The head of the group campaigning to keep Crossrail 2 out of Chelsea says senior politicians in the capital are “not convinced” by the Transport for London (TfL) proposals.
Chris Lenon, chairman of No Crossrail in Chelsea, says London Mayoral candidates have expressed serious reservation over the proposed new station in King’s Road , while Chelsea and Fulham MP Greg Hands says TfL must listen to the concerns of his constituents.
Earlier this year he wrote a letter to Mayoral candidates stating that 90% of people who responded to a public consultation were opposed to the station, which would cost an estimated £1 billion-plus to build.
In response, Tory candidate Zac Goldsmith said: “I am not currently fully convinced by their proposals.
"I will not lend my support to any proposal which causes long term damage to the King’s Road which I know is passionately loved by Chelsea locals and visitors alike.”
Liberal Democrat candidate and former Greater London Authority (GLA) Transport Committee chairman Caroline Pidgeon has echoed calls from Labour’s Sadiq Khan for TfL to urgently review their proposal .
She responded to Mr Lenon: “The consultation result did show an overwhelming level of opposition to having a station in the area and it would be very wrong to ignore such a clear expression of public opinion.
"To do so would call into question the value of holding a consultation exercise and undermine the legitimacy of the scheme.
“So I am calling for the proposals for the King’s Road to be reviewed in the light of the objections and comments from local residents and organisations.”
Labour's Sadiq Khan said: “The next Mayor will have to listen very carefully to the loud voices coming from local residents opposed to the current plans in Chelsea. If I am elected in May, I will ask TfL to review the plans.
“In addition, I will ask them to l ook again at the option of Imperial Wharf as a possible location for a station .”
Mr Hands MP said: “I am worried about the negative response to the consultation. Crossrail 2 must now pay serious consideration to my constituents’ concerns.”
More than 10,000 names were on a petition submitted to transport bosses opposing the station , which would be built at the junction of Sydney Street. Eighty local businesses have also come out against the plans.
Mr Lenon took great heart from the support of the politicians. He said: “We are delighted that the political opposition to this wasteful plan is mounting.
“There are strong calls for better step free access at South Kensington and Sloane Square underground stations .
"Our campaign has, together with the Chelsea Society, fully supported these proposals, which would take less time to implement and cost a lot less taxpayers’ money than the mad proposal to build a £1 billion new Crossrail 2 station that has no transport case and no business case.”
A counter group has been set up in favour of the Crossrail 2 station , and has the support of leading institutions such as the Science Museum and Royal Albert Hall.
