this operation and have kept everyone in the dark. They have not, as far as we know, even consulted Lewisham Homes who have certainly not consulted their residents. Lewisham Planners are negotiating a Section 106 deal with Thames Water as we speak, with little (or no) communication with those most affected.

Thames Water decision by 12th March 2014?
Thames Water reckon this is enough information to get them through the planning stage. "It is acknowledged that these models may require further refinement as the project moves from planning to detailed design stage..." (p41).

Of course for everyone using Deptford Church Street, Deptford High St, Creek Road, Deptford Broadway, the A2 and A200 and all the roads around, not objecting to this site at this stage will mean it's TOO LATE.

* Map amended Jan 31st

Baroness Kennedy defends Deptford against Thames Water in the House of Lords

On Monday 27th January, Baroness Kennedy QC spoke in the House of Lords about Thames Water's plans to site a Thames Tunnel ventilation shaft on Crossfields Green.

She set out the devastating impact it would have on the local area. The site is "one of the only green spaces in that area, being next to a listed church and a residential estate, and being right next to a primary school". The construction – set to last for over three years – would bring "road closures, traffic mayhem and road safety fears. Obviously, there will be an increase in the level of noise and air pollution".

She explained that the decision was "vehemently opposed by local residents", almost 1,000 of whom had signed a petition organised by Don’t Dump on Deptford’s Heart. The consultation had been "inadequate" with the original plans to site the construction tunnel on the riverside being changed with no adequate explanation. One of the justifications given by Thames Water for moving the site from the riverside to the centre of Deptford was that local people there already suffer from noise pollution, so won't notice a bit more. She slammed this as "totally unacceptable".

She called on the Planning Inspectorate to recognise the flaws in their plans and the concerns of local residents.  

The full text of Baroness Kennedy's speech can be found in the Hansard records here.

Thames Tunnel campaign update and diary dates – how it affects Crossfields!

This week four Crossfields residents took part in the pollution testing organised by Don't Dump on Deptford's Heart (see here). The aim of this 'citizen science' project is to show that there are already very high levels of pollution from traffic on Deptford Church Street – and therefore the proposal to site a Thames Tunnel worksite on Deptford Church Street and close two lanes of the road for three years whilst construction takes place would be seriously detrimental to local residents.

The proposal to partially close Deptford Church Street from 2017-2020 (in which bus stops will also be moved and bus times slow down) is all the more insane since there will also be an influx of heavy construction traffic not just from the proposed Thames Tunnel site next to St Paul's Church, but also from the redevelopment of Faircharm Trading Estate on Creekside, and potentially from the redevelopment of Convoys Wharf and other development sites.

Crossfields residents will also suffer on all sides from the noise, vibration and dust of the Thames Tunnel works, since construction work will also be taking place at Greenwich Pumping Station. A tunnel linking the two sites will be bored under the Farrer House lawn (very close to the block – see the map here). There will also be two primary schools affected – St Joseph's and Tidemill.

The campaign needs your support! Between now and the end of February is a critical time. Here are some ways you can give a little of your time to show your objection to our road being partially closed for three years (among other things!):

• Sign the petition
• Join the mailing list by emailing ddodeptfordh@gmail.com
• Come to a campaign meeting: Tuesday 21 January, 7pm at the Pink Palace
• Come to the 'Site Visit' (see below): Thursday 30 January, 2pm at Crossfields Green (next to the church)
• Come to the 'Open Hearing' (see below): Wednesday 5 February, 8.30pm at Deptford Lounge

Thursday 30 January, 2pm at Crossfields Green
The government Planning Inspectors are presently considering the Thames Tunnel proposals and have scheduled a visit to the Deptford Church Street site. Unfortunately this is possibly the quietest time of the day at the quietest time of the year for traffic, so we need to let them know our objections in other ways – vocally, and by demonstrating present and potential uses of the site. If you own a dog, bring your pooch along for a Big Dog Walk at 2pm!

Wednesday 5 February, 8.30pm at Deptford Lounge
Anyone can come to this and have their say, but you must register (whether you want to speak or not) between 8pm and 8.30pm. Please come to this meeting to show your support. When asked to speak you can simply say you support what has previously been said.

Written representations
This takes a bit more time and thought, but if you have objections and have not previously written into Thames Tunnel, you have until 13th January to add your "evidence" for the Planning Inspectors. Write to thamestunnel@infrastructure.gsi.gov.uk.  You can read what other people have written here (Don't Dump on Deptford's Heart), here (Joan Ruddock), here and here (Crossfields residents), here (Lewisham Council), here (local resident).

Also see:
www.thamestidewaytunnel.co.uk/site-profiles/deptford-church-street/
infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/projects/london/thames-tideway-tunnel/

Over 50 diffusion tubes have been placed in and around Deptford Church Street, Creek Road and Deptford Broadway. They will stay up for a month then be submitted to a lab for the results.

Road pollution testing goes ahead next week

In an attempt to provide clear and irrefutable evidence of the unsuitability of the green on Deptford Church Street as a site for Thames Tunnel works, local volunteers will be installing pollution testing tubes from Monday-Friday next week.

Don't Dump on Deptford's Heart are taking part in a large 'civilian' air quality testing project in Deptford and Greenwich – and still need more volunteers to help install the tubes. The tubes are fairly easy to install but need to be done at the right time and recorded properly – and Deptford has 50 tubes to put up. The installation must take place during on a weekday, so volunteers need to be free during the week.

If you'd like to help, please come to the 'briefing' on Sunday 5th January between 11am-2pm at the Pink Palace, Frankham House, Frankham Street. Volunteers will be allotted some tubes and a particular road where they can be installed, along with full instructions on how to do this. Email ddodeptfordh@gmail.com for more information.

Help is being provided by the Network for Clean Air, Greenwich Co-operative Development Agency, Joan Ruddock MP, Crossfields residents and members of Don't Dump on Deptford's Heart and the No To Silvertown Tunnel campaign.

Also see:
dontdumpondeptfordsheart.wordpress.com/2013/12/30/green-light-for-air-quality-testing/
crossfields.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/volunteers-and-cash-needed-for-local.html

Volunteers and cash needed for local air pollution tests

Don't Dump On Deptford's Heart are joining forces with the No to Silvertown Tunnel campaign in January to monitor the local air quality. This "citizen science" testing is scheduled to co-incide with official London-wide air quality monitoring at this time.

The local campaign against the Thames Tunnel shaft at Crossfields Green are looking for volunteers to help install the Air Quality Testing tubes on Sunday 5th January 2014 – and help collect them on Sunday 9th February.

Volunteers, in teams of two, will need to go round the area with a stepladder to attach the test tubes to lamp posts, and carefully record the time and date and photograph where they have been placed.

Each kit (which includes a tube, bracket and cable ties) costs £7. This also covers the cost of the lab analysis. Since the campaign has no funds, it needs help from locals. If you are able to spare some cash to help pay for one or more of the tubes, please pledge it by emailing ddodeptfordh@gmail.com. The more cash pledged, the more tubes can be installed.

The campaign would like to place at least 30 tubes besides the roads that will be heavily affected by the Thames Tunnel construction traffic and the three year road closure of two lanes on Deptford Church Street. Since our air quality will be further affected by construction work at Faircharm on Creekside and potentially at Convoys Wharf off Evelyn Street, tubes will be placed at various points on Deptford Church Street, Creekside, Creek Road, Evelyn Street and along the A2 from Blackheath Hill to New Cross (or at least at Deptford Broadway).

Lewisham's own monitoring is not particularly extensive in the immediate vicinity, but unpublished results from Greenwich Council's monitoring showed that the air quality at the Creek Road end of Deptford Church Street is already well above safety levels.

Please help if you can! The tests will aid in establishing already existing high levels of pollution before proposed developments such as Faircharm, Thames Tunnel, Convoys Wharf and others begin.

For Lewisham Council's response to the Thames Tunnel proposals at Crossfields Green, see here – go to the documents section to read their Local Impact Report 2013.

Also see www.londonair.org.uk

Save Our Green!

Crossfields resident Nick Williams writes about the Thames Tunnel open floor hearing at the Ahoy Centre yesterday:

Super Sewer is bad for business and bad for our children, Planning Inspectors told

Hardy campaigners braved howling gales and freezing temperatures today to urge Planning Inspectors to ‘save our Green’ from Thames Water’s ‘super sewer’ plans for Crossfields’ Green, Deptford.

More than 30 activists from Don’t Dump on Deptford’s Heart protested outside the second session of the Planning Inspectorate’s inquiry into the Thames Tideway Tunnel on Thursday 21 November, at the AHOY Centre, Deptford Green. And many took time to give evidence about the damage it will cause to the local community and fragile economy of the area.

Local companies and their representatives explained how the tunnel work would blight business, and choke the recovery of Deptford’s High Street, already struggling due to the recession.

And, Patricia Chantrey, Headteacher at St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Primary School, situated just a couple of metres from the Crossfields site, called for Thames Water to recognise her pupils’ need to play, exercise and learn outside rather than to be confined indoors. When quizzed by the Inspectors about alternatives for St Josephs’ children, she said there was no way of mitigating the impact, which would be particularly acute for those with breathing difficulties or special needs.

Pointing out that air quality on Deptford Church Street is already significantly worse than recommended European Union levels, the campaigners argued that the controversial 46 metre shaft should be sunk in the Thames rather than one of the few green lungs for the neighbourhood.

“On every criteria, building the shaft in the Thames is the superior option,” said campaigner Nick Williams. “With some rational planning Thames Water could not only construct their tunnel, but by transporting materials by river, they could also massively reduce the environmental damage that this and other local development will inflict.” 

The alternative, proposed by Thames Water, is for spoil from the shaft and tunnelling work to be removed from site by up to 32 Heavy Goods Vehicles a day, forcing the closure of the whole of the western carriageway of Deptford Church Street. With several major construction projects already in prospect locally at the same time, HGV traffic is set to dramatically increase, raising road safety fears as well as concerns about noise and pollution.

“Thames Water argues that because there is already noise and pollution in the area, we will not be troubled by more”, said Williams.  “It is totally unacceptable, particularly when perfectly viable alternatives exist”.

The Planning Inspectorate, which has the power to recommend to the Secretary of State whether the £4.2 billion project goes ahead or not, will publish their decision in late summer/early autumn 2014.

Join the campaign at Don't Dump on Deptford's Heart
Also read a further report on the hearing at East London Lines
Sign the petition here.

Only ONE day left to register to make representation about Thames Tunnel application

The Government Planning Inspectorate will shortly be examining the application from Thames Water for development consent for the Thames Tideway Tunnel. The proposal for Deptford involves taking over the green area between Crossfield Street and St Paul's Church as a worksite to build an access tunnel to join the main storm tunnel that runs under Deptford Church Street. This site replaced the previously preferred site near Borthwick Wharf where the spoil from digging up the green could have left by river, but will now instead clog up Deptford Church Street with construction lorries.

There will also be a tunnel bored under Farrer House lawn that will run to the main storm tunnel from Greenwich Pumping Station.

Anyone who wants to make representation against the proposal must register with the Planning Inspectorate by Tuesday 28th May. Register online here: http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/projects/london/thames-tideway-tunnel/

Update 24th May: Readers may wish to know where Lewisham Council stands. On the registration page, there is a tab marked "Adequacy of Consultation" which lists ten (so far) borough council's comments, including one from Lewisham in which the Head of Planning states that Lewisham has serious concerns regarding the adequacy of consultation and does not consider the applicant (Thames Tunnel) has met its duties, concluding that the application should not be accepted. See Lewisham's report here. Apart from Hammersmith & Fulham and Lewisham, there are some very complacent voices here, so yours needs to be added.


Meanwhile, campaigners in Shadwell are organising an event in their local park over this coming Bank Holiday weekend (backed by Tower Hamlets Council) to help get public backing before the registration deadline. They have built replica ventilation shafts to illustrate to locals what Thames Water intend to do at King Edward Memorial Park. East London Advertiser has the story.

Facebook: Don't Dump on Deptford's Heart

Don't dump on Deptford's heart update

Oliver Seal of DDDH writes:

The application form submitted by Thames Water has been accepted by the planning inspectorate. Please see the Thames Water press release below.

What we need to do:

1) Everyone needs to register to the planning inspectorate.  You can do this online or by phone and post.  You must do this by 28th May 2013.  If you are wanting to register by post you have to start the process in time to receive the form and send it back before 28th May 2013.

2) Please copy any MPs and politicians you think it would be useful to and ask them to register in our favour

3) We must visit as many of the drop in centres as possible (sadly there is not one in Deptford) but we are fighting this.  The details of this are outlined below

4) Join our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/DontDumpOnDeptfordsHeart I will be adding reminders of events and important campaign dates to this page.  I will also try to email too of course!

5) Watch out for a public meeting of our own that we are organising – this will be in the next two or three weeks. 

Thames Water's sham of a consultation was just the end of the beginning.  

This is our real fight so please mobilise again and tell all your friends and neighbours to get behind this.

Update 26 April: see the Deptford Dame for later but more coherent posting.

PRESS RELEASE

Proposed Thames Tideway Tunnel – ‘Supersewer’

Find out how to register and make a representation about the application

  

From today, (Wednesday 17 April 2013) members of the public are invited to register with the Planning Inspectorate and make a representation about the application for the Thames Tideway Tunnel proposal.

The Planning Inspectorate accepted for examination, the application from Thames Water Utilities Ltd for Development Consent for the Thames Tideway Tunnel (‘Supersewer’) on 27 March. The public and those interested in the proposal can register with The Planning Inspectorate between 17 April 2013 and 28 May 2013.
People can register easily online at: http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/projects/london/thames-tideway-tunnel/.
Alternatively, they may call the Inspectorate’s helpline: 0303 444 5000 for a printed registration form, which must be completed and returned by 28 May 2013.

Sir Michael Pitt, The Planning Inspectorate’s Chief Executive, said.  “This is an opportunity for people to play a part in the planning process and influence the outcome. We encourage people to get involved by registering as an interested party. By doing so, people will be able to participate fully in the examination of this proposal”.
Those who register will be entitled to provide evidence in writing to support their representation, to attend the Preliminary Meeting, to request an open floor hearing and to speak at other hearings where appropriate.
To help people understand how the process works, Planning Inspectorate staff will be holding drop-in events and presentations in the local area to answer questions and explain how to register and make a representation about the application.
 
2 May Tower Hamlets
Glamis Estate Tenants’ Hall 414 Cable Street (corner of Cable Street and Glamis Road) E1 0AF   
10am to 7pm, 7pm to 8pm    
7 May   London Borough of Wandsworth
Town Hall, Wandsworth High Street SW18 2PU  
10am to 5pm, 7:30pm  to 9pm
8 May   London Borough of Southwark
160 Tooley Street SE1 2TZ   
10am to 5pm   
8 May   Southwark, Glaziers Hall
9 Montague Close SE1 9DD  
7pm to 8pm    
9 May   London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
Council Chamber, York House Richmond Road, Twickenham, TW1 3AA    
1pm to 7pm, 7pm to 8pm    
14 May  Greater London Authority
City Hall The Queen's Walk  SE1 2AA  
10am to 2pm, 7pm to 8pm    
15 May  London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
Town Hall, King Street W6 9JU 
2pm to 5pm    
17 May  Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Town Hall. Hornton Street London W8 7NX  
1pm to 7pm, 7pm to 8pm    
23 May  London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
Wharf Rooms, Imperial Wharf, SW6 2PY   
5pm to 7pm, 7pm to 8pm 
   
The Inspectorate is not able to discuss the merits of the application at these events because this will be considered in due course by the appointed Examining Authority, at the examination.
A copy of the application together with further information about the proposal and how to register to make a relevant representation is available on the Planning Inspectorate website http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/projects/london/thames-tideway-tunnel/

Thames Tunnel update

Don't Dump on Deptford's Heart reports:

• Thames Water are planning to submit the development consent application for the Super Sewer on 28th February to the planning inspectorate in Bristol
• This application will be 60,000 pages long
• The planning inspectorate will then have until March 28th to make a decision as to whether they will accept this application
• They are making a big play of their consultation claiming that they have listened to members of the community and stakeholders and have taking people’s views into consideration for the plans that they have submitted
• If the planning inspectorate accept the application they will make available the application available to the public
• It is expected that they will then hold a meeting to consider the application on 2nd and 3rd September 2013

The campaign believes that they have still not answered our questions or our concerns. We will continue to fight this. Please remember, so far only Thames Water have decided that this is a good site.

Keep up to date with the fight by joining Don't Dump on Deptford's Heart's Facebook page. 

Thames Tunnel update

After two phases of consultation, Thames Tunnel has put forward Crossfields Open Space as its preferred site to intercept the Deptford Storm Relief tunnel (which runs under Deptford Church Street on its way to the Thames). The use of this site was not even considered in Phase One, but was added to the list after Phase One had recommended Borthwick Wharf Foreshore then found it to be unsuitable.

The finalised Thames Tideway Tunnel plans were published in July, with a 12-week period for the public to review the updated construction proposals before they are submitted for Planning Consent. This period, known as "Section 48 publicity" runs till 5 October 2012. The plans identify 24 preferred construction sites across London and will be 'submitted for scrutiny by the Planning Inspectorate' early next year, a process which may take up till 2015-2016.

You can read Thames Tunnel's rationale for their decision for the preferred site "Deptford Church Street" or "C32XZ" as they call it (its actual official name is "Crossfields Open Space") in Volume 5 Eastern site appendices, downloadable here. Go to page 83 to read up on Phase One, and page 94 for Phase Two. You'll perhaps notice that the criteria for not doing it in most places apply to the Church Street site as much as anywhere else. They may as well have tossed a coin.

You can also view the information specific to the Church Street site here or see below (P2 Deptford CS SIP) embedded in this post. Alarmingly, Thames Tunnel do not make it easy to download this document – you're requested to sign up for a paid subscription account with Scribd.com. There is a 'print' button (but who wants to print 32 pages?) so we have also made a link to the document here in Google docs.

The first map in the document shows the route the interceptor tunnel will take from Greenwich Pumping Station through (or rather, under) Crossfields Estate, intercepting the big storm relief tunnel under Deptford Church Street, on its way to another 'preferred' site, Earl Pumping Station in Rotherhithe.

It's a little difficult to assess the information contained in the document – this table, for instance, is spread over two different pages (we've joined them here).

There are four main phases, lasting approximately three and a half years.

The impact on Crossfields Estate will be be greater in Phase 3 (P3). Although Farrer and Congers House are closest to the site and will be affected throughout the construction since it is right opposite them (and the intercept tunnel will be built under Farrer Lawn), the entire estate will suffer from the partial closure of Deptford Church Street in Phase 3. On page 14 of the document it says:

While the connection to the existing sewer in Deptford Church Street (A2209) is constructed (construction phase 3) we would need to close the two northbound lanes, as shown on Figure 2D. The two southbound lanes would provide two way access along Deptford Church Street (A2209). The bus lane would be suspended to enable this, and buses would need to use the general traffic lanes.

The northbound bus stop near Coffey Street and the southbound bus stop near the railway bridge may also need to be moved during this phase and the footpath along the western side of Deptford Church Street (A2209) would be diverted around the site. Based on our current design, we do not anticipate that any junction changes would be required.

Here's Figure 2D showing the road closure in Phase 3 (click to enlarge):

At the public meeting chaired by Joan Ruddock that took place on 12th September (see Further Reading below), Phil Stride from Thames Tunnel said they had used Transport For London modelling which showed 640 vehicles per hour used the north of Deptford Church Street. Thames Tunnel would only be adding four lorries per hour to this statistic. Someone from the audience immediately pointed out that one side of the dual carriageway would be closed, so Mr Stride's TFL statistics were irrelevant.

Their document claims Standard Hours would be kept during Phase 3 – that's 10 hours each weekday (8am-6pm) and 5 hours on Saturdays (8am-1pm). So that'll be 40 lorries a day each weekday then?  Perhaps Mr Stride was referring to peak times only?

Although the road closure would happen in Phase 3, this table shows 24 lorries a day in Phase 2 – when Extended Hours will apply (8am–10pm):

Some may recall the roadworks which took place a few years ago (whilst Thames Water repaired the Victorian mains), and how Deptford Church Street became gridlocked and Creekside became a continual rat run for a couple of weeks or so. As it is, there only needs to be one accident on either of the main artery roads – the A2 or A202 – or closure of Blackwall or Rotherhithe tunnels, for Deptford Church Street to become gridlocked. Or for an accident on Church Street to back up all the way to New Cross Gate etc. With partial closure of Deptford Church Street likely to last for up to a year during Phase 3, pollution levels from stationery traffic on all sides of Crossfields may become unacceptable.

In theory it could be said that Church Street is already just a two way street because of the bus lanes, but traffic will inevitably be slowed down by the partial closure, causing traffic to divert to Creekside. Moving bus stops may not be that inconvenient but there is no mention of pedestrian crossings.

Redevelopment at Faircharm will be taking place soon if not at the same time, and whatever happens there, we understand a decision has already been made not to use Deptford Creek to transport materials in and out, so Creekside will already have its fair share of lorries.

On top of that, the Deptford Church Street lorry route will use Norman Road, where Thames Tunnel work will also be taking place at Greenwich Pumping Station. That will go on for five years and will also use Norman Road and Greenwich High Road to transport materials. So we'll be surrounded on all sides. See the Greenwich Pumping Station document here.

Please watch out for further updates and details of how to oppose these plans. If you would like to go on the Don't Dump on Deptford's Heart campaign mailing list, please email them here.


P2 Deptford CS SIP .......................................................................................................................................................

Further reading:

For those who missed the Thames Tunnel Public Meeting on 12th September, the following observations were noted:

With Dame Joan Ruddock in the Chair, Oliver Seal spoke on behalf of Deptford Heart's campaign, followed by Phil Stride from Thames Tunnel. Ms Ruddock then opened the meeting up to questions from the floor.

Site Preference

The campaigners wanted to understand the reasons why the Crossfields Open Space site had now been chosen in preference to what had originally been Thames Tunnel's preferred site at Borthwick Wharf Foreshore (next to Millennium Quay).

Phil Stride stated the reasons they discarded the originally preferred site at Borthwick Wharf/Millennium Quay and other foreshore sites: there is a disused jetty causing an obstruction, the Ahoy Centre would be detrimentally affected, as would nearby residential housing, there are also 60 high-voltage electric cables passing under the Thames, plus the roads at Millennium Quay would not withstand lorry traffic. (NB: They are also privately owned by the developer, but residents have responsibility for maintenance so would have to be compensated.)

Relevant Data and Criteria

Stride was asked how many properties would be affected at both the Borthwick site and at Crossfields Open Space – exactly how many residents would be affected at each site? Stride didn't have the figures to hand. Joan Ruddock stated that her assistant would be noting any questions raised that Stride could not answer at the meeting so that they could be put to him in writing afterwards.

Stride said the residents at Borthwick Wharf lived much closer to that site, but a member of the audience pointed out that the population density is far greater in the area surrounding the Crossfields site, even if residents/businesses were a little further away (although the school is very close). Another pointed out that construction work would take place during the day, overlapping with school hours at St Joseph's, whilst many Borthwick Wharf residents would be out at work and therefore not exposed to noise and dust.

Someone asked why it was so difficult to get hold of any of the raw data Thames Tunnel had used to make their decision, so that the public could draw their own comparisons – persistent enquiries over the past few months had not been answered. Stride said he was surprised. One person stated they had not even been able to obtain a map of the consultation area, whilst another questioned the criteria used: he had been told that a school counts as a "single receptor", equal to a single flat.

Closure of Deptford Church Street

Why did they have to close half of Deptford Church Street? (One side of the dual carriageway would be closed for up to a year). Stride said this was because the main sewage tunnel already runs under the road (on the west side) where they would need to intercept it. He said they had used Transport For London modelling which showed 640 vehicles per hour used the north of Deptford Church Street. Thames Tunnel would only be adding four lorries per hour to this statistic. Someone from the audience immediately pointed out that one side of the dual carriageway would be closed, so these statistics were irrelevant.

Two members of the audience highlighted the problem of both the high street and Creekside being used as rat runs as a result of congestion on Deptford Church Street. Both are also conservation areas, highly populated, and pollution levels are bound to increase with stationery traffic. Crossfields would be surrounded on all sides by polluting gridlocked traffic. But it appears the only strategy was to offer double glazing to the school (which wouldn't help the children when they were in the playground). Needless to say, partial closure of Deptford Church Street will result in hold-ups that will spread out along the A2 and A202, affecting yet more people.

Using the river

Why are Thames Tideway Tunnel reluctant to use the river instead of roads? Apparently this was because they had to bring in ready mixed concrete as well as remove earth. This didn't convince the audience, one of whom pointed out that construction at Paynes & Borthwick mixed on site (and where there was very little road disruption). Another pointed out that you can mix concrete on barges, and another that there was a concrete mixer at Deptford Bridge (Prior's Aggregates), and waste could be removed by barge. Stride said there were prohibitive costs involved at the Borthwick site since they would need to build an island out on the river before they could begin to drill a hole there.

The Cheaper Option?

Someone pointed out that wealthy Barnes had fought off proposals and an alternative site was found in a poor part of Battersea – wealthy areas tend to have a stronger voice, with easy access to expertise, lawyers and media. Stride dismissed this analogy and insisted that cost was not a driving factor, but Value For Money was. Someone asked for figures. What were the comparable costs of the two different sites? Come on, give us a ballpark figure! None was forthcoming.

Compensation

What's the size of the pot, someone asked. Stride said they'd be unable to offer non-statutory compensation (should people be unable to sell their homes), but there could be statutory compensation paid for such things as secondary glazing and loss of business, although it would appear they do not expect too many such claims at the Crossfields site.

Construction and Process

Stride said they had learned from Crossrail not to award contracts to firms who then subcontracted out, thus the main contractors would be more accountable.

Cllr Madeleine Long asked if Stride intended to go the Secretary of State and the government's Infrastructure Committee (the next stage of the process) with only one proposal. Since this part of the process could go on for a couple of years, might they find themselves back at square one if this site was eventually turned down? Might their business plan be a little faulty?

The meeting closed late at around 9.30pm.

Also read Joan Ruddock's speech in our previous post.