Letter: Sites that warrant special protection

Sir: Now that the new European Commissioner for the Environment has raised serious questions about the Government's plans to destroy a Site of Special Scientific Interest (Oxleas Wood) by building the East London River Crossing, there is an opportunity to reassess alternatives.

It is worthy of note that the Minister of Transport estimates the cost of the East London River Crossing and the extension of the Jubilee Line to Woolwich to be about the same.

Given the choice - either an urban motorway destroying ancient woodland and residential areas or extending the London Underground to an area poorly served by public transport, with one of the lowest rates of car ownership and the highest unemployment in London - I am sure people would say: 'Scrap ELRC and build the Jubilee Line'.

Yours sincerely,

JOHN AUSTIN-WALKER

MP for Woolwich (Labour)

House of Commons

London, SW1

5 August