From eWatford Observer 29/03/08


Croxley Rail Link hits the sidings



Plans to finally build the Croxley Rail Link have again hit the skids
after the Department for Transport dismissed the latest bid as "non-
compliant" with its funding criteria.

The development, which would link the Metropolitan Line to Watford
Junction, has received backing from Hertfordshire County Council,
Watford MP Claire Ward and the East of England Regional Assembly, as
well as Watford Borough Council.

However, the government has rejected the business case because it has
still not received financial backing from Transport for London (TfL).


TfL said in 2005 that it would commit up to £18 million to the
project. However, because TfL will not guarantee how much cash it will
provide for the £95 million project the Government will not commit any
money to it either.

The Department for Transport has, however, agreed to meet with the
county council to discuss the project.

The bid was backed by a letter signed by Mayor Dorothy Thornhill, Ms
Ward and Robert Gordon, leader of the county council.

And Mayor Thornhill says if the three can continue to show the same
level of cross party solidarity the case can still be won.

She said: "Somebody actually wants to talk to us about this and I'm
sure that if we show the same level of solidarity we can prove the
rail link is important.

"The Croxley Rail Link is not just the icing on the cake for the
people of West Watford, it is the cherry on the icing of the cake."


5:21pm Saturday 29th March 2008

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John Burke

WRUG