Testimonials

“I was particularly impressed with the urgency with which our instruction was dealt with as we had a tight deadline to meet. Communication was always easy with quick responses.”

Investment and Regeneration Manager - The Homes and Communities Agency

“Southdowns has provided a professional and highly responsive service throughout our enabling works contract with Crossrail, particularly in the gaining of prior consents under Section 61 of COPA 1974 at 10 different work sites to date.”

J B Riney & Co Ltd - Crossrail Site Investigation Works

“It was great to have consultants with a level of expertise that gave the Council confidence that any challenge made to the East London Line project’s assumptions had authority and clearly justifiable acoustic support. Their review of the noise mitigation for the Servicing Facility was detailed and comprehensive. With their technical expertise they were able to offer alternatives for mitigation that hadn’t been considered by the project and were subsequently incorporated within the scheme. The written reports provided were the best I have ever received from any consultant and the communication to both Council officers and the public was outstanding, being clear, informative and persuasive. I would highly recommend any other Council that requires a reliable consultant, able to deliver response within tight timescales to a quality and precision that is indisputable and unchallengeable to go no further than Southdown Environmental Consultants.”

Environmental Protection Officer - London Borough of Lewisham

“My experience of Southdowns as a sub-consultant on a commission we have with Westminster City Council has always been excellent. They are particularly client focused and have earned a great deal of trust form not only Mouchel Parkman but the Client also. We know we can rely on Southdowns to deliver quality work on time”

Project Manager, Mouchel Parkman

“We were very pleased with the letter you produced. Thank you for your help and turning it around so quickly. We will recommend you to colleagues.”

Indigo Planning

“I think that the case developed by Southdowns was well researched and highly credible, and in addition, was well presented to the Select Committee. I think that Southdowns have provided an excellent service and I have no hesitation in providing this reference.”

Principal Pollution Officer, London Borough of Camden - Crossrail

“The end of the 3 year Select Committee process considering the Crossrail Bill represents a significant milestone for the local authorities faced with dealing with the proposal. Throughout that time there have been discussions with the Department of Transport and Crossrail on the standards they were proposing to apply to the project. The Local Authorities coordinated their activities in assessing and petitioning on a wide variety of issues with various councils taking ‘lead’ roles on certain issues. This allowed expertise to be directed and efforts shared. A key feature of this activity was the use of consultants to reinforce and provide specialist expertise to challenge the promoter’s approach. Rick Methold of Southdowns was instrumental in putting the case on ground borne and fixed noise issues to the process in both houses. The ability to mix a long-standing persistent approach over the 3 years was maintained and when the process brought matters to a head the last minute negotiations with the promoter, even up to the door of the Select Committee’s meeting room had the successful effect of getting the promoter to amend their proposals to meet the local authorities’ case that, no matter how unique the Crossrail project is, it should meet the environmental standards set by Councils across the route. Rick was an essential source of timely and effective professional expertise to make the case and achieve the required results.”

Head of Planning, Westminster City Council - Chair of the Crossrail Planning Forum

“I endorse the appraisal by the Head of Planning of Westminster City Council of Southdowns performance on the co-ordinated approach on noise issues given by the London Local Authorities before the Select Committee on the Crossrail Bill. Rick Methold of Southdowns was the pivotal witness on the acoustical issues. He succeeded in communicating difficult technical issues simply and thoroughly, so they were understandable to professional and layman alike. It was easy as a result for the Committee to understand the case being argued. A thoroughly professional and user friendly performance.”

Patrick Clarkson QC

“Overall Southdowns gave good advice and worked well with our team”

Project Manager, Halcrow Group Ltd - DLR Woolwich Arsenal

“The London Borough of Havering commissioned Southdowns Environmental to act as acoustic consultants in helping it to successfully petition against both local and generic matters proposed by the Crossrail project which would have had a serious noise impacts upon residents of the borough. Southdowns helped the borough to negotiate the relocation of the proposed maintenance depot to outside the borough on the grounds of unacceptable adverse impact upon local residents. Havering led on 2 generic issues of route-wide significance. Southdowns worked very closely with Havering and its appointed Parliamentary Agents to successfully negotiate an agreed position on both issues. Southdowns were chosen by Havering for their experience in both assessing the acoustic impact of transportation systems (particularly railways) and delivering projects within the Environmental Minimum Requirements framework (including its interpretation). They provided very sound and professional advice in all areas; negotiated from a very solid technical and practical basis using their knowledge and experience; presented evidence before the House of Commons Select Committee in a very knowledgeable and proficient manner and worked extremely well with all professionals comprising Havering’s ‘Crossrail’ team.”

Havering Council - Lead authority on the generic case of noise from fixed installations and chair of the Crossrail Environmental Health Technical Sub-group

“It makes a change in this day and age to deal with a professional who could answer all my questions and take the time to describe exactly the process involved in a polite, patient and organised fashion.”

Cowdray Park Estate - Cowdray Park Clay Target Facility

“With the publication of the House of Lords Special Report on the Crossrail Bill, we have come to the end of an interesting journey on groundborne noise. I am writing to thank you for the enormous energy and tenacity that you brought to case of the local authorities who petitioned for a 35 L_Amax,s groundborne noise criterion and to your skill and attention to detail in presenting the case to Crossrail and to the House of Commons Select Committee.”

Principal Environmental Health Officer, London Borough of Camden - Lead authority acting on behalf of a number of London Boroughs on the generic case of construction and operation groundborne noise from trains in tunnels