?Labour must stop dragging its feet over Crossrail?, warn Lib Dems (Islington Liberal Democrats)

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

?Labour must stop dragging its feet over Crossrail?, warn Lib Dems

April 7, 2004 12:00 AM

The Liberal Democrats have taken their fight over Crossrail all the way to the top by tabling a House of Commons motion which urges the Labour Government to publish the Montague report on Crossrail and get on with building this long-awaited rail link. Only recently Lib Dem Bridget Fox attacked the Government for postponing the decision on the already long-overdue project. She is now calling on Islington's Labour MPs to add their support for this motion and demand their Government to start taking this seriously. Bridget Fox, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Islington South, said: "For forty years Crossrail has been a dream that has never happened. The Government must get Crossrail project must get moving now if it is ever going to become a reality. "Crossrail would make a massive difference to cross-London journey times for Islington residents with the planned stop at Farringdon. While we wait endlessly for Labour to make their mind up, commuters in Islington and across London are suffering. "If they don't get on and build this link then it's another broken Labour promise and another Labour let-down for Islington. Islington's Labour MPs must sign this motion and start sticking up for Islington's needs." Councillor Terry Stacy, local Liberal Democrat candidate for the Greater London Assembly, said: "Labour's dithering has put the whole project in doubt. The case for Crossrail has been made many times over. It is time to get the Montague report published, hear the thoughts of the public and get this crucial rail link for Islington and the whole of London built." The Facts 1. The Montague report which will decide on whether the Government is to support Crossrail is now more than two months overdue and without the report, none of the consultation or building of Crossrail can get underway. 2. The Early Day Motion in the House of Commons was tabled last week. EDM 949 CROSSRAIL Hughes/Simon That this House is concerned with the failure of Ministers to publish the Montague Report on Crossrail due at the end of January; notes that reports coming from the Treasury about the financing of Crossrail have been lukewarm; further notes that the longer it takes to make a firm commitment to Crossrail the less likely it will be that the £20 billion of value added to GDP and consequent additional tax take of £7.6 billion will be generated, throwing into doubt the whole future of the Thames Gateway regeneration; and calls upon Ministers to publish the report, hold consultations with the public and get on with building a rail link between East and West London. John Thurso MP Vincent Cable MP Edward Davey MP Paul Burstow MP ENDS