Lambeth Council have commissioned consultants and will be arguing for the upgrade of the Herne Hill/Elephant & Castle Thameslink line but Southwark Council have accepted the need for Thameslink to be routed through the Borough Market area without having commissioned work or consultants to consider alternative routeing for the Thameslink upgrade - a scheme devised in the 1980s; this has been left to local residents.

Therefore as a consequence have accepted the need for the demolition of many listed and unlisted buildings in their pre-eminent Borough High Street Conservation Area, to make way for the concrete and steel viaduct. Their only involvement at the Inquiry will be to debate the design of replacement buildings.The Borough Market Trustees have not opposed the upgrading of Thameslink through the historic area and appear to have had little to say on the effects on the market, the possible health and hygiene issues or the drastic impact the changes envisaged on the streetscape and fabric of the market.

English Heritage, although describing Borough High Street Conservation Area as “outstanding” and of “national importance” has not sort to oppose the scheme but, on the contrary, assisted the railway company (Railtrack) to design the viaduct thus colluding in the belief that the integrity of the historic Borough Market area will survive the mass demolition and changes to the ancient streetscape and the character of this part of London.

The Bishop of Southwark, Tom Butler appeared as a witness for residents at the first Inquiry, but Southwark Cathedral, (described by Railtrack’s heritage expert as a ‘second division’ building) has not had much to say about the loss of buildings that will occur, or how it will cope with being in the middle of an extensive worksite or how a massive new steel and concrete viaduct will affect the setting of this Grade 1 listed buildings.

Representatives of CARA and BRF (both voluntary groups) are hard pressed preparing proofs of evidence and witness statements to present at the Inquiry.

The community will put its case on Tuesday 18th October (until 21st October)with the help of Ben Birnberg, John Hobson QC and Professor Nick Tyler and others (all volunteers).

 

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