CROSSRAIL 2 VENTILATION SHAFT (AGAIN) Post Reply

[secondtimer]

Surely the fact that so much green space is being built upon is EXACTLY the reason why people should be getting worked up about it?

The commons are exactly that.. Common land.. And should not be used for building work! Our children will thank us for green spaces to walk dogs and play football on.. Not everyone wants to be a city commuter!

I've heard rumours (from a trusted source) that the private schools consortium (northcote lodge and Thomas's particularly) are reluctant to engage with the state sector.. (honeywell, Belleville, bollingbroke) in putting forward a united rejection of the Wandsworth common ventilation site. This seems both surprising and (if true) very disappointing. I've heard there is an alternative proposal to use the overflow carpark at Wandsworth prison and I'm struggling to see why anyone wouldn't back this as a sensible alternative??

[HightreesHouse]

Re Second Timer:

I don't know about the Thomas's, Northcote approach on the Common regarding the Balham route so I can't comment. Thomas's are a long way away and Northcote could be concerned that it would come closer to them rather than further away. They were both extremely constructive in terms of moving the proposed access route off Trinity Fields.

Regarding the prison overflow carpark - that is only relevant if they build in Tooting - in other words if the Balham route is not apdopted. It is too far away from the Balham route to be viable as an emergency access shaft.

THe proposed shafts for the Tooting route are Weir Road, Springfield/ Burntwood Lane and the prison overflow car park.

The proposed shafts for Balham route are Weir Road, Springfield, Waitrose and Wandsworth Common/Honeywell Rd.

[secondtimer]

Thanks hightrees.. That's useful detail..

[actuallyadad]

Why not build the ventilation shaft on the site of that ugly church on the corner of Ravenslea Road and Nightingale Lane?

The building is already an eye-saw and not in keeping with the local architecture.

Church-goers can always go somewhere else - London has plenty of churches. That way, nobody's house gets built upon and nobody has to worry about the common being built upon.

Perfect, I have solved the issue.

[KatherineHepburn]

We don't, it's a dreadful waste of money in times of austerity.
The money would be far better spent linking Liverpool/Manchester/Leeds and giving some well earned assistance to the business and financial infrastructure of the Midlands and the North.
Drives me crazy.

[a.dad]

have a look at this 5 min video on Crossrail 2 & Tooting v Balham
https://youtu.be/ixLJr69UaDo
takes 5 mins
whichever way you lean make sure you have your say via the TfL consultation:
https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/crossr ... 515468221/
closes 8th Jan 2016

[KatherineHepburn]

Where abouts in Tooting to you live a.dad?
Obviously, not the street!! Just curious where....

[MGMidget]

Nice video a.dad. However I take issue with a couple of things in it. Tooting does already have a mainline station and the green space of Wandsworth Common and/or other local green spaces won't necessarily be unaffected by choosing Tooting over Balham, given that the original proposals for Tooting would have impacted on Wandsworth Common and Trinity Fields.

I'm beginning to like the Earlsfield alternative being put forward!

[a.dad]

Hi MGM
Couple of points:
1 Tooting does have an overland station but it's about 1 mike walk from St George's, Tooting Broadway, Tooting High St. etc point is that Tooting Broadway isn't connected to a mainline service whereas Balham is. So CR2 at Balham is duplicating existing connections. CR2 at Tooting Broadway is creating new connections.

2. TfL can confirm to you that the Tooting Broadway route proposed vent shaft was moved to Wandsworth Prison car park. That was before they made the new proposal to Balham. You can also see this in the report for the recent Wandsworth Council meeting on the subject. See para 12 https://democracy.wandsworth.gov.uk/doc ... il%202.pdf so TB station does not lead to vent on the common/skylark/trinity fields.

[ukrailblog]

On TfL's move from Tooting Broadway to Balham it is good to look at motivations.

Tooting Broadway has better Northern Line relief, better regeneration effects and better access benefits, notably St.Georges. Of the two, it is the clear winner in transport terms. So, why change? The ground conditions are significant, but it is possible to build the station in engineering terms. Instead, I believe the real problem is the length of the build.

TfL have determined that Crossrail 2 must be open for the second phase of HS2. If it is not then the tube at Euston will be overwhelmed. The date for the opening of HS2 phase 2 is 2033. The date for Crossrail 2 is currently 2030, but that date is very aggressive given previous major project development times. As such, TfL probably believe that the Crossrail 2 date might slip a year or two.

Now consider that Tooting Broadway lengthens the time it takes to construct the whole of Crossrail 2 by 1 to 2 years (as the tunnelling machine is blocked by Tooting Broadway's complex station). Suddenly, getting Crossrail 2 open in time for HS2 phase 2 becomes a real problem. Thus there are limited options in general here. (Just as there are very few options to move the shaft on Wandsworth Common given the chosen alignment parallel to the Northern Line at Balham.)

I've been putting forward Crossrail 2 via Earlsfield, with a branch to serve Balham, Streatham, Tooting and a new station at St.Georges on the A24 (no shaft on Wandsworth common), see Swirl-Max link above. While Swirl-Max remains a long shot, it definitely shares the benefits of Crossrail 2 around Wandsworth Borough while reducing its impact.

[Goldhawk]

https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/crossr ... sultation/

Just a quick reminder that the consultation closes on Friday

[Hyde Ranger]

Can I just ask a rather dopey question? The Weir Road mentioned in the Balham-Wimbledon proposal - is it Weir Road, Wimbledon, or our own [close to my home...] Weir Road, Balham? I've looked through some of the pdfs online but they don't put a postcode, and I'm too full of head cold to read it all through! (And don't want to make a fool of myself on the consultation document!)

[Goldhawk]

It's Weir Road in Wimbledon

[Hyde Ranger]

Thanks, Goldhawk. Of course, that makes sense (but then sighting a station at Balham at all involves such a detour - who's to know!).

[btcmum]

Has there been any further updates on this? Does anyone know when TFL are likely to make a decision as to the location of the vent shaft?