A PUBLIC consultation has found massive support for a new Thames crossing.

Of 5,194 people asked by transport body Transport for London if they wanted the proposed Thames Gateway Bridge, 85 per cent were in favour.

The result of the survey into the proposed £425 million bridge from Thamesmead to Beckton was announced by Mayor of London Ken Livingstone.
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The proposed bridge, which would be completed by 2010 if it goes ahead, will have two bus lanes, four lanes for other road users, a cycleway and a footpath.

When asked if they would like the bridge to be paid for by tolls 48 per cent replied yes and 41 per cent said no.

Salvo 2003 to be held in Chiswick

The  Tate Modern celebrates its third anniversary at a time when it is experiencing its first major competition.

London mayor Ken Livingstone could prevent the sale of the Millennium Dome after demanding more affordable housing in the redevelopment plans.

He has warned that he will veto the deal unless 50% of the homes to be built beside it are offered for cheap rent or sale.

The current proposals include 35% designated being used for use by key workers, such as teachers and policemen, in London.

The government is hoping that the sale will make £550million to be spent tackling housing problems in the north of England.

But Mr Livingstone is determined that London and the Thames Gateway should be the main beneficiaries - and that the site should provide at least 5,000 cheap homes rather than the 3,500 the deal with developer Meridian Delta specifies.

Meridian Delta director Bert Martin said today: “”We believe the proposals provide the opportunity to create a new urban community for  Greenwich and London, delivering a comprehensive sustainable regeneration, integrated with high quality public spaces and a world class entertainment and sporting destination at the Dome.”

Regeneration project

Under the plans, the Dome would become “Europe's premier multi-purpose entertainment and sports venue” and conference centre.

The 10,010 homes would be built in four residential areas on adjacent land.

The mayor has written to local London Borough of Greenwich's planning committee saying he is “minded to direct refusal” of the plans if the council approves the scheme as it stands.

Mr Livingstone has the power to reject planning applications on projects that have London-wide implications.

Regeneration project

Greenwich Council leader Chris Roberts said: “The council is determined to ensure that all local residents benefit from the new scheme.”

The work on the Dome, which endured a troubled 12 months during its opening to the public during millennium year, is just part of a 20-year regeneration of the Greenwich peninsula.

Recent government figures have shown that the bill simply for keeping the Dome empty since July 2001 has risen to £22.9m.

The development could bring 24,000 long-term jobs to the area.

Sports events

The application has been submitted by government regeneration agency English Partnerships - which owns the Dome land, property consortium Meridian Delta Ltd(MDL) and sports and entertainment company Anschutz Entertainment Group Europe

The first work in the regeneration scheme will be the 24-month construction of the central area of the Dome at a cost of £135m.

A further £65m will be spent on a 62,000 square metre entertainment and leisure space area inside the Dome which will include bars and restaurants.

The central Dome arena will host about 150 events a year, although this could rise to 200.

They will include concerts, family shows, sports events, award shows and conventions.

The arena will have its own roof under the Dome's canopy designed to stop the noise of rock and pop concerts escaping.

The first law of public houses states that, more often than not, the quality of a hostelry is inversely proportional to its location. In other words, the riverside pub is rarely the best bar in town.

That said, the inns and taverns that line the Thames from Gloucestershire to the East End of London are invariably worthy of study for their historical associations. And what better way to study them than at first hand?

Beginning with the Thames Head Inn at Kemble near Cirencester, Mark Turner meanders from Cotswolds to Docklands, stopping off at more than 150 pubs along the way. These range from stone-roofed coaching inns to stuccoed gin palaces.

It is a narrative peopled with monarchs and eccentrics, boatmen and bankers, dockers and seamen. And alongside it are the author's excellent photographs, which provide a visual feast.

A new pier is being floated up the River Thames on Monday.

The £1.8 million Millbank Millennium pier, which is to open within weeks, is a steel structure complete with a pontoon and roof that flow in a continuous line.

Its contemporary design, by the team behind the London Eye, includes a lighting scheme with colours that change with the rise and fall of the tide plus 60 sparkling lights.

The pier, which is to house a river-boat shuttle service for Tate visitors travelling between Tate Britain and  Tate Modern, was being floated up the river from Rochester, Essex.

Council's £200,000 donation to arts centre

A council has donated £200,000 to a community arts and media centre currently being constructed in the crypt of a church.

Southwark Council in south London is supporting Inspire, a £1.6m project which will provide media facilities for local young people.

The centre is being constructed at St Peter's Church in Walworth.

There will be an IT suite, crèche, conference and performance space, cafe and meeting rooms.

Safety fears are revived after May Morning revellers in Oxford leap into the River Cherwell.