Another ‘Channel’ plan

Press, 14 May 1981, Page 17

Another ‘Channel’ plan

From

KEN COATES

in London

Yet another proposed tunnel linking Britain and France has surfaced, even in these times of economic stress. Yet it is precisely this that could result in the bold and imaginative new project becoming a reality. It is being enthusiastically backed by the chairman of the ailing British Steel Corporation, the Scottish-born American, Mr lan MacGregor.

No fewer than eight pri-vately-financed proposals, devised by various groups, have been put to the Minister of Transport, Mr Norman Fowler. However, commentators see the MacGregor scheme as edging ahead as the favourite.

Initially, Mr MacGregor envisaged a steel bridge and tunnel as one sure way of providing more demand' for his hard-hit state corporation. A group called Euro-Route has been formed, with British, French, West German, and United States participation. The latest project hasbeen described as daringly imaginative. It envisages two twin-lane roadways crossing the channel on viaducts, and running to two large man-made islands, just off the main shipping lanes. These islands would house

customs and service facilities. From them, the roads would run for 17 kilometres through submerged tunnels, beneath the main shipping lanes. Trains would run in a completely submerged tunnel throughout the total 36-kilo-metre crossing. According to the group backing it, the entire scheme could be financed by private capital — sweet music to the Government which has said it has no intention of providing any taxpayers’ money for the project. Euro-Route also proposes that there should be no cost to British Rail, hard-pressed for cash, for the rail link.