Those of us who attended the Thames Gateway Bridge Planning Inquiry between 2005-6 will remember that the London Borough of Greenwich, who had been a leading opponent of an earlier version of this project, made much of its importance to the regeneration of Woolwich.
Incidentally, if this long running inquiry of nearly a year's duration had taken place in Woolwich, rather than Charlton Athletic Football Club, the economy of that town, and birthplace of the famous Arsenal FC, might well have benefited.
However, the Planning Inspector recommended against the Thames Gateway Bridge in 2007, and the new Chairman of Transport for London Mayor Boris Johnson scrapped the scheme last year, notwithstanding continuing efforts by the likes of Greenwich Council to revive it.
Now it has been announced that TfL has a joint venture partner for two rail transport related commercial development projects in Woolwich, and that planning applications for these are anticipated next year.
My view has always been that the regeneration benefits of rail investment for Woolwich town centre and the Royal Arsenal areas are much more significant than any potential contribution of a road-based river crossing which has the major environmental objections of the TGB.
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