MP campaigns to keep tube station open
MP for Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush Andy Slaughter says,local small shops may have to close permanently due to the 'double whammy' of an eight month Shepherd's Bush tube station closure and the opening of White City Shopping Centre.
The MP says he has received more than 3,000 letters of complaint about the station closure, more than he has ever received on any issue.
According to Mr Slaughter, the tube closure is due to an ultimatum given by Westfield for London Underground to get the station ready for an opening at the end of 2008.
He said: "Westfield promised to do the escalator works for LU at the same time – an offer they couldn't refuse.
"So Westfield are happy. They get a brand new, fully operational station ready to open at the same time as their shopping centre. LU are happy. They get to do all the works without the inconvenience of people using the station and someone else picks up the bill. Who isn't happy?
"Firstly, the 20,000 regular users of the station: Over 3,000 of these have already written to me to protest at LU's actions – by far the largest postbag I have ever had on any issue. There is no easy alternative option."
"Secondly, the several hundred small businesses around Shepherd's Bush Green. They rely on the station trade and will now suffer a double whammy. They will lose a good portion of their trade for nine months (assuming the works don't take longer) and then have to compete with Westfield when they are at their lowest ebb. Many believe they will not survive. So the people paying for the closure will benefit directly from the depression of their competitor's business."
Mr Slaughter says the Underground works should be delayed for a number of years, and carried when the two new stations planned for Shepherd's Bush open to provide alternative transport to the area.
Alternatively, he believes the small shops in Shepherd's Bush should be compensated by Westfield for their loss of trade during the closure.
Richard Parry, LU's Director of Strategy and Service Development, said: "We always try wherever possible to avoid closing Tube stations because of the inconvenience to passengers.
"But we have reluctantly agreed to close this station for eight months because it means the works can be accelerated and the escalator works undertaken at the same time, which in turn will result in benefits to passengers being delivered faster with less overall disruption.
"Major transport benefits will be delivered as part of the Westfield development and will enable the majority of visitors to the new centre to travel by public transport.
For those interested in debating these issues further, a meeting will be held next Thursday 24 January at 7.30pm. The venue will be Shepherds Bush Village Hall at 58 Bulwer Street, Shepherd's Bush. The meeting will give residents a chance to grill LU officials.
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Emma Midgley
January 18, 2008