PEOPLE have finally been allowed a say in developing the ‘significantly improved’ designs for Ealing Broadway station.
A well-attended meeting chaired by MP for Ealing Central and Acton Angie Bray was held in parliament to allow representatives of community groups an early viewing of new plans for the Crossrail development on Thursday last week .
The meeting, called due to widespread concern among residents about the quality of the design which was considered out of keeping with the character of the area, included the Crossrail team, Ms Bray’s Ealing and Acton Transport Action Group, Leader of Ealing Council Julian Bell and other council representatives, Deputy Mayor of London for Transport Isabel Dedring, representatives from Save Ealing’s Centre, Ealing Centre Neighbourhood Forum, West Ealing Neighbourhood Forum, Ealing Passenger Transport Users’ Group, TfL, First Great Western and Network Rail.
Ms Bray said: “Everybody said Crossrail previously came up with a design which did not do justice to Ealing and thought the station required a more substantial entrance.
“The meeting was to give the community a chance to input. It’s important for the whole of west London.
“Some suggestions were to do with the amount of glass and whether it fit in with buildings on either side and others wanted to talk about materials, the shape and look of the station.”
The MP said people were shown what the architects, Bennetts Associates, were working on and the general consensus was that this time Crossrail have a far better design, with people being pleasantly surprised.
She added: “Everybody felt it was going along the right lines. I think it’s important for the community to feel they have been shown the respect they have not been shown on previous occasions.”
The final drawings will be produced and put out for final consultation next month and work is still required on the relocation of bus stops and access for deliveries to the station.
A spokesman for Crossrail said: “Over the last few months Crossrail has been working closely with Ealing Council and its architectural advisors to make changes to the initial station design that was submitted last year.
“We absolutely recognise the importance of getting the designs right and are confident the outcome will be a vast improvement on the existing building. We hope to submit the revised proposals to Ealing Council shortly.”
