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Anger as Labour Lambeth presses for Wandsworth tube extension
April 27, 2010 2:52 PM
Residents are angry that Lambeth Labour are lobbying for the Tube to go to Wandsworth and not Streatham
Local residents have expressed outrage on hearing that Lambeth's Labour council has been lobbying for a tube extension - to go into neighbouring Wandsworth!
Rather than pressing for the Northern Line to be extended south from Kennington, through Brixton to Streatham, Labour-run Lambeth has been working on plans which will divert the extension west towards Battersea Power Station.
A plan has existed for more than 100 years for the Northern Line to be run south to Streatham. It was recommended in 1990 in a government-sponsored study and dusted off again by Chris Nicholson, Lib Dem candidate for Streatham.
News that Labour Lambeth were working on a Wandsworth extension emerged at a Council meeting last month when officers were challenged by Lib Dem councillor Jeremy Clyne as to what lobbying was being done on the Northern Line extension. Streatham councillors were shocked to learn that the lobbying was for the Battersea extension, not the extension that would benefit not just Streatham but areas of north Brixton, south Brixton and Tulse Hill wards, able to serve huge new developments at Myatts North and Clapham Park estate.
Cllr Clyne then submitted a formal inquiry to discover what lobbying was actually going on and was told that Lambeth were " fully engaged in this process, attending steering and working group meetings with the developers and TfL". This "lobbying" has ensured a proposed station is planned for Nine Elms. Nine Elms is in Wandsworth. (See email below).
Lib Dem councillor for St Leonards Ward Brian Palmer commented: "It is shocking that Lambeth officers have been lobbying for this Wandsworth extension which is of marginal benefit to Lambeth, rather than the extension to Streatham which would have massive benefits for the whole borough."
"A viable plan exists for the Streatham extension exists, why are Labour not supporting it?" said Cllr Clyne, "This is typical of the way the south of the borough has been neglected by Lambeth under Labour."
Disappointment over re-routing of the Northern Line extension follows the scrapping of the tram extension to Streatham and outrage among Streatham residents after the plan to extend the East London via Streatham was dropped. Instead it is to run via Clapham High Street to Clapham Junction, not even stopping in Brixton, while a southern spur bypasses Streatham to the east.
"Time and time again Streatham has been betrayed, " added Cllr Clyne. "Every promised transport improvement has been abandoned under this Labour administration and Labour government while we see the benefits going to areas which have lobbied hard for the transport improvements. Even existing services are being downgraded, for example the Thameslink service which is now to terminate at Blackfriars."
From: DESTranCPZ3
Sent: 20 April 2010 16:57
To: Clyne,Jeremy Cllr
Subject: FW: ME 128216, due date 20/04/2010: Tube extensions
Dear Cllr Clyne,
Our Transport Planning and Strategy Team has responded on this matter as follows:-
With regards to the Northern Line extension (NLE), proposed to run from Kennington to Battersea Power Station, this is a developer-led proposal but Lambeth Officers are in regular contact with Treasury Holdings (scheme developers) and Transport for London (TfL) regarding all aspects of the extension, and its relationship with the wider redevelopment of the Vauxhall, Nine Elms & Battersea Opportunity Area. Officers have been fully engaged in this process, attending steering and working group meetings with the developers and TfL, and have made it clear that this project must benefit Lambeth. This lobbying has ensured that a station at Nine Elms is proposed as an integral part of the plans. Officers are also lobbying TfL to ensure that other transport improvements which will benefit local residents are included within the Opportunity Area Planning Framework.