GERRARDS CROSS RAIL TUNNEL COLLAPSE
20 July 2005
I have been contacted by many constituents regarding the Gerrards Cross rail tunnel collapse and I share their concern over this collapse. I obtained from the Speaker the holding of an Adjournment Debate in the House of Commons which was to have taken place on Monday 18th July, so that I could raise these matters with the Government. Unfortunately, the death of Sir Edward Heath led to the adjournment of the House as a mark of respect and my debate was lost as a result.
It would be possible for me to have a new debate in October but by then I suspect that matters will have moved on considerably. I have tabled Parliamentary Questions to the Government and I am still awaiting replies. I have had a number of briefings on the matter, in particular form Network Rail and Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate.
I am told that following the removal of the collapsed sections and the further removal of fifteen other sections that were considered unsafe, an assessment is being made of the remaining structure which will be concluded by the end of this week. Network Rail are emphatic that this will require the removal of the entirety of what has been built unless it is absolutely clear that the remaining structure is safe and the collapsed sections can be re-built with the existing structure still standing.
I understand that this aspect is in doubt because of the construction method employed which doesn’t allow the gap to be filled very easily.
I will obviously continue to monitor the situation very closely and it is my hope, along with, I am sure, most Gerrards Cross residents, that Tesco will reconsider its decision and abandon this ill-fated project which has caused so much disturbance and damage to Gerrards Cross.
I am told that if the entire structure requires removal the entire line is likely to remain closed until September.
Dominic Grieve MP