Lib Dems slam new CrossRail delay

12.30.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 29th Apr 2003

The London Assembly Liberal Democrats have slammed Transport Minister Alistair Darling for failing to give the go-ahead for the capital's crucial CrossRail project.

Lynne Featherstone, Lib Dem transport spokesperson, condemned Ministerial answers in the House of Lords yesterday as "pitifully weak".

"John Prescott plans 293,500 jobs and 95,000 new households for regeneration in the Thames Gateway by 2016. Business leaders are crying out for CrossRail, and London's Olympic bid also needs the guarantee."

"Thameslink 2000 now looks more like Thameslink 2010. The East London Line Extensions hang in the balance.

"When is the Labour government going to get serious about rail in London? Despite their huge majority, when it comes to the big decisions, the Government are pitifully weak."

1."Regeneration – Zones of Change" TGSP/10 published by the DTLR and the Thames Gateway Strategic Executive describes and itemises 95,000 additional households and 293,500 new jobs in the Thames Gateway regeneration "Zones of Change" by 2016.

2.On 7 April, eight senior business leaders, led by Lord Marshall of Knightsbridge and Sir Peter Davies, wrote to the Prime Minister and Transport Minister Alistair Darling, urging a decision on CrossRail before Easter.