Many local residents have been in touch with me in recent weeks on the topic of Crossrail 2, as we had expected to hear Transport for London's updated view on whether our local station would be Balham or Tooting. As you know, I work closely with the Wandsworth & Wimbledon Conservatives on transport issues and following an intervention by Stephen Hammond, MP for Wimbledon, we now have some additional information on Crossrail 2 to share with you.
In response to Stephen Hammond's question to the Prime Minister in the House of Commons, we have been reassured to receive continued in-principle support from the Government for Crossrail 2, but it has also confirmed that there will now be a delay while funding options are considered:
The Prime Minister - I can absolutely give the commitment that we continue to support Crossrail 2. We are waiting to see a robust business case and a proper funding proposal for Crossrail 2. My right hon. Friend the Transport Secretary will in due course set out the timetable for that, but as a former Wimbledonian I can assure my hon. Friend that we are well aware of his interest in the Wimbledon to Waterloo aspects of the project, and that the needs of the local area are being taken into account.
It would appear that following the National Infrastructure Commission’s recommendation that Crossrail 2 could be delivered at a lower cost, the Government wants to fully take stock of this before the next stage of planning for the project. I expect the Government will be asking Transport for London for a full business case for their Crossrail 2 plans, to ensure that they deliver value for money to the taxpayer and real improvements to London’s transport network that only a new line can provide.
In addition, Michelle Dix, the Managing Director of Crossrail 2, has confirmed to us that there will be no consultation or revised route options published until after the business case is settled, and so the Balham or Tooting decision will be postponed until at least Q2 2017. This is a shame as I had heard from those close to the project that our high-profile campaign for a station at Tooting Broadway (rather than Balham) had been well received such that Tooting was likely to be recommended by TfL for our local station. This would have been a fantastic victory for 'people power', but with this new uncertainty we will now have to wait for 6 months to see how the situation unfolds.
I know this is a very important issue for many residents, and alongside your local Conservative councillors I will of course continue to keep you updated with any further news. Please do share this update with your friends and neighbours. You can also follow me on Facebook and Twitter here.