London's Transport Needs

14 Jan 2004
Hackney Gazette

This week I took part in a debate in parliament on London’s Transport needs.  Transport is a key issue for us here in Hackney. We are one of the few London boroughs without a tube station inside its boundaries. The debate was extremely timely. Last week London’s transport system was criticised by the International Olympic Committee. But for me the debate allowed me to urge the government to give the go ahead to two projects that could dramatically improve the lives of us in Hackney; the East London Line Extension and Crossrail.

The East London Line Extension (ELLX as it is known) and Crossrail have been projects that I have long campaigned for. ELLX would link Highbury and Islington in the north with West Croydon in the south taking in Canonbury, Dalston, Haggerston, Hoxton and Shoreditch in the process. Both Crossrail and ELLX would give Hackney much needed transport links. Although plans have been made for both projects Gordon Brown is still considering their value and is due to make a decision after his spending review in the summer.

For me the value of both projects is immense. Politicians and the media often go on about crime, deprivation and social exclusion, but for me the projects could probably do more than any one-off scheme or project to counter social exclusion and poverty in the east end and other poor areas of London. There is no more certain lever of regeneration than improved transport links.

Both the ELLX and Cross rail will bring many benefits to Hackney. They will attract new business and retail to the area, and with it more jobs. The projects will make it easier for people to get to work and open up new areas of work, just like the Jubilee line did for Canary Wharf. Investment in Hackneys transport links will also bring with it improvements to the look of the area and the environment.

Much was made in the media of the failure of the Government to implement Cross Rail and ELLX in time for the Olympics. London’s bid to get the 2012 Olympics is important, but the transport debate should look more at the benefits improvement would bring to ordinary Londoners for years to come. I have no doubt that in the next twelve months we shall see a general election, it would be a great achievement to go to the polls with building underway on these vital rail links.

The judgement by the Olympic Committee on London was used by certain sections of the media to attack London and its infrastructure but I remain positive about both our chances of hosting the Games and the direction London’s development is taking. Much credit has to be given to the Mayor, Ken Livingstone, for having the conviction to introduce the congestion charge which has led to a cut in pollution and the rejuvenation of London’s bus service. I can only hope that the upcoming elections will see the Mayor continue in office and with him the commitment to London’s transport system.

 

 

 

 

 

 



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