OPPONENTS of the Thames Gateway Bridge claim they were manhandled by security staff and refused entry to a public inquiry into the scheme.

Terry Grant, chairman of St Michael's Residents' Association, Welling, says he was "manhandled" by staff from Charlton Athletic FC as a public inquiry opened last week into the bridge plan at the club's Valley headquarters in Charlton.

Opponents of the scheme have a side room at the inquiry, with access from 8.30am to help them prepare for each day's session, but they were not allowed in.

Mr Grant told News Shopper a second objector, Victoria Harvey from Road Block, had been physically thrown out of the buildings and had been left with several scratches on her arms.

He said: "When they came back for me, I sat on the floor and refused to move.

"The two security guards were grabbing my arms.

"They told me to leave or they would call the police and I insisted they call the police."

Mr Grant said when the inquiry's programme officer was called to the reception he was horrified at what was happening.

Inquiry inspector Michael Ellison then went outside to the car park where Mr Grant and other objectors had gathered to give his apologies.

When the inquiry opened, Mr Ellison went on to give a public apology.

"I am really very sorry people had those problems and I trust they will not recur," he said.

Objectors had previously been refused entry before the start of the pre-inquiry meeting in April, also held at The Valley, and had been promised it would not happen again.

Charlton's chief executive Peter Varney accused the objectors of being aggressive and using abusive language.

Mr Grant challenges this and says he will get a court injunction against Mr Varney if he continues to refuse to discuss the allegations with him.

Scrutiny of TfL's plans under way

THE public inquiry into plans for the Thames Gateway Bridge has opened, with Transport for London's (TfL) plans under scrutiny.

TfL claims the bridge is necessary to regenerate the area east of London because of the economic effects of the decline in manufacturing and the closure of the docks.

It says as many as 35,000 higher quality jobs and a population increase of 72,000 could be created by the bridge, which would attract a better quality of housing.

Charles George QC for TfL also suggested the bridge could improve health locally.

The bridge will have a four-lane dual carriageway for ordinary traffic and two lanes for public transport.

Mr George said these could be adapted to take trams and the bridge would be a vital link in the waterfront transit schemes planned for each side of the Thames.

He admitted when the bridge opens many more people would be affected by traffic noise but suggested they would not notice it.

He also claimed only small increases in air pollution would occur mainly on the A2016 which runs through Thamesmead to Plumstead and Erith.

TfL claims the bridge would improve the local environment.

Mr George accepted there would be increased congestion on Bexley's roads but he said there was cash for mitigation and there could be more if monitoring showed continuing problems after the bridge opened.

Cross-examination of TfL's expert witnesses is now under way.