Thames Tunnel Now Coalition Meeting - 12/07/13Boris Johnson appears, as ever, to be in both camps concerning the tunnel, however, broadly it has cross party support.
It was also suggested that there should be an enhanced push for Green Infrastructure projects over the next few months, as they should naturally form part of London's future planning requirements. To that end there was talk of one particular project in London (can't remember where it was built) where the contractors initially treated the additional work required to fit environmental friendly services as a bit of a pain. On completion however, they were very impressed with the marketability of the 'look' of the completed project and saw all of it as an enhancement to sales, which after all tends to be the
ring that leads the bull.
The 'registration of interest' was viewed positively by the coalition, and they/we are delighted with the responses made by those supporting the tunnel and letting the Planning Inspectorate know. This would include individual members of the TAC:
SEE HERE Well done chaps!
The Cabinet Office review of the tunnel appears to be very favourable, and TTN have been sent replies from govt. to letters sent to the PM. More about those will become public knowledge later in the summer. On that note there will be a newsletter produced to provide all 31 coalition members with an update and this will then be distributed by individual member organisations (such as the TAC) to there memberships, press etc.
The opposition to the tunnel were discussed, and notably from those taken from the Planning Inspectorates 'registration of interests' list, and not much has changed in that regard:
SEE HEREA response to a 'negative' article that appeared in the magazine 'The Environment' has been written by Thames 21 and apparently will be printed in the next issue.
The
Shellfish Association would like to become the 32nd member of the TTN Coalition.
Lastly, Emily Braham of Thames 21 is leaving the organisation to travel.
End of Meeting.