'Unpopular' tram plan still on track

Ken Livingstone has insisted plans for a west London tram will proceed despite a public consultation finding that most respondents were against the scheme.

 

Speaking at his weekly press conference the London mayor said earlier polls had shown a majority wanted the tram, and they were a more reliable indicator than consultations.

 

He said the Transport for London consultation was useful to refine the plan and identify any problems but it was "not a referendum on the scheme."

 

Livingstone pointed to polling that indicated three to one support for the proposed West London Tram.

 

The main concerns of people who sent in submissions include displacement of traffic on to residential streets, loss of trees, congestion, cost, and disruption to shops.

 

TfL say they will take these and other issues raised into account to help refine and improve design of the scheme.

 

Livingstone said: "With three times as many people supporting the tram as oppose it in west London, it is clear that this major transport investment has strong local support.

 

"The comprehensive and transparent nature of the public consultation ensured everyone with an interest in the proposed west London tram had the opportunity to have their say.

 

"The process confirmed there is strong support for the project but there are also significant issues. We will be looking in more detail at all the concerns and issues raised to see what can be done to take account of these."

 

Opposition

 

However, opposition leaders say the consultation revealed most people were against the scheme.

 

Liberal Democrat chairman of the London assembly transport committee, Lynne Featherstone, said: "The results of the largest consultation ever undertaken in London for a transport project have shown that local residents believe the plans are unworkable, unwanted and unpopular.

 

"Mayor Livingstone must now listen to the voices of residents who have overwhelmingly rejected his scheme.

 

"However, from the reaction of Mr Livingstone, the feelings of residents who will have to live with this scheme have fallen on deaf ears.

 

"For once in his mayoralty, Ken Livingstone should listen to the people of London and scrap the west London tram project."

 

Tories

 

Richard Barnes, Conservative member for Ealing and Hillingdon, said: "These results come as no surprise.

 

"The majority of residents in west London do not want this scheme and these figures make that perfectly clear. Why doesn’t the mayor do the sensible thing and scrap it?"

 

Barnes characterised Transport for London’s attempt to spin the figures to show support for the scheme as "desperate".

 

He added: "The mayor is grasping at straws here. In his own consultation three out of five people say they do not want the scheme, so he was forced to commission additional market research to get the result he wants.

 

"Conveniently the distinction between the consultation and the market research was totally unclear in the mayor’s own press release.

 

"He will not pull the wool over anybodies’ eyes with this desperate attempt."