Good Evening,
We had our long-awaited meeting with Crossrail 2 this evening. This followed the successful campaign we ran earlier this year to have the access shafts moved from Skylark and Trinity Fields.
Key points from the meeting:
•Crossrail 2 fully recognise that the provisional choice of location for shafts at Skylark and Trinity Fields was 'inappropriate', so those sites are off the table
•There will now follow a period of active engagement with local residents and community groups (ie an expanded 'SaveTheCommon' group)
•This will consider alternative route alignments and locations for the access shafts, with the aim of choosing the least disruptive site(s)
•It may be that only one shaft is needed rather than two (dependent on consultation with the emergency services, and the exact underground route chosen); this would be good news if it materialises
•This process will develop some potential options for our area; similar discussions will be had across the length of the route and a new public consultation for Crossrail 2 (across London) will be launched in the autumn.
I feel that Crossrail 2 are very much in listening mode now and hopefully that will lead to some strong ideas coming forward so that this project can be a success. There will be more information to come in due course and I will continue to keep you informed.
Best regards,
Dan Watkins
www.danwatkins.org.uk