You may be interested to learn that Ken Livingstone has pledged to return to the question of a new tram line to Ealing, if elected as Mayor next year.
The Tottenham & Wood Green Journal reported that Ken wants a new tram scheme for North and West London. He is reported as saying “trams could stretch from Wembley and Ealing to Wood Green, so commuters are no longer forced to travel into London and out again.”
No mention was made in the report of whether there was any reference to the north and west London light rail scheme, about which Ealing Council passed a supportive resolution originally moved by Liberal Democrat Councillor Jon Ball on 21st April 2010, or to the West London orbital underground plan.
Ealing Liberal Democrats vigorously opposed Ken Livingstone’s plan for a west London tram when he was Mayor, because it would have caused massive disruption to much of Ealing and failed to provide any net new transport capacity on the busy Uxbridge Road corridor. We have noted his new comments and would again oppose any similar plan.
We do however urge the Mayor of London – and Ealing Council – to give priority to developing Ealing Broadway station as a serious transport hub for Ealing, with a genuine integrated rail/bus/tube interchange and orbital links such as could be provided by the North & West London light rail scheme, or the West London orbital underground proposal.
I say that Ealing badly needs a transport strategy that will serve the needs of the borough and its residents, and avoid the risk that Crossrail, when it comes, will merely turn the town centre into a massive dormitory for City workers. Ealing Broadway has to be the heart of the borough, and the station its gateway. This is now the time to bring forward a plan to achieve this.
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