Updated: 21 June, 2005
© RESCUE

London Graves to be destroyed by Chunnel Link
26^th November 2002

More than 1,000 graves are being destroyed by contractors building the King's Cross Channel Tunnel terminal in what has been called "a desecration" and "an outrage against human dignity."

Archaeologists have been suddenly ordered off the site at Camley Street Cemetery, St Pancras, after excavating just 100 of the estimated 2,000 graves. The Channel Tunnel Rail Link company (CTRL) will now move in to start digging them out in bulk. The result of this will be to break the links between the bodies and the names of the dead, preserved on coffin plates, and will effectively prevent both detailed archaeological work and the reburial of the individuals concerned. The location of the cemetery was well known during the planning of the project, which began over five years ago. Quoted in a press release from the CBA, George Lambrick (Director of the CBA and lead consultant for the cultural heritage assessment of the CTRL for the contractors, RLE) said "I am appalled that all the hard work to mitigate the damage to the archaeological remains along the route of the CTRL is being let down by an apparent lack of proper planning for the excavation of the burial ground at St Pancras. I have great sympathy for the people whose ancestors are now being desecrated by bulldozers."

Preliminary work on the 100 bodies excavated to date has revealed details of individual life histories as well as of the different burial practices which appear to reflect the varying social backgrounds of the individuals concerned.

The plan had been to identify the graves and contact any living relatives of the dead, as well as gathering vital archaeological and scientific information which would help build up a picture of life in London during the Industrial Revolution.

The wider implications of the case are extremely worrying, given proposed changes to the planning legislation to make it more 'business-friendly' and proposals to grant blanket consent for major projects such as new airports and business development zones.

More information can be found on the Evening Standard web site at:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/2202697?source=Evening Standard

We appeal to members (especially London-based members) to write/e-mail to their MPs ASAP. The local MP is Mr. Frank Dobson who can be contacted by
e-mail at frank@camden.new.labour.org.uk or by post at the House of Commons

Other contact options:

CTRL: pxravens@ctrl.co.uk and pxjessel@ctrl.co.uk.

Halcrow: halcrow@halcrow.com (a member of the consortium behind CTRL)

Arup Group: www.arup.com - and follow link 'Email us'

DCMS - Website address - the site includes contact e-mail addresses for relevant ministers: www.culture.gov.uk

Channel Tunnel Rail Link Complaints Commissioner :
Call: 0845 3000 770, or write to Professor Tony Kennerley,
Channel Tunnel Rail Link Complaints Commissioner, at either:

3rd Floor, 73 Collier Street
London N1 9BE

or:

Kent House
Romney Place
Maidstone, Kent
ME15 6LH

Fax: 020 7837 5184
e-mail:complaints@ctrlcc.org

Rail Link Engineering:
Call Rail Link Engineering's 24-hour Construction Help Line on 0845 60 40 246, or write to:

Public Relations Department
Rail Link Engineering
2 Ossulston Street
London NW1 1HT

Fax: 020 7681 5895
e-mail: publichelpline@ctrl.co.uk