West Croydon received the perfect tonic to some bad publicity last week when the Government confirmed that the Tube should be operational to Croydon in 2006.

Following a damning BBC news report that highlighted night-time crime in the West Croydon area, the town received news that should help Croydon Council's ambitious redevelopment plan for the bus and railway stations.

The announcement by Transport Secretary Stephen Byers that formal approval has been given to the East London Line extension confirms that Croydon can look forward to seeing its name added to London's famous tube map.

But it means much more than that, because it underlines the importance of Croydon Council's ambition to regenerate the area using West Croydon's unrivalled status as a transport interchange for Tube, tram, bus and train.

That plan is aimed at eliminating the kinds of problems highlighted by a BBC news report which portrayed the drunken violence as experienced by cab drivers.

The news of the Tube has been widely welcomed. Croydon Council leader Hugh Malyan said: "The extension to the East London Line will be the first significant new rail project for the new millennium and at around £500 million it represents extremely good value."

And Chris Hughes, chief executive of Croydon Chamber Of Commerce, said: "This is really terrific and hopefully it will help us enhance West Croydon and improve that area, especially with the House of Fraser development going alongside."

London Underground Ltd have been granted powers to extend the East London Line southwards in two di rections to Wimbledon and West Croydon.

The West Croydon line is also expected to include a spur to Crystal Palace.

October 23, 2001 17:00