TRAM: British and Australian (American usually streetcar also trolley) noun [C] An electric vehicle that transports people, usually in cities, and goes along metal tracks in the road. (Taken from the Cambridge English Dictionary)
News...December 2007...News...December 2007...News...December 2007...News
This Page was last updated Sunday 23rd December 2007
All the news carried on these pages is done so in good faith and the source is always quoted, normally with hyperlinks. If you have a correction to give us on a news story or have any additional news that can be added do not hestiate to email us . We are grateful for those people who have given us permission to use their images and news on this page.
To return to the current News Index click here (If you have accessed this page by using the News Archive please use the back button on your browser).
NET PHASE TWO PUBLIC INQUIRY ENDS
Nottingham Express Transit – Sunday 23rd December 2007
The Public Inquiry into Phase Two of Nottingham Express Transit has now finished with the Inspector now going away to prepare his report for the Secretary of State for Transport, Ruth Kelly. In the final week more objectors were heard including some from the Beeston and Chilwell Business and Residents Association (BCBRA) and Environment not Trams (ENT).
ENT were complaining at the start of the week that there has not been an adequate flood-risk assessment into the line through Wilford. Jim Silver, from the group, said: “This [flooding from the ground up and not the River Trent] has been the case in 1946, 1947, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004 and 2007. Only in 1947 and 2000 did the river join the already flooded fields. No contingency has been made by NET for the fact a track from the toll bridge to Wilford Lane would be subject to flooding from the ground some time before there was any question of flooding from the river. NET has failed to significantly account for the engineering problems of a track crossing a floodplain."
Callum Gibson, engineer for the scheme, countered this argument: “The ENT objection states flooding occurs 'from the ground'. This is thought to mean flooding occurs due to existing drainage issues. The detailed design of NET will take this into account, and there may well be opportunities to improve any existing drainage problems. Design and construction of phase two will not be permitted to worsen flooding risk."
As part of the work for NET existing flood defences will be improved and Wilford Toll Bridge will also see strengthening work to its foundations.
On the final day of the Inquiry, BCBRA came into their own – claiming any negative items during the Public Consultation were suppressed, and that there is a massive opposition amongst the public to the scheme.
Steve Williams, a BCBRA committee member, commented: “The strong public opposition to the scheme has been suppressed and misrepresented by the partial and promotional nature of publicity."
Closing statements from the promoters (the City and County Councils) and the two anti-tram groups ended the Inquiry after seven weeks. We now await to see Mr Robert Barker’s report which should be completed some time in 2008.
