East London River Crossing (Hansard, 28 November 1990)

§ Mr. Evennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning the applicability of the European Community environmental impact assessment directive 1985 to the proposed east London river crossing.

§ Mr. Chope
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Woolwich (Mr. Cartwright) on 23 November at column231.

§ Mr. Evennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice his Department has sought concerning the applicability of the European Community environmental impact assessment directive 1985 and the Highways (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1988 to the proposed east London river crossing; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Chope
No environmental assessment under the directive was required in relation to the line and side road orders for this scheme, which were published in 1984. An assessment in the form of an appraisal framework of the environmental effects of the scheme was published in 1985, and taken into account by the Secretaries of State in reaching their decision. The directive has been applied to the proposed design changes for which an environmental statement was published in January 1990.

§ Ms. Ruddock
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will conduct an environmental impact assessment study for(a) the east London river crossing and (b) M11 link projects; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Chope
An assessment in the form of an appraisal framework of the environmental effects of the east London river crossing was published in 1985. The likely environmental effects of the scheme were also exhaustively considered at lengthy public inquiries during 1985–86. An environmental statement on the effects of the proposed design changes to the scheme from the Al3 to the A2016 was published in January 1990. Public inquiries are currently being held into the proposed design changes, at which the Department has presented detailed evidence on the effects of the design changes.
Evidence on the environmental impact of the A 1 2 Hackney-M 11 link road was presented at public inquiries held in 1983 and 1987 and was fully taken into account when the decisions to proceed with the scheme were taken.