Crossrail 2 - Public Meeting notes Wimbledon
Recent Dundonald Ward Meeting
Meeting to hear expert speakers explain the current proposals on
Crossrail 2 and the Wimbledon Town Centre Master Plan, how they might affect residents and how locals can get involved
Councillor Suzanne Grocott
Councillor David Dean
Councillor Michael Bull
Guest Speakers:
John Mays – The Wimbledon Society
Leigh Terrfranca – The Wimbledon Society and local Residents Association
Stephen Colebourne, A local rail commentator and expert gave precise details about the Crossrail 2 project, from its origins and objectives to how it might pan out for Wimbledon, Raynes Park and Motspur Park. As London’s population grows and people take more journeys, public transport capacity needs expanding across the Capital. Crossrail 2 aims to solve overcrowding across south-west and north-east London, including on the Northern Line and at Euston, which will receive substantially higher passenger volumes once HS 2 arrives in 2026. Crossrail 2 is a high-capacity network that will reduce travel times to parts of London and to the south. All political parties in London back the project, although there is no guarantee that Crossrail 2 will go ahead.
It was worth noting that Crossrail 1, now The Elizabeth Line, will open soon and cost about £15 billion and is seemingly seen as a success, even before it starts running! The budget for Crossrail 2 is approximately £30 billion and is a bigger project than The Elizabeth Line. Crossrail 2, if it goes ahead, will have 56 stations and if the current plans come to fruition, will be built between about 2020 and 2033 requiring modification at Wimbledon, Raynes Park and Motspur Park train stations.
The idea is for up to 30 Crossrail 2 trains per hour in each way, which when compared to the current South West Trains service of eighteen trains per hour, is significantly more. This means Crossrail 2 will fundamentally affect the stations that it serves. Because some Crossrail 2 trains will terminate at Wimbledon, the station requires four platforms and two additional tracks from Wimbledon to Raynes Park. Ten trains will terminate at Wimbledon and twenty will go to Raynes Park and beyond.
Crossrail 2’s initial strategy was to build their platforms just to the south of the current station in Wimbledon, which would require substantial demolition of buildings in the town centre, including Centre Court, buildings along Queens Road, the Prince of Wales pub and those towards the Odeon cinema. There are nine plots of land that are safeguarded for Crossrail 2 currently.
Residents and local politicians criticised this plan for obvious reasons, not least the disruption, destruction and loss of the majority of the retail outlets in the town. There were wide-ranging and overwhelming objections to the plan.
Because of the sheer number of objections, Crossrail 2 have re-considered the current plan and have come forward with 3 additional options. Their new options including having an underground station at Wimbledon significantly reducing the number of buildings that would be demolished. Another option puts a tunnel below ground the fast trains that go through but do not stop at Wimbledon. The last option is building the Crossrail2 station on the north side requiring demolition of buildings that might include Waitrose, the Magistrates court and some houses.
Stephen Colebourne, the expert speaker, has written an excellent blog, which explains in full detail all the options proposed by the Crossrail 2 team. Please find complete information here: http://ukrail.blogspot.co.uk/
At the meeting, residents had many questions. Key concerns included the demolition of well-loved buildings, people losing their own homes, the town centre retail being decimated, decade-long destruction, lack of a positive plan to re-build Wimbledon and no plan on how to make traffic flow better.
Some of the solutions put forward included:
1. Stephen Colebourne’s idea of putting the non-stopping fast trains underground freeing up two platforms at Wimbledon station, meaning dramatically less demolition in the town centre.
2. Pushing back the station, creating a large pedestrian area.
3. Putting a bus station on top of the train station, which would improve connectivity and gives more space for public transport.
4. Two new road bridges across the railway track to keep vehicles away from pedestrians and improve traffic flow.
5. More public and green space to cope with the tripling of pedestrians in the town centre.
John Mays Chairman of The Wimbledon Society, the second speaker, presented their view of what should be considered for the Town Centre Plan. The opinion was that the so-called Wimbledon Master Plan does not give clear guidelines on the overall map of how Wimbledon will look. There is no overall coherent strategy for the town. Developers are creating their own plans without noting the demands and wishes of the residents and the Council. This could lead to much demolition, a decade-long loss of the vibrancy of the area and no additional public space once Wimbledon is re-built. The concern is that people, retail and businesses might drift away and Wimbledon becomes a ghost town, especially in the evenings. In fact, Developers, after all, are already formulating plans to radically change the town centre, even if Crossrail 2 does not happen. The view was that the Master Plan should be progressed, in line with resident thinking now, even before a decision is taken on Crossrail 2. The plan must include more public space, more greenery and hopefully the long-planned concert hall that has substantial, private financial backing. Above all the area covered by the Broadway and the Wimbledon Station forecourt should be pedestrianised – to create a user-friendly safe and unpolluted centre. It was highly productive for the Council and the community in terms of tax revenue; it was mandatory to ensure it remained attractive to residents and visitors alike.
Residents wanted to know how they could make their voice heard with regard to changes to the town centre and Crossrail 2. Writing to politicians of all parties would be useful; local Councillors, the leader of the Council and the local MP.
It is believed that the next stage of Crossrail 2 planning will be published in June or July. A consultation will follow. Therefore, Dundonald Councillors will bring together expert speakers around that time, so that local residents will be fully informed.
For more details:
07962 802 540
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