Warning Over Crucial Railway Upgrades
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ENFIELD DISPATCH No. 5 THE BOROUGH’S FREE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER FEB 2019 NEWS Petition against Mini Holland handed to Downing Street amid discrimination claims P . 3 FEATURES National education charity uses Enfield school to trial 'micro economy' P . 4 INTERVIEW Meet the man aiming to build 'custom homes' at affordable prices in Enfield P . 7 COMMENT Green Belt campaigners call on local people to oppose council plans Credit WWE P . 8 WWE superstar Finn Bálor speaks at the launch of a new UK wrestling centre in Enfield – Page 15 A M E E Become a M M member of Enfield Warning over crucial Dispatch and get O the paper delivered to B your door each month E C – find out more R E on Page 16 railway upgrades B Call to boost services at new train station to support home-building plans BY JAMES CRACKNELL affect with Crossrail 2, currently ex- ly been hoped that a daily service going to get people living there if they pected to open in the early 2030s of four trains per hour – seen as a have to wait half-an-hour for a train?” enfielddispatch.co.uk lans to build tens of thou- and serve stations in both the east minimum requirement for subur- Documents recently obtained by sands of new homes in the and west of Enfield borough – ban routes – would be ready much Philip via a Freedom of Informa- Lea Valley could be scup- including the new Meridian Water sooner. The council lost a judicial tion request reveal that Network @EnfieldDispatch pered if rail services are Station due to open this May. Merid- review case against the Department Rail sought savings of £25million in Pnot drastically improved, a local ian Water is slated to provide 10,000 for Transport three years ago after the construction of a third track at /EnfieldDispatch transport group has warned. homes over the next 20 years, but has discovering Network Rail would Meridian Water and in doing so made Fears are growing that the funding itself been delayed after two deals not provide such a high-frequency the future construction of a fourth needed to both build Crossrail 2 with master developers collapsed in service when the new station opens. track – a crucial component for [email protected] and upgrade the West Anglia Main 2017 and 2018. The council is now Philip Ridley, from Enfield Trans- boosting service frequency to six-to- Line is in jeopardy, potentially im- leading on the project and the first port Users Group, told the Dispatch: eight trains per hour – more difficult. pacting Enfield Council's flagship 725 homes are under construction. “You have got 10,000 new homes Philip added: “We don't actually housing project, Meridian Water. However, Meridian Water Station being built and a station with only know what additional costs there Delays and cost overruns to Cross- will only be served by two trains per two trains per hour to serve them. rail 1 are likely to have a knock-on hour when it opens. It had previous- Crossrail 2 is now on ice. How are you CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 2 NEWS No.5 FEBRUARY 2019 ENFIELD DISPATCH CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 vestment. If the bid is suc- potential costs for any future project. cessful, £40m will be spent on “As part of our wider strategic Criticism are for Network Rail to boost capac- improving the train service to six- vision, we always consider what ity of the line, but we now know to-eight trains per hour by 2024, in we can do now to ensure future over housing ED. they have made savings. When you advance of full four-tracking to Brox- capacity enhancements can be get a train every 15 minutes, they bourne, and Crossrail 2. The result- accommodated, but this must scheme call it 'turn up and go' because you ing frequency of trains will support always be balanced with the o don't have to look up the timetable the accelerated delivery of up to responsibility for delivering value nfield Council has come under N .5 before you go to the station. That is 10,000 homes at Meridian Water.” for money for the taxpayer.” fire after a cabinet report revealed what they need for Meridian Water A Network Rail spokesperson said: Enfield North MP Joan Ryan has Eextra cash will have to be pumped FEBRUARY 2019 and without it I don't know how they “We have had early discussions been campaigning for the West into a delayed housing scheme, writes can build 10,000 homes there. with Enfield to provide advice on Anglia Main Line to be upgrad- Simon Allin, Local Democracy Reporter. Enfield Dispatch is the borough's “The future of the whole borough how their future proposals could ed for several years. She told the Conservative opposition leader free community newspaper. rests on this. Without delivering interface with our wider strategic Dispatch: “Politically speak- Joanne Laban branded the situation a We publish monthly and homes in this part of Enfield they plans. The infrastructure we are con- ing, Crossrail 2 has good support, “disgrace” and called for people to be distribute 10,000 free copies are going to have to build but the overrunning and sacked after the report revealed the small of each issue to cafés, pubs, community centres, libraries, GP homes on the Green over-spend of Cross- sites housebuilding scheme – which surgeries, schools, hair salons, Belt in other parts.” “How are you going rail 1 is not good aims to provide 140 homes – would be and outside railway stations. The council is cur- news for Crossrail 2. I delayed for several months. rently bidding to win think the government The report states “discrepancies in Publisher to get people living David Floyd government funding making a funding com- designs” by contractor AMCM led to cost for a series of trans- there if they have to mitment is the issue. overruns and homes due in early 2019 Editor port improvements in The government is not being delayed until June. It comes after James Cracknell and around Meridian wait half-an-hour proving itself com- earlier delays meant some half-complet- Designer Water, some of which is petent at delivering big ed homes had to be pulled down because Jonathan Duncan earmarked for upgrad- for a train?” infrastructure projects. of weather damage. Project Manager ing the West Anglia Main “Four-tracking would Council leader Nesil Caliskan, respond- Anna Merryfield Line to provide six-to-eight trains structing for the £170m Lee Valley have a big impact in Enfield because ing to the criticism, said: “The report per hour. Crossrail 2 could subse- Rail Programme has been designed we don't have the underground sets out a direction to get phase one Contributors quently provide twelve trains per to provide provision for a potential here and our train lines are criti- back on track and ensure that overall Simon Allin, Ian Cameron Black, Richard Grant, Norma Chapman, hour, allowing even more homes fourth track to be laid in future, cal. I get a lot of complaints about there is a positive contribution to the Christine Ancker, Birsen Demirel, to be built at Meridian Water avoiding substantial costs where this line because we have got a lot housing revenue account.” Keith Bilton, Claire Fisher, and elsewhere in the Lea Valley. possible, should the West Anglia of commuters who depend on it, Monty Meth, Jo Johnson, A council spokesperson said: “The element of Crossrail 2 be delivered. and a growing population, particu- Andrew Warshaw, Ian Mackenzie, new Meridian Water Station will “The new station at Meridian Water, larly in the eastern part of Enfield. David Williamson Council receive two-to-four trains per hour the new footbridge at Northumber- “Two trains per hour are useless, Members from September 2019. The council land Park and the bridge across it needs radically improving, and reclaims Derek Grant, Michael Dickinson, is also exploring further improve- the Lea Navigation have all been we are told we need four-tracking Michael Cole, Brendan O'Brien, ments through its Housing Infra- designed to accommodate both to make that happen. Compared cemeteries Young Notes, Ed Balleny, Natasha Boydell, Elizabeth structure Fund (HIF) bid which the new third track and a possible to Crossrail 2 it is also cheaper and Crosthwait, Richard Stones, seeks £156m of government in- future fourth track, reducing the can be done sooner.” he management of five publicly- Philip Ridley, Suzanne Beard, owned cemeteries will be taken Chris Kaufman, Martyn over by Enfield Council. Stogden, Susan Cook T Burial services at Lavender Hill, Stray- With two tracks on the West Anglia Main Line, only two trains per hour can currently serve field Road, Hertford Road, Edmonton CONTACT stations such as Brimsdown, Ponders End and Angel Road – soon to be replaced by Meridian Water and Old Southgate cemeteries, includ- Call 020 8521 7956 Credit James Cracknell ing maintenance, site improvement Email EnfieldDispatch@ works, and general upkeep, will now be socialspider.com run by the council's parks department. Post Salisbury House, Bury Guney Dogan, cabinet member for en- Street West, Enfield N9 9LA vironment, said the move would “enable us to provide a high-quality, adaptable ADVERTISING and value-for-money service”. He added: Contact Ben Cawthra: “We know arranging a funeral can be Call 020 3892 0061 a sensitive and distressing time and we Email ben.cawthra@ are determined to make it as straightfor- hackneycitizen.co.uk ward as possible for grieving families.” Correction n article in last month's paper We are grateful to Love Your Doorstep (Enfield's violent crime rate doubles for their ongoing support Ain seven years, Page 1, Issue 4) stated there had been a multiple shoot- Enfield Dispatch is a member of IMPRESS: The Independent Monitor ing in Gordon Road, Enfield Chase.