Campaigners petitioning to improve the design of Ealing Broadway’s station are frustrated the plans could be approved earlier than expected.
Ealing Council’s planning committee will consider Crossrail’s application at a meeting on Wednesday (August 13).
They then intend to hold an exhibition in September to share plans for the wider forecourt and Haven Green area, and this display is separate to the planning application consultation but will have representation from Crossrail.
The former chairman of the Save Ealing Centre (SEC) has communicated a lack of understanding as to why the council has pushed on in the middle of summer while people are on holiday and unable to make comments, and fears the community will feel sidelined.
Will French, SEC member, said: “Crossrail’s plans, submitted in July, have improved the design of the front of the station but they do not change a lot of things people are still worried about such as the lack of escalators going down to platforms.
“The council previously said they would hold an exhibition in August and then make the decision in September. On the basis of this advice we wrote to our supporters to say hold off making comments until we have seen the plans at the exhibition, that seemed sensible.”
A Crossrail spokesperson said it had originally been expected that their proposals for Ealing Broadway station would be considered by the council in July and this was extended to August to allow more time for consultation.
He said if the design concept is approved by the planning committee on Wednesday, Crossrail will move on to the next stage of design development.
The spokesperson said: “ Crossrail is wholly committed to engaging with the community .
“The council’s exhibition in September will be followed by other potential opportunities for local input as designs develop over future months.”
Gary Malcolm, Ealing Liberal Democrats leader, said: “It seems bonkers for them not to delay the meeting for a month since the design is going to be there for 20 years or more.
“Lots of good viewpoints will be raised in September and the council will say they will consider these but the design won’t necessarily incorporate these things.”
A council spokesperson said: “The committee will consider plans for the interior of the station including the ticket hall, lifts and platform extension to accommodate longer trains as well as design concepts for the station’s exterior.
“The council ran a five week consultation following the submission of the revised plans to give residents the opportunity to contribute their views. “The consultation formally ended on July 29, but comments and feedback are accepted up until the planning committee meets.
"The exhibition in September is separate to the planning application consultation and was not intended to be part of that process."
