– – – 2016 – – –
[ November 2016 ] The most recent (generic) update from the Crossrail 2 Team is this :
“We would like to update you on our plans for Crossrail 2. Over the last few months we have been meeting with stakeholders up and down the proposed route and carefully considering the feedback we received to our Autumn 2015 Consultation. We are also considering the recommendations from the National Infrastructure Commission and Government on the business case for the scheme. The Prime Minister and the Transport Secretary have reiterated their support for Crossrail 2. Over the coming months we will be preparing an updated business case and a robust funding plan before we proceed with further formal public consultation. We are still at an early stage of design and no decisions have been made. As the scheme progresses we will continue engaging with local communities, listening carefully to what people have to say to inform our work.
For further information on Crossrail 2, please visit www.crossrail2.co.uk,
like us on Facebook facebook.com/Crossrail 2 or follow @Crossrail2 on Twitter.”
In October, TfL’s local representative responsible for Chelsea (Jenn Bryden), who addressed our 2015 AGM, had given us this update:
“Over the last 8 months, the Crossrail 2 team has been working hard to develop our proposals for Crossrail 2. We have undertaken further feasibility and design work to consider how feedback from the last round of consultation, and the recommendations from Government and the National Infrastructure Commission, can be reflected in our updated proposals. Key issues and feedback from our last consultation have been set out in our interim Response to Issues Raised report. It can be found on our website here and the responses to feedback about King’s Road Chelsea begin on page 47.
Many people responded to the consultation to say that they were strongly against any proposals for a station in Chelsea. We have been considering particular issues that caused concerns, such as construction impacts and the business case for a station in Chelsea, as we continue to refine the scheme. Updated proposals for the scheme will be shared in our next consultation, which is currently scheduled for later in the Autumn.”
It is worth also reading sections 5.1.8 & 5.1.9 on page 27 of the Update. [ read background ]
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The report on the Crossrail 2 consultation is available here. It reveals that regarding the proposed station 86% of respondents were not supportive, 11% were supportive and 3% were neutral. Also 9,822 respondents answered Question 20, which asked for comments about the proposed station, and they made a total of 14,716 comments across the following themes: issues and concerns – 12,637; supportive – 1,601; neutral/unknown – 478.
TfL said that “in the summer [it would] publish a document that will respond to the issues and concerns raised during the consultation”. This ‘initial response’ became available when TfL released its ‘Update 7 July’ (see news) in which it states it has “published its initial response to a range of the issues raised during the recent public consultation on Crossrail 2. Nearly 21,000 people responded to the consultation and we are taking on board their comments to try and find solutions that have less impact on local communities”.
TfL went on to say “We are in the very early stages of designing Crossrail 2 and do not have permission to build it yet. We expect to seek permission to build and operate the
railway in 2019 through a piece of legislation known as a hybrid bill”.
– – – 2015 – – –
In July 2015, SSDRA circulated a copy letter from the Borough related to Crossrail 2 in Chelsea which should have been delivered to all houses in the area (we were aware that some may not have received it). It revealed that Borough supported Crossrail 2. However, many of their arguments for Crossrail 2 station at the King’s Road fire station were actually more supportive of a station further west where transport is currently less accessible.
We also drew members’ attention to the Crossrail 2 website, in particular the FAQ section which explains the impact and effect of the safeguarding and also contains an email for asking questions.
We confirmed that we would continue to monitor this and would appreciate hearing from members to ensure that we are representing their views.
At our 2015 AGM on 27 October, Jenn Bryden (TfL Local Engagement Manager for Crossrail 2) and colleagues presented ‘Crossrail 2 – October 2015‘ and their proposed plans for a station in Chelsea on the King’s Road and one of the founding members of the ‘No Crossrail in Chelsea Campaign’ responded.
Important highlights and updates from the meeting included:
- The entrance to the station will now be on Sydney Street – no longer at the Fire Station nor further west near World’s End
- TfL’s CR2 flyer describes it and provides a diagram of the proposed tunnels and platform which extend from Sydney Street all the way to Waterstones
- The cost of the section of CR2 between Clapham Junction and Victoria which stops in Kings’ Road/Sydney Street is close to £1bn. To date there is no cost/benefit analysis for this station, only a reduction in travel time to other parts of London.
- The Brompton Hospital have publicly said they would leave.
- TfL has started its consultation. It is very important that all residents respond; SSDRA will also respond, based on members’ views (in a short survey).
Details of various upcoming public meetings were circulated to members, including two at Chelsea Old Town Hall – a TfL drop-in session and a RBK&C-organised session led by Councillor Tim Coleridge and including speakers from TfL and ‘No Crossrail in Chelsea’.
– – – 2014 – – –
We made members aware of TFL’s consultation ‘Crossrail 2 June 2014‘ on the proposed new line which would impact Sydney Street and the surrounding area. We acknowledged that there were pros and cons to this development and stressed importance of all local residents responding, so that TFL understood our position.
The Residents’ Association was planning its own response and asked members with strong views to make them know. before the submission deadline of 25 July. [July 2014]
Crossrail 2 is a new underground line which will link Wimbledon to Hackney, going via Chelsea. This is a long-term project in the early planning stages. If the line were to go ahead, then construction would begin in the early 2020s, and open in about 2030.
Following the initial consultation in June 2013, Transport for London (TfL) held a further consultation in July 2014. This second consultation included consideration of a Chelsea station near World’s End as an alternative to the originally proposed King’s Road location adjacent to Dovehouse Green. Again, we liaised with councilors and with the Borough’s Planning Department, as well as with other local associations. We believe that our area of Chelsea is well served by public transport, including two tube stations. However, the Council indicated that the World’s End location was not a viable option for a number of reasons. Therefore, following numerous discussions and deliberations based on these inputs and considering the long-term attractiveness of Chelsea, we responded with a qualified positive for the station at King’s Road. Our response stressed key considerations and caveats, including green space, light and congestion.
The results of this consultation have not yet been published; it is expected that TfL will report its decision this autumn.
– – – 2013 – – –
Crossrail 2 is a new underground line which will link Wimbledon to Hackney, going via Chelsea. It is proposed that there would be a station on the King’s Road; one of the proposed locations for this station is in the vicinity of Dovehouse Green. TfL believes that the line could help to address overcrowding on several tube and rail lines, and take pressure off several major stations. There are two potential routes for the line, but both would go through Chelsea as well as some of London’s primary rails stations such as Victoria and Euston. Although this project has been dormant for some years, it is now firmly back on the agenda with support from the Mayor of London and the business campaign group, London First.
In June 2013 the RBKC conducted a survey of residents in the four wards closest to the proposed line, with a strong response rate of over 14%. Overall 70% supported the new line, while support for a station at Dovehouse Green was positive in general, although less positive from those living within 500m of the site. In addition the Chelsea Society is held a public discussion in September at the Chelsea Old Town Hall for all interested parties.
This is a long-term project in the early planning stages. If the line goes ahead, then construction would begin in the mid 2020s, and open in about 20 years’ time.