Cross Rail Controversy Rumbles On

1.48.16pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 27th Oct 2003

After the exchanges last week, MP Vincent Cable followed up his debate in parliament by meeting the Chief Executive of CrossRail, Mr Haste, to make the case for residents in Twickenham, Teddington and Hampton Wick who could have access to a fast rail route into the heart of London.

He was highly critical of the role played by the council leader in making Richmond the only borough in London to oppose the project on the strength of some objections from Kew residents who would lose direct access to the District Line.

He said: "The rail authorities and the promoters of CrossRail are utterly perplexed by the intemperate and hostile reaction of Richmond Council."

"There is a genuine but not major issue for a relatively small number of residents in Kew, and it is right to look for a solution, but tens of thousands of people in Teddington, Hampton Wick and Strawberry Hill will lose out on a major opportunity for transport improvements if Mr Arbour sabotages the CrossRail project. He will not be forgiven if, instead of working constructively to make CrossRail happen, he is the cause of its failing".

Liberal Democrat Prospective GLA Candidate, Dee Doocey

SW London Lib Dems GLA spokesperson Dee Doocey said: "I was appalled to see that our GLA representative is putting at risk the borough's participation in the biggest London transport project in modern times as a result of crass and extreme public pronouncements."

"These are very early days in the CrossRail project which will be difficult to realise in any event. The last thing that is required is irresponsible scaremongering. What is required is business-like discussion with the technical people in Transport for London to find solutions to a perfectly tractable problem".