Nick Raynsford, MP for Greenwich & Woolwich, secured an Adjournment Debate about Crossrail, which took place in the House of Commons on Thursday evening, 2^nd June. Nick Raynsford spoke of the vital economic benefits that Crossrail would be bring to Woolwich. His comments were supported in the Chamber by neighbouring Labour MPs, Clive Efford (Eltham) and Jim Fitzpatrick (Poplar & Limehurst), as well as Mark Field (Cities of London & Westminster). All MPs are as concerned as Nick Raynsford by media speculation that Government spending cuts would threaten the future of Crossrail. Nick Raynsford asked the Transport Secretary for a cast-iron guarantee that the full Crossrail line will be built and that Crossrail would come to Woolwich.

Transport Minister Theresa Villiers publicly acknowledged the huge benefits that building the full Crossrail line would bring to the economic prosperity of South East London and indeed the UK. She added that significant progress had already been made and that the Government remains committed to the scheme. Ms Villiers reiterated the Government’s agenda of providing ‘value for money’ for the taxpayer and that including a station at Woolwich depends on contributions from the private sector.

Nick welcomed the Minister’s assurance that the Government recognises the importance of Crossrail. However, Nick remains concerned about the lack of Government commitment to guarantee the scope of the scheme.

The Transport Minister paid tribute to Nick Raynsford’s ‘long and distinguished record of campaigning for Crossrail in general and for Woolwich station in particular’.

Nick says: ‘I am pleased that the Minister recognizes the clear merits of the scheme but I remain concerned that the Government will not give a cast-iron guarantee that the full line will be built. Not including a station at Woolwich would be a catastrophe for the continued economic regeneration of the area. With the support of Greenwich Council, I have fought hard over the past five years to secure a Crossrail station at Woolwich. The fact that the Minister has publicly acknowledged the length of the campaign shows that the Government knows that we are fighters and that we are not going to give up until Woolwich gets its much-needed Crossrail station’.