Jarvis decision sucks lifeblood out of Tube, say Lib Dems (Islington Liberal Democrats)

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

Jarvis decision sucks lifeblood out of Tube, say Lib Dems

March 26, 2004 12:00 AM

Liberal Democrats in Islington have attacked the decision of maintenance company Jarvis to sell half its stake in Tube Lines - one of the companies responsible for maintenance and upgrading the deep tube lines and stations in London. Tube Lines is responsible for the Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria Lines which serve several stations in Islington. The move by Jarvis will allegedly help it solve its cash crisis just days after the company negotiated a refinancing deal with Transport for London. Islington's Liberal Democrat candidate in the Greater London Assembly elections, Councillor Terry Stacy, said: "This decision will cause further chaos for the Labour government's Public Private Partnership on the Tube in Islington. The Tube infrastructure is crumbling around our ears on the Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria Lines. "So it is particularly depressing to see the firm run by the Conservative Mayoral candidate causing so many problems for Islington's long suffering commuters. "Once again, there is an obvious and direct conflict of interest when Mr Norris is a candidate for London Mayor and Chief Executive of Jarvis. Mr Norris cannot make any objective comments on any transport issues when his company is sucking the lifeblood out of the Tube. "In the meantime we wait to hear what the now Labour mayor has to say on the issue and if it will affect investment plans for the lines in Islington." The Facts Note to Editors 1. Stations in the borough maintained by Tube Lines are: Northern Line - Old Street, Angel, Kings Cross, Tufnell Park and Archway. Piccadilly Line - Kings Cross, Caledonian Road, Holloway Road, Arsenal and Finsbury Park. Victoria Line - Kings Cross, Highbury & Islington and Finsbury Park.