Nick Raynsford, MP for Greenwich and Woolwich today condemned the Secretary of State for Transport’s decision not to accept the Cross-Party recommendation of the Crossrail Select Committee that there should be a station at Woolwich.

“The case for the Woolwich station is overwhelmingly strong both on transport and regeneration grounds.  The Select Committee, which looked in detail at the evidence, had no doubt that the station is an essential component in the Crossrail scheme and delivers exceptional value for money.  The Secretary of State’s rejection of their unanimous recommendation is crass, short-sighted and shameful.  It flies in the face of the evidence and demonstrates contempt for the Parliamentary process.”

“The campaign for a Woolwich station, which has won widespread support from business, local residents and transport and regeneration experts, will now redouble its efforts to secure the outcome which all sensible observers recognise as right and necessary.”

“We have got used in South-East London to having to fight to overturn short-sighted penny-pinching government transport decisions.  In the 1990s we had to campaign hard to secure the North Greenwich Station on the Jubilee line and the Cutty Sark Station on the DLR.  We won both of those campaigns and both stations have proved highly successful as transport links and catalysts for regeneration.  We are determined to repeat those victories in our campaign for the Woolwich Crossrail station and our objective will be to secure the approval of Parliament for the Select Committee’s recommendation.”

For further information and comment, contact Nick Raynsford, MP on 020 7219 2773.