Crowlands Action Group
'Romford Depot may soon be
UPDATE!!
At a recent meeting with Jonathon Baggs, Crossrail Area Consultation and Petition Manager, he explained that in order to facilitate the relocation there will have to be an amendment to the Bill. As Parliament is due to go into summer recess now, the amendment will not be introduced until the autumn. There will then have a period of consultation in the areas that will be affected, which will take place early next year. Based on this timetable, Romford can expect to hear if they have finally been reprieved next spring.
Jonathon also confirmed that CAG will still be required to present their petition to the Select Committee. It has been put on hold until the amendment to the Bill is made. It would appear that rather than fighting Crossrail, we will now be required to present our petition in order to back Crossrail’s change to the Bill. As he put it to us, ‘we now agree with you’.
When this news first broke it was suggested that, should the new depot option not be passed, a smaller plan for Romford had been devised. At our meeting with Jonathon Baggs, it became clear that there would be two changes to the Romford plan should it still go ahead. The first is a reconfiguration of pitches on Westlands during the construction period resulting in less pitches being lost temporarily. The permanent land take would remain unchanged as would all other affected areas. The depot size will not be altered.
The other change will happen regardless of where the depot goes now. The Route Control Centre will not now be sited in Sandgate Close but will be housed at the existing facility at Liverpool Street. Safeguarding on that land will be lifted when the Minister makes another statement to the House. Again this will not be until after recess. Residents will do well to keep an eye on the ball as it was quite clear from our contact with a representative of Secondsite Properties back in 2004, that they do want to dispose of that land
To clarify, the Select Committee has
deferred the hearing of the group's petition (and that of around 9 other
'depot' petitioners), and we will need to take their advice on what
evidence they wish to hear during future hearings on the issue of the
Crossrail depot. I understand you want further information on future
committee hearings, and I appreciate your desire to see the depot off
for good -- as the role you have to play in this comes clearer I will
certainly let the group know, perhaps at another evening meeting.
Best wishes,
Jonathan Baggs
Area Consultation & Petition Manager (East)