§ Mr. Humfrey Malins (Croydon, North-West)The petition that I wish to present has been signed by more than 4,500 of the inhabitants of Norbury and Thornton Heath in my constituency of Croydon, North-West and urges the Secretary of State for Transport not to proceed with any new carriageways or major road widenings in Norbury or Thornton Heath which would damage those communities.
The petition is strongly supported by Norbury councillors Colin Johnston, Brian Kendall and Roy Hodges and by the local action group Norbury Against Trunk Roads, all of whose members work tirelessly on behalf of local people. Recently, the mayor of Croydon and I led a march of 2,500 Norbury people to demonstrate our united opposition to the proposals.
The petition reads:
Wherefore your petitioners pray that your honourable House urge the Secretary of State for Transport to recognise the great concern caused to the communities in Norbury, Thornton Heath, and in southern Streatham, by the proposals for new carriageways and widening of the A23 that are contained in the South London Assessment Study, Stage 2b. We also have concern for those proposals which similarly threaten other communities in London. We request that the Secretary recognise our concerns and that the manner of this recognition be as follows:
- 1. That he should dismiss all the options in the South London Assessment Study which propose major construction of roads, or major widening of roads and proposals which will damage communities and the natural environment.
- 2. That he should seek instead to promote investment in making substantial improvements in the Public Transport infrastructure.
And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.
§ To lie upon the Table.