Caroline Pidgeon, leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, has received final confirmation this week that the Department of Transport will not provide £7 million in funding required to build a new train station at Surrey Canal Road.
Funding for the proposed station on the second phase of the East London Line has been considered by the Department of Transport over an extensive period of time. After lengthy delays in making a decision both Boris Johnson and Sir Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham, wrote on the 14th December 2009 to the previous transport minister urging that a final decision was made .
Commenting on the Minister’s reply Caroline Pidgeon, who is deputy chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, said:
“It is a great shame that after so many delays and passing of the buck that this situation has arisen. A crucial window of opportunity has long passed to quickly build a station. Sadly it is no longer possible to build a station and ensure its opening coincided with the opening of the second phase of the East London Line.
“However with Lewisham Council contributing some funding and with the Department of Transport willing to consider making a financial contribution at a later stage there is still hope that a station will finally be built. A new station would also be far more likely if private developers stepped up to the plate and offered a contribution, especially as they would gain so much from a new station.
“The strong case for a station at Surrey Canal Road remains. It is vital that the campaign continues.”
You can also read about this issue at the London Reconnections blog.