• Question by: Toby Harris
• Meeting date: 27 February 2002

That was all very fine and interesting. It was a little difficult to disentangle from that what you are actually going to do to enhance the role of outer-London suburbs, or what your vision for those suburbs could be. Is it your vision that Harrow should become like Hackney, or that Barnet should become like Barking, or do you have some clearer vision of what you want the outer-London suburbs to look like - and if so, how do you expect to get there?

• Question by: Elizabeth Howlett
• Meeting date: 27 February 2002

What about gate closures - Robin Hood gate in particular?

• Question by: Elizabeth Howlett
• Meeting date: 27 February 2002

My question follows on from Tony Arbour's, about the Royal Parks Agency's proposals for Richmond Park. My understanding is that TfL had not been consulted this time, although they were consulted on the closure during the foot and mouth outbreak. I understand that TfL do have concerns about this latest proposal, about the traffic impact on local roads and bus routes. During the foot and mouth outbreak, Alton Road on the Roehampton estate was monitored as taking 1,800 cars an hour during the peak periods. That road just cannot take that sort of congestion. Roehampton is a residential area, with...

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 27 February 2002

Do you accept, though, that one of the reasons that many people choose to live in outer London, and put up with the hassle of commuting and so on, is precisely because they want for themselves and their families the extra space that comes from comparative low density, and that to attack that is to attack the very fabric and the very point of the suburbs in the first place, and damages the quality of life that makes people want to live there?

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 27 February 2002

I thought that, by way of novelty, I would ask you a question about the Spatial Development Strategy. In your first response, you referred to making more efficient and intensive use of land in the suburbs. Would you accept that that might raise concerns among many people who live in the suburbs that it is code for a significant increase in density of development in the suburbs? What reassurance can you give to people on that?

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 27 February 2002

Would it be helpful to remind you of the question, which is about relations with the boroughs?

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 27 February 2002

Key to delivering a lot of your transport and planning visions for outer London has to be partnership and co-operation with the boroughs. Until now, the relationship with the boroughs has been very poor. I understand from discussions with Bob Kiley and others that a charm initiative is under way to improve those relationships. Can you explain to us what you are going to do to try to realign your relationship with the boroughs, and whether it is going to be more productive in the second half of your term than it was in the first?

• Question by: Richard Barnes
• Meeting date: 27 February 2002

Ken, I spent 18 hours in Southall last weekend, as I regularly spend time there, from celebrating Eid to meeting the various community groups and going around experiencing the problems with them. I invite you to come and spend time in Southall, because what you are saying shows that you do not understand the pressures we are under there.

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 27 February 2002

I am perceptive too, and I noticed that long answer mentioned the arrival of Crossrail travelling via Redbridge and Havering. Does that mean that you now favour the original Crossrail route via Ilford and Romford town centres? If it does, then I can tell you that that change of heart by you will be very welcome in the two boroughs that I represent.

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 27 February 2002

During our review of public transport in outer London, many witnesses told us that they thought outer London got a bad deal from Transport for London, in that most of the money is raised in outer London but spent in inner London. Transport for London have contested that view, but they have been unable to provide us with evidence of what the money is spent on and what we get for the taxes we pay in boroughs such as Havering and Redbridge. From your position as Chairman of Transport for London, will you take urgent action to ensure that we...