?East London Line Extension decision needed now,? say Lib Dems (Islington Liberal Democrats)

Islington Liberal Democrats <Islington_ld@cix.co.uk>

?East London Line Extension decision needed now,? say Lib Dems

March 23, 2004 12:00 AM

Islington Liberal Democrats have accused the government of dragging their feet on a decision about the East London Line extension. The extension is due to bring new and much-needed tube links to Canonbury and Highbury & Islington stations in the borough. The Department for Transport and the Treasury are currently discussing funding arrangements for the project. A decision is not now likely until April at the earliest with the extension due to open in 2008. Liberal Democrats in Islington have also been campaigning for the extension to go one stop further to serve Caledonian Road & Barnsbury station. Transport for London has confirmed that a stop could be included provided that additional trains are not required to stop at an additional station. A decision on a new station at Caledonian Road & Barnsbury is not expected until after a decision on the rest of the extension. Councillor Bridget Fox, Executive Member for Sustainability, said: "Like the trains themselves, the East London Line extension is already running far behind schedule. Now Islington's future transport needs are again on hold while government departments wrangle over the funding. Why do transport improvements in London always take so long to sort out? "This scheme is vital to our ambitious plans to regenerate the heart of Islington. Liberal Democrats have been pushing for the extension to include Caledonian Road & Barnsbury too. Cally Road has deserved improvement for years - it beggars belief that a decision on this vital link might take even longer." Councillor Terry Stacy, Islington Liberal Democrat candidate in the Greater London Assembly elections, said: "This constant stop-start for the extension must end. London's Mayor needs to bang his new Labour friends' heads together so the extension finally gets the green light. "The local Labour GLA member's campaign for an extension to Finsbury Park has also been ruled out by Transport for London as operationally impossible. We need to concentrate on getting the line opened not raising Islington's residents' expectations falsely."