New Scheme to End Commuter Strife

By Dominic O’Neill

You could hardly blame Sarah Kerrison for taking a cab to take her baby Callum from her home in Ealing to her Osteopath in Clerkenwell. "In central London, taking a baby on the tube is just impossible," she says. "Even outside rush hour, the Central Line is packed."
This is a problem that commuters face on a daily basis but things are looking up for people like Sarah and baby Callum.
Last week businessmen and politicians including Tony Blair gave clear indication that the multi-billion pound project we go ahead, and change the way we get to work and carry London’s transport system into the 21st century.


The train system will link Heathrow and Maidenhead in the west with Essex and Kent in the east. It will tunnel under central London stopping at Farringdon. The train line should cost around £16 billion to build and inject around £30 billion into the UK’s economy. A bill to allow Crossrail to go ahead is currently being considered by the House of Lords and a January 2008 start date for the seven-year construction period looks likely.
Islington residents don’t have to worry about footing the bill for the project as it will be financed one third by fares, one third by a three per cent increase in London business taxes – and one third by central government. But even if the government, passengers, and pan-London business are putting up the cash, will Islington pay in other ways?
Mayor Ken Livingstone’s London Plan has marked out the area around Farringdon as one for “intensification,” with more office blocks, and a more central role in the capital’s economy. Richard Whytehead, English Heritage’s London archaeologist, has sat on a number of planning boards to discuss Crossrail’s impact. With Cowcross Street, Smithfield’s Market, and St John’s Gate all nearby, he says the Farringdon area is of prime historical interest.
Whytehead is not objecting to the developments outright: “History teaches that towns move forward all the time,” he sighs. “All we can do is to try to control things, and make sure the newer buildings do not alter too much the historic panorama of the area.”

Not everyone is so resigned. George Allen, who as well as Clerkenwell Councillor is also chair of the local planning committee, says he has “lots of differences” with Ken Livingstone over how the area and its housing should be treated. He says his views are representative of the residents of his ward, and that he will fight to defend them. “There is nothing illogical about intensifying activity around public transport links. But Ken Livingston has to realize that this is a very character-full area, and there are limits to how intense it can get," he adds.

Nevertheless the project has its fair share of cheerleaders. Ian Rathbone, Crossrail’s education programme manager, believes the project will greatly benefit the area. “It’s going to make the area infinitely more reachable,” he says. “Shops in Farringdon will be able to expect more customers too.”
LibDem Councillor for Clerkenwell George Allen is also positive. “Crossrail will put us in one of the best areas for transport links in the whole world. Not only will we be able to get direct Thameslink trains to Luton and Gatwick airports, we will also be able to go directly to Heathrow – and that’s not to mention the other areas North, South, East, and West of the city which will be a short ride away,” he enthuses.
This viewpoint is echoed by Christopher Kelsey, who works for lobby group Campaign for Crossrail. According to him, the Farringdon station has received a virtually “unanimous welcome” – even if there has been significant opposition to the Liverpool Street and Whitechapel stations, for example, and the subsequent tunneling required under Brick Lane.