Returning to the topic...

Having read this thread it appears to me that the retention of the West Waterloo Dock (if that is what is desired) and the development of the canal link are not mutually exclusive. I read somewhere that this would be the most expensive stretch of canal ever built in the UK and I have no doubt that the argument ultimately comes down to money. These people don't want to develop anything unless they see a good profit in it and if they see more money to be made by infilling the dock then that is what they will want to do if they can get away with it.