Many Residents are concerned with the effects of a bridge of such dimensions bringing a massive amount of traffic to a highly residential area.

We have set up a message board for residents and Local Businesses to express their concerns about these proposals and this site will keep you up to date on topics concerning these proposals.

You also have an opportunity to download an Objectors's application form to either send your own objections or appoint someone to represent your views at the Public Enquiry which will take place on 7th June 2005. You may DOWNLOAD the Objectors Form here and you may DOWNLOAD a 'Say No to the Bridge' poster from here.

The Action Group Against the Bridge (A.G.A.B.) and the St. Michaels Residents' Association (SMRA) have submitted Objections under Rule 6 and you may view their statement of case by clicking here or you DOWNLOAD a .PDF version here.

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Day One - The Pre-Enquiry

You Couldn't have made it up.

With an inspector who declared an interest of being an engineer and having been an employee of one of the engineering firms involved, but, stating that nevertheless he would be impartial, he demonstrated his impartiality by allowing all the 'suits' in early whereby they occupied all the front seats and the objectors were not allowed in until the starting time of 1pm were consigned to the 'gods'.

Clearly at all future meetings the objectors will have to get there early and get the best seats - unless of course the impartial inspector wants to afford the 'suits' the best seats in the house.

The objectors made a few demands - the most important being that the enquiry be postponed until the Autumn as there had been insufficient time to prepare their case. The Impartial Inspector made a ruling that he would not hear that matter until just before Item 4 (bad decision - was he aware that we were at Charlton Athletic's ground and they were at home that evening against Watford).

When we eventually got to the postponement debate there were passionate speeches from objectors such as Jenny Bates, John Stewart, Dr Barry Gray and most passionate housewife Superstar Jacqui Wise. I, Terry Grant, representing the St Michaels Residents Association stuck my oar in a couple of times too.

At 5pm the impartial inspector adjourned for fifteen minutes to 'consider his decision' and came back promptly at 5:15pm and announced that he was rejecting the application.

It may have been the decision or the manner in which it was announced, but, one objector rushed forward and grabbed the microphone and let rip The impartial inspector, clearly having lost control, announced that the meeting was Closed. Now mark my words carefully - CLOSED - not ADJOURNED. He then walked out.

Bearing in mind that we were only halfway through the agenda and that hordes of Charlton fans were now beginning to arrive he would have been forced to ADJOURN the meeting but to CLOSE IT??? Will there be a replay at another ground?? Please tell me we have to kick-off again with a different referee!!!.

Other Happenings at the Pre-Enquiry

During the meeting the supportors' suits were asked by the impartial inspector to stand up and identify themselves and who they were representing. The microphone was passed from suit to suit and 'tail end charlie' announced himself as the representative of Bexley Council. The event then turned to farce when, as the most soft spoken advocate I've ever heard (or never heard), he couldn't get the hang of one of the world's simplest devices, a microphone. (who's that comedian on UK Gold who makes a living out of it?). He sat down and then the impartial inspector called upon the objectors to identify themselves. After about four objectors had spoken, ' tail end charlie' suddenly stood up and announced that he was not a supporter but an objector on behalf of Bexley Council. Oh how we laughed!!!!

We thought for a moment that Councillors Ball and Francis had seen the light, but how could they? Surely it would need another meeting of the council to make that decision. We await with bated breath.