To follow is the text of a letter I have just received from Daniel Moylan, a Crossrail Board Member, who is leading the Crossrail 2 project for Mayor of London, Boris Johnson:
Dear Dan,
As you know, Boris Johnson has asked me to be his political lead working with Transport for London (TfL) on planning for and securing the delivery of Crossrail 2, a new railway that will run in tunnel from Wimbledon to Hackney, connecting with national rail services at both ends and bringing new transport choices to large parts of London while relieving growing pressure on some of the capital’s main line termini. It is very much supported by National Rail (NR) as well as TfL as it will resolve the critical capacity constraints on South West rail services.
I am writing to you as I understand that you are at the forefront of the campaign to publicise the Crossrail 2 safeguarding consultation in the Tooting and Wandsworth Common area. Judging by the volume of correspondence we are receiving from local people in your part of London, you have clearly done a good job engaging with your residents and community groups, and we are appreciative of their responses.
The step that TfL (led by Michèle Dix), on behalf of the Mayor, is currently engaged in is seeking to safeguard the route from further development that might interfere with or prevent the construction of the new railway. The safeguarding process is a refresh of the currently safeguarded Chelsea-Hackney Line route, suitably adapted to provide a regional metro service, and the consultation process is managed by the Department for Transport (DfT). TfL are working closely with the DfT. As you understand, the safeguarding does not in itself grant any permission for the railway to be constructed: that will require a major parliamentary (or similar) process with full opportunities for anyone affected by the proposals to be heard. The safeguarding merely means that any proposal submitted for planning permission along the route would be referred to TfL to ensure that it did not prevent the construction of the railway. It does not mean development along the route cannot take place.
Nonetheless, I acknowledge the considerable concern of residents in your locality, particularly in regard to the Areas of Surface Interest on Wandsworth Common and Trinity Fields. This is shown by the large number of comments submitted to the Crossrail 2 team by the residents, who clearly wish to see alternative locations considered.
As part of its programme of work, TfL will be consulting later this year on a more detailed route alignment, in the light of continuing engineering studies. I am pleased to commit to you on behalf of the Mayor that TfL will engage directly with the community at that time. I can see from the responses that local people are supportive of Crossrail 2 and the safeguarding process in principle, and are keen to engage constructively with TfL to find the best solutions that minimise any disruption in local areas
The consultation will close on 28th January and February and March will be spent analysing the safeguarding submissions so that the Secretary of State for Transport can decide whether or not to confirm the safeguarding direction. I would suggest that soon after this period we set up meetings with the local groups adjacent to Wandsworth Common and Trinity Fields. I will be happy to visit with TfL and to maintain the dialogue with residents that you have so usefully helped to articulate.
Yours sincerely,
Daniel Moylan