From eWatford Observer 2/5/08


Golden opportunity missed?

By John Harrison

Environmentalists have condemned the business plan behind the proposed
Croxley Rail Link, warning the county council could miss a "golden
opportunity" to finally get the long-awaited project on track.

Hertfordshire County Council, backed by Mayor Dorothy Thornhill and
Watford MP Claire Ward, presented its business case for the £95m
scheme to the Department for Transport (DfT) in February.

However, the bid was quickly rejected as being "non compliant" with
the Government's funding criteria.

The DfT said the application could not be considered for Government
cash until the flaws in the business plan were resolved.

In a letter sent to the county council the DfT said there was a lack
of evidence to show the East of England Regional Assembly (EERA) - the
project's primary funder - could meet the current cost.

A spokesman for EERA told the Watford Observer this week that the
assembly had promised to invest £50m in the project.

Transport for London has previously promised a further £18m for the
scheme. However, the government is also seeking a clarification on
that promise.

Watford Friend's of the Earth has criticised the county council for
submitting an unsuitable business plan.

Alina Congreve planning advisor for the group said: "A lot of good
quality research is needed to make a sound case.

"The large redevelopment of the health campus is a golden opportunity
to show how many staff, patients and visitors would use the new rail
services.

"The Government has been highly critical of the quality of
Hertfordshire's bid for Government funding, with missing information
and a lack of up to date costs.

"Simply saying it would be a good thing without doing the work to
justify the rail link is not good enough."

Hertfordshire County Council this week said it had held a "productive
meeting" with the DfT, EERA as well as Claire Ward last month.

A council statement said the DfT has agreed to carry out a "limited
assessment" of the project and assess it against government "value for
money" criteria.

The statement read: "In the meantime, we will be working with London
Underground to identify the level of contribution it is able to make
into the project.

"This work will be undertaken between now and the end of May."

The county council said further discussions were scheduled in the
coming weeks.

It added that it expected a final decision to be made by "late
autumn".

Alina added that she felt it was time planners involved in the Watford
Health Campus publicly backed the Croxley Rail Link.

She said: "In the last two issues of the Watford Observer we have seen
two letters, one from Alastair Robertson (chief executive of Watford
Borough Council) and one from the project director of the health
campus, Kyle McClelland, in support of the hospital's new link road.

"So where is their vocal support for the Croxley Rail Link?"

.................................................. ................................

.................................................. ................................

John Burke

WRUG