Answers must be provided over funding of Surrey Canal Station - Caroline Pidgeon

3.00.00pm GMT Thu 25th Mar 2010

Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, commenting on a recent statement by Peter Hendy (Commissioner of Transport for London) that a firm commitment has still not been received from central Government for an additional £7 million funding contribution towards a new station being built at Surrey Canal Road station said:

"This is seriously bad news for North Lewisham and for South Bermondsey.

"Despite predictions that a new station would be used by 1.3 million passengers a year and help bring significant investment to the area it seems the Department of Transport are now dithering over whether to support this much needed new station. Without a station at Surrey Canal Road many of the benefits of the second phase of the East London Line extension will be denied to many residents in North Lewisham.

"It is time the Department for Transport clarified their position once and for all. Does their previous pledge to contribute £7 million for this much needed station still stand?"

"With a General Election fast approaching this is an issue which people in North Lewisham deserve immediate answers on."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. At yesterday's (Thursday 24th March) Transport for London Board meeting Peter Hendy, Commissioner for Transport for London, stated in his written report:

"A commitment from the DfT for an additional £7m funding contribution towards a new station at Surrey Canal Road station has still not been received,"

"However TfL understands the Minister of State for Transport has concerns that the case for the station is overly reliant on a single planning application, which has not yet been submitted for approval by the Developer to the London Borough of Lewisham. The DfT has also questioned the station's demand projections. These issues will be further discussed between the DfT, TfL and the London Borough of Lewisham. The timing of DfT's contribution is now critical to enable more than passive provision."

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/corporate/Item04-Commissioners-Report-24-March-2010-Board.pdf (see pages 6 and 7)

2. Simon Hughes, MP for Southwark North and Bermondsey, has already tabled a number of written parliamentary questions to the Department of Transport, seeking clarification as to the Department of Transport's plans over supporting a new train station at Surrey Canal Road.

3. Lewisham Council's decision to offer £3 million funding towards the new train station was made "on the basis that the whole of the £7m DfT Funding will be released for the station."

(paragraph 5.2, Mayor and Cabinet papers, Lewisham Council, 20 January 2010)