Don't ignore us Boris, say rail campaigners

Monday, 21 September 2009

Jenny Clover

Rail campaigners have been left furious after London Mayor Boris Johnson rejected pleas to meet with them to hear their case against the axeing of a pivotal train line.

Mr Johnson declined to meet a cross-party group of MPs, councillors, King’s College and Maudsley hospital representatives and community groups who are battling to save the South London Line (SLL).

Labour London Assembly member Val Shawcross said: “It wouldn’t hurt the Mayor to spend 10 minutes listening to what major teaching hospitals, elected representatives and community groups have got to say about the SLL.”

The SLL runs from Victoria to London Bridge via Battersea Park, Wandsworth Road, Clapham High Street, Denmark Hill, Peckham Rye, Queens Road Peckham and South Bermondsey.

It is due to be axed in 2012 when extra Thameslink trains start running through London Bridge, squeezing it out.

A planned replacement Victoria-Bellingham service, which would have called at many of the same stations, has also been abandoned.

Transport for London (TfL) and the Department for Transport (DfT) agreed to spend £24million set aside to pay for the service on the East London line extension instead.

In his written reply to Ms Shawcross, Mr Johnson wrote: “It is important to point out that this decision was the DfT’s alone, and therefore it would be more productive to meet with them in order to lobby them.”

TfL were unavailable for comment.

For more see tomorrow's South London Press, (Tuesday).

For the full story, you can get a full online edition at www.slp-e-edition.co.uk

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2 comments on this news item

Posted by : Richard Taylor, Nunhead | Tuesday 29/Sep/2009 | Report this comment

Typical of Boris to ignore the impact the cutting of the SLL will have. Thank goodness we have Val Shawcross, she has worked relentlessly as a GLA member for the Southwark community.

Richard Taylor

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Posted by : Magnus , SE5 | Wednesday 23/Sep/2009 | Report this comment

Boris doesnt care about South London - he has already cancelled the tram and now will downgrade a vital train service. Worst is that he doesnt want to talk to us South Londoners. The majority of people in Lambeth and Southwark voted for Ken not him so he doesnt care

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