ELTHAM: MP demands new DLR station (From News Shopper)

ELTHAM: MP demands new DLR station

8:30am Thursday 28th January 2010 in

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TRANSPORT chiefs are “burying their heads in the sand” over the need for a new rail station, an MP has claimed.

Eltham MP Clive Efford’s comments came after a feasibility study into bringing the Docklands Light Railway to Eltham and Kidbrooke was launched by Greenwich Council.

Deputy council leader Cllr Peter Brooks described the study as “the first step in what I hope can be a further successful campaign to bring better public transport links to the borough.”

But Transport for London (TfL) has already cast doubt over the idea, pointing out previous reviews have dismissed the scheme’s viability.

A spokesman told News Shopper: “While we’re always keen to have new ideas, as things stand it’s a very difficult job and there’s no money for it.”

Mr Efford is campaigning for the Eltham station along with a third bore at the Blackwall Tunnel and a DLR link to North greenwich tube station.

He said: “I’ve been saying this for a very long time and it’s started to get people listening.

“I’ve had more than 400 residents responding to me saying they support it.”

He added: “TfL are burying their heads in the sand.

“If anyone at TfL wants to stick their head out of the window at their shiny new offices on the peninsula they’ll see the problem right under their noses - so sort it out.”

An interim report by the council’s Eltham Regeneration Agency is expected to be completed in April, with a final report due in May.

But ward councillor and leader of Greenwich Conservatives Cllr Spencer Drury has attacked the study’s timing, coming after the deadline for submissions to the Mayor of London’s transport strategy has already passed.

He said: “It’s just hot air.

“I welcome a study into the issue, but if they were serious about this why didn’t they start two months before? It’s just infuriating.”