Three of the country’s top judges yesterday paved the way for London Underground to proceed with its plans for the East London line extension, including demolition works at the Bishopsgate Goods Yard.
The Court of Appeal rejected a challenge by railway enthusiast Andy Prokopp, who had hoped to prevent the demolition of the goods yard. The court ruled that there was an “overwhelming” requirement for the East London line extension to proceed as quickly as possible.
Buxton LJ said: “The need for, and benefits of, the East London line extension are undisputed. Extensive evidence has been filed by London Underground Ltd and by the Strategic Rail Authority demonstrating that in practical terms there is no alternative to the present plans, and that any further delay would almost certainly be fatal to the project.
“That evidence, which comes from technical professionals and not just from administrators, has not been challenged.”
He added that no new evidence to the contrary had been presented, and that there was “therefore nothing that the court [could] properly put in the scales against the overwhelming weight of evidence in favour of permitting the East London line extension to proceed without further delay”.
Later London’s Mayor, Ken Livingstone said: “This is great news for London. I will be meeting with the transport minister tomorrow to ask him to give the go ahead for this vital scheme.”
Prokopp v London Underground Ltd and others Court of Appeal (Kennedy, Schiemann and Buxton LJJ) 7 July 2003.
References: PLS News 8/7/03
