Monday 10 November 2014

The latest news from Greg Hands MP

Greg Hands MP's latest newsletter contains the following snippet of what appears to be very good news:

"Was briefed by senior officials at Transport for London on the next moves on Crossrail 2, and the future of a station in Chelsea. TfL confirmed that the “Chelsea West” option for the station is now excluded, and the station will come to Dovehouse Green on King’s Road, Chelsea, subject to further consultation."

It would appear that the Cremorne Estate ("Chelsea West") is no longer being considered as a potential site for a Crossrail 2 station. 

Greg Hands MP has been extremely helpful throughout. However we are awaiting final and definitive confirmation from Transport for London (TfL) due later this year.

BBC: London Crossrail 2 'preferred route' outlined by mayor

An article recently appeared on the BBC website describing the situation post-consultation. 

We're hopeful that this confirms that the Cremorne Estate is no longer being considered as a potential site for a Crossrail 2 station. Unfortunately we can't be 100% certain until Transport for London (TfL) publish full details of their preferred route later this year.

London Crossrail 2 'preferred route' outlined by mayor

A preferred route for a proposed £20bn Crossrail 2 scheme, running north-south through London, has been identified by mayor Boris Johnson.


The new "preferred route" for Crossrail 2

A second Crossrail scheme is vital to support the capital's growth, the mayor claimed.

If approved by the government, the line could be transporting up to 90,000 people into central London in the morning peak by 2030.

Crossrail 2 would run from Cheshunt in Hertfordshire to Epsom in Surrey.

It would pass through central London via places including Tottenham Court Road, Victoria, Chelsea and Clapham Junction.

If proposals are approved, construction could begin in 2017.

'Globally competitive'

Setting out the case for the line in a speech at the City Age conference, the mayor said: "With London's population soon to surpass its previous 1939 peak of 8.6 million and with more people travelling by Tube and rail than ever before, we need additional rail capacity to support future growth.

"For the capital to remain globally competitive, there needs to be continued investment in our transport network and that's why we have to get cracking on planning for Crossrail 2."

The scheme would complement the £14.8bn east-west Crossrail scheme, currently being built and scheduled to be operational by 2018.

Supporters say it will slash journey times across London, with a journey from Kingston, in south-west London, to Tottenham Court Road being completed in 29 minutes - 17 minutes faster than today.

Those travelling between Dalston, in north-east London and Tottenham Court Road would have an eight-minute journey - 19 minutes faster than today.

Mr Johnson said he was confident the private sector could, in the right circumstances, contribute to well over half the cost of Crossrail 2.

Opportunities for consultation

Labour Assembly Member Val Shawcross said the announcement of a preferred route was "a big step forward" but added: "What we need to see now is the fully worked-up funding package which will make this project a reality."

Despite broad support for a new rail link in Chelsea, it is one area where there is concern over the positioning of a new station.

Conservative MP for Chelsea and Fulham, Greg Hands, has said there was "a great deal of concern" from residents on Cremorne Estate, on the King's Road, that demolition of housing may be required if it is chosen for the location of the Chelsea West station.

The current proposed location for the station would be further east near the fire station on the King's Road and received the majority of support in this summer's consultation.

The consultation document says, over the course of 2015, there will be further work on the consideration and assessment of options and a number of opportunities for more detailed consultation.

The original article is here: 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-29804467

Stakeholders

Further to our last post Transport for London (TfL) have provided the following clarification with regards to their use of the term "stakeholders" in their recently issued report on the Crossrail 2 consultation.

Thank you for your email regarding the Crossrail 2 consultation, I am sorry for the delay in responding.

Our term "stakeholder" is usually a public body such as local authority or residents group amongst others. We also refer to publicly elected members as "stakeholders". The reason we split the stakeholder replies from the public is that many members of the public are interested to see what their local members are saying so we publish the public and stakeholder replies.

There is no weight added to stakeholder replies during the consultation process. One view is treated the same as another. 


We're glad to see that TfL will be treating all views equally.

Monday 3 November 2014

TfL Crossrail 2 report - the simple summary

Transport for London (TfL) published its report into the public consultation on its Crossrail 2 proposals last week. These were the proposals that included plans for a potential Crossrail 2 station at "Chelsea West", the site of the Cremorne Estate. 

You can download the TfL report in full from here: 
https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/crossrail/june-2014/user_uploads/crossrail-2-consultation-report-2014--published-.pdf

Having read those parts of the report of relevance to the proposals for a Crossrail 2 station in Chelsea we can summarise the key points as follows:

It may not have been obvious that they would do this at the time but TfL have split the survey in two: a survey of individuals and a survey of "stakeholders". It is unclear how stakeholders were identified, in particular as many local organisations were not formally contacted by TfL. There is some evidence to suggest that TfL split the survey in two by simply separating out the responses from individuals representing themselves from those of individuals claiming to represent organisations. 

In any case, the report indicates that 5,181 persons responded to the survey as individuals ("members of the public") and 99 responded on behalf of organisations ("stakeholders"). 

Not all respondents expressed an option on all of the proposals TfL consulted upon. In particular only 50 stakeholders voiced any opinion whatsoever with regards to the proposals for a Crossrail 2 station in Chelsea.

Of the 5,181 persons who responded to the survey, 973 (19%) claimed to live within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. 

By TfL's own admission around 400 people attended each of the four consultation drop-in events held in Kensington and Chelsea (two at the Chelsea Theatre, two at Chelsea Old Town Hall). By way of contrast the equivalent events in Hackney attracted just 40 people each. 

With regards to a station in Chelsea those consulted were offered three different options from which to choose: (i) a station at Dovehouse Street (Chelsea Fire Station); (ii) a station at "Chelsea West" (effectively the site of the Cremorne Estate); and (iii) no station at all. 

The report indicates that the response was as follows:

In favour of the station at Dovehouse Street: 32% (1,673 respondents). 
In favour of the station at Chelsea West: 21% (1,113 respondents).
In favour of no station at all: 24% (1,222 respondents). 

Against the station at Dovehouse Street: 19% (993 respondents).

Against the station at Chelsea West: 26% (1,359 respondents).
Against no station at all: 27% (1,411 respondents).

TfL indicates that 50 "stakeholders" responded to the "Chelsea West" portion of the survey. They reponded as follows: 

In favour of the station at Dovehouse Street: 32% (16 respondents).
In favour of the station at Chelsea West: 38% (19 respondents).
In favour of no station at all: 24% (12 respondents).

Against the station at Dovehouse Street: 32% (16 respondents).

Against the station at Chelsea West: 24% (12 respondents).
Against no station at all: 32% (16 respondents).

Our opinions and thoughts on these results and what consequences they might have for the residents of the Cremorne Estate and those living nearby will follow shortly.