1) What
is the Thameslink proposal?
In 1987 British Rail proposed an upgrading of the Thameslink
railway line running south-north through London. This involved
the construction of a new concrete and steel viaduct through
the historic Borough High Street Conservation Area, described
by English Heritage as “unique”. Far and away the
greatest destructive impact of the whole scheme which runs between
the south coast and areas north of London falls on this area
of Southwark. Subsequently, Railtrack and now Network Rail continued
to promote the scheme and after Public Inquiries in 2001/2 and
2005 the Government gave permission in October 2006.
2) How
will it affect the market and surrounding areas?
To make way for the viaduct it will require the demolition of
at least 20 Grade II listed and numerous unlisted buildings
(further details below); the historic streetscape will be irrevocably
changed as the historic buildings and part of the market roof
structures are replaced with a concrete and steel viaduct, and
a glass shopping mall on Borough High Street.
3) What
is the Borough High Street Conservation Area?
The area around and including Borough Market - Park Street,
Stoney Street and Bedale Street, Borough High Street and Southwark
Cathedral were designated as a Conservation Area in the mid
1970s by the former Greater London Council. The reason for designation
is because the streetscape and urban fabric was considered to
be of special historic and architectural value. The Conservation
Area was extended north towards the river during the 1980s to
take in Clink Street; it was also re-designated as an 'Outstanding'
Conservation Area. Click on the following link to see a map.
http://www.southwark.gov.uk/Uploads/FILE_18510.pdf
4) Which
buildings, streets and businesses will be affected?
• 11 Borough High Street, fish and chip shop/restaurant
- TO BE DEMOLISHED
•
12 Borough High Street, Newsagent – TO BE DEMOLISHED
•
13 Borough High Street, Grocery shop – TO BE DEMOLISHED
•
*16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 Borough High Street (terrace designed
by Sir Robert Smirke, the architect of the British Museum) 6
mixed use buildings - TO BE DEMOLISHED
•
*All of Green Dragon Court (total 5 buildings) - TO BE DEMOLISHED,
the new viaduct to straddle it almost suffocating the listed
Globe Pub
•
*The Wheatsheaf pub, 6 Stoney Street – top floor to be
removed and new viaduct to span the building
•
Part of the Borough Market roof – to be demolished and
new viaduct over it
•
7 Stoney Street, derelict building - TO BE DEMOLISHED
•
2 Bedale Street, Delicatessen – TO BE DEMOLISHED
•
3 Bedale Street, Repro image – TO BE DEMOLISHED
•
4 Bedale Street, Neil’s Yard Remedies – TO BE DEMOLISHED
•
*The rear of the Park Street terrace (Nos 1-11) – to be
demolished and ‘reconfigured’.
* Grade
11 listed buildings
5) Will
the market be able to trade?
It is expected that the retail and wholesale markets will have
to move around on the various sites – Green Market, Jubilee
Market and the Borough Market as each part of the viaduct is
built. It will have to operate within a plastic sealed tent
arrangement to avoid food contamination. Streets will be closed
off as and when the construction needs dictate, working will
be 24hour and the work sites are located within the areas of
demolished buildings and in Redcross Way.
6) What
is the position of the Borough Market Trust?
The Borough Market Trust believes the market will be able to
operate in the middle of the construction site over the 2-3
year period it will take to build the new viaduct. For more
information click on to the Borough Market web site on this
link
http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk/index.php?module=news:72
7) Does
the campaign support improvements to Thameslink?
Yes – but not by constructing so devastating a viaduct
through the Borough Market Area.
8) What
are the alternatives?
Tunnelling is one option – the Crossrail scheme, an east-west
link through London is almost entirely tunnelled; part of the
channel tunnel rail link is tunnelled through north London.
Why not tunnel the Thameslink line from Bermondsey to St Pancras
as the campaign suggested was one option. Costs would be higher,
but then the cost of destroying the buildings and streetscape
in the Conservation Area is not a cost that has been factored
in to the costs of this current scheme through Borough and therefore
is not taken into account when looking at the cost benefits
of this scheme.
An advantage
of tunnelling is that it would facilitate further upgrading
of Thameslink in the future if, as the campaign also put to
the Government, there was likely to be a further escalation
of demand for cross-London rail travel.
Another
option is the upgrading of the Thameslink line through the Elephant
& Castle, the subject of a major regeneration project. This
was supported by the community at the 2001 Inquiry and by Lambeth
Borough Council at both Inquiries since it would open up transport
opportunities to parts of south London currently poorly served
by public transport.
We are suggesting
that people write to the Treasury (address below) to say that
the Government should not fund or enter into any Private Finance
Initiatives (PFI) to fund this part of the Thameslink upgrade
and urge the Government to look at the alternatives including
those suggested above.
