Chunnel's first hurdle
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THE GOVERNMEN I has easily cleared the first hurdle in its plans to build a fixed link across the Channel.
The Commons debate tins week on the principle of a link ended with a Government majority of 96 over Opposition MPs, who voted against the Government on the grounds of its refusal to hold a public inquiry into the scheme.
Only six Tory MPs, including three Kent MPs, rebelled against the Government.
But Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's known preference for a combined road and
rail crossing received a setback when the all-party .I.ransport Select Committee came down against the proposals, having already dismissed Sealink's Channel Expressway and Eurobridge on the grounds that the technology is not feasible, and voted in favour of a rail-only crossing, • [he decision was taken on the casting vote or the Labour chairman, Gordon Bagier, who is sponsored by the National Union of Ra OW a Vmen.
Nevertheless, the committee did say that if the Government decided that a road crossing was essential, then it hacked the 4. D billion Euroroute proposal.
The committee paid little non to the impact On freight transport in this report, although the MI's said they were persuaded that a through rail facility would make possible a "substantial shift of long distance freight traffic from road to rail".
Winding up this week's debate junior Transport Minister David Mitchell said departmental estimates suggest that the peak average flow of lorries will have more than doubled through Kent by 20(13.