Lib Dems add support to Crossrail, but want action for Eltham too

10.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 18th May 2005

Liberal Democrat councillors voted in favour of lobbying Parliament for building a Crossrail station at Woolwich Arsenal this evening, in addition to the station at Abbey Wood.

Speaking during the debate, Cllr Mark Pattenden (Eltham South) said "It is unfortunate that we even have to go through this. The original plans for the route even included the option of a station at Charlton, but it was dropped late in the day, along with the station at Woolwich."

"While we support the plans for Crossrail and hope that this petition does not delay the process, we are left wondering why there has not been quite so much effort put in to challenging the government's plans to drop Thameslink 2000 - a much needed improvement in rail services for the south of the borough."

Cllr Pattenden added "Plans are already underway to cut rail services in Eltham. We look forward to the Council turning its attention to the needs of the rest of the borough. Crossrail deserves our support, but this is just one part of building a properly integrated transport network that our part of south east London has lacked for so long."