Epsom and Ewell MP Chris Grayling has backed a cross-London rail route starting in his borough following a “productive meeting” with the Mayor of London.
Transport Secretary Mr Grayling said there was no doubt that London needed a new infrastructure project to support its growth as the “UK’s economic powerhouse” following a meeting with Sadiq Khan this week.
The route of the £30million project could begin in Shepperton, Chessington South or Epsom in the south west, and head towards Wimbledon, Tooting Broadway and Clapham Junction before crossing the river, maps drawn up by Transport for London (TfL) reveal.
But questions remain how the project could be afforded, and whether the land required for the route would be subject to compulsory purchase orders (CPOs).
A public consultation is to be launched after the question of funding reaches a “successful outcome”, a Department for Transport spokeswoman stated.
Mr Grayling (pictured above) this week said: “I am a supporter of Crossrail 2, but given its price tag we have to ensure that we get this right.
“The Mayor and I have agreed to work together on it over the coming months to develop plans that are as strong as possible, so that the public gets an affordable scheme that is fair to the UK taxpayer”
Kate Chinn, Labour councillor on Epsom and Ewell Borough Council told the Epsom Guardian she supports Crossrail 2, but that the borough’s residents also need Zone 6, more reliable trains and the dispute between Southern Rail and train driver unions to be resolved.
If Epsom is gonna be a part of Crossrail 2, MAKE IT A PART OF ZONE 6.
— 🤷🏽♀️ (@iamcolly_) 25 July 2017
Residents have long demanded Epsom being brought into the Oyster Card network, but this is yet to happen. At a General Election hustings event in June, Mr Grayling explained this was because the operating system “ran out of capacity”.
From September 2015: "Incredibly disappointing" - MP insists Epsom Oyster card launch is delayed not cancelled
From June 2017: Epsom and Ewell’s Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green party candidates face off in 'Question Time-style' hustings
Councillor Chinn added: “A lot of people in Epsom commute (into London), and anything that makes commuting a better experience is very welcome.”
When asked whether she worried development work to prepare Epsom for Crossrail, Cllr Chinn replied: “The devil is in the detail and we will have to see that detail, but big infrastructure projects often mean construction and disruption.”
Ewell West (pictured above), Stoneleigh, Worcester Park, Chessington South and Chessington North stations are also included on the provisional route drawn up by TfL.
Brian Angus, the chairman of Ewell Village Residents Association described the opportunities Crossrail presented as “mind-blowing”, but he remained cautious about the impact station and line expansion may have on the area.
“We are aware of lots of deficiencies at West Ewell station: the difficulties in accessing the station from Gibraltar Recreation Ground, its narrow entrances, difficulties in using the Oyster Card readers,” he told the Epsom Guardian.
“It’s an exciting prospect that Crossrail 2 will change all that, will overcome these problems and that radical solutions will come through.”
Mr Grayling came under fire for his support of Crosrail, however, as the news broke days after a series of rail projects in Wales, the Midlands and the north were axed or downgraded.
Read below a statement agreed by Northern leaders in response to the Government's recent announcement on transport investment. #Crossrail2 pic.twitter.com/PLmW9GVZy4
— Mayor Andy Burnham (@MayorofGM) 25 July 2017
A joint statement from the mayors of Greater Manchester and Liverpool, and leaders of Manchester City Council, Leeds City Council, Sheffield City Council, and the deputy leader of Newcastle City Council, read: “"If the Government can't be trusted to stick to promises already given, then it is hard to have confidence that they will deliver longer-term agreements made to the north.”
Others took to social media to vent their fury.
Chris Grayling's constituency is Epsom-Newell. Look at where the proposed southern terminus of Crossrail 2 is. Oh.
— Ron Zertnert (@Grabcocque) 24 July 2017
Richard, a Leeds United fan who now lives in Norway, wrote on Twitter: “Good to see that the first station on Crossrail 2 is Epsom. MP is Grayling who just cancelled Transpennine electrification. A disgrace.”
Crossrail 2 terminates at Epsom (his and my constituency). Good for Epsom, good for him. And again, the North loses. https://t.co/o7WipBjsqC
— Zac Tate (@zjtate91) 24 July 2017
Nick Reeves, a town planner from Sale who worked in North Manchester, wrote: “The fact that Crossrail 2 will benefit Chris Grayling’s seat in Epsom makes the recent announcements even more sordid.”
What do you think? Comment below, or get in touch at craig.richard@newsquest.co.uk
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