More voices were heard this week calling for the Crossrail 2 station to be located at Imperial Wharf, on the Fulham - Chelsea boundary, close to the Thames.
Aligned with Transport for London's (TfL) recent public consultation on Crossrail 2, the Conservative Hammersmith & Fulham Group, led by Cllr Greg Smith of Town ward, carried out their own consultation into a Crossrail 2 station at Imperial Wharf.
Following TfL's feasibility study into alternative Crossrail 2 stations either at Imperial Wharf or Fulham Broadway - as requested by Member of Parliament for Chelsea & Fulham, Greg Hands, and as commissioned by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson - the H&F Conservative Group wanted to gauge local residents' support for a Crossrail 2 station at Imperial Wharf. Accordingly, they carried out a survey and received several thousand responses, the vast majority of which were supportive of a Crossrail 2 station at Imperial Wharf.
Supportive comments from local residents included: "There is little doubt about the opposition to a new station at King's Road across the board, yet in Imperial Wharf it is not only welcomed, but a necessity. How else does TfL expect residents and businesses travel when the Overground is at (or beyond) its capacity? The river boat is pleasant, though expensive, and is it not a practical alternative. Imperial Wharf is a new area that can be developed as a transport hub fit for the 21st century. This is an exciting and safe prospect."
Another respondent added: "The residents do NOT oppose it. It will continue to bring investment into the area and give Imperial Wharf a proper identity. The Overground stop was a great success, just look at how busy it is at rush hour, so there is clearly a high demand. It will also cut the high congestion on the District Line, which many commuters take all the way to the city. Please give the people what they want."
One resident concluded: "Our current trainline is already far too busy and sometimes I cannot fit in on the train as it is so crowded. I am very concerned that all the new flats being built in the area will mean that I will struggle to get to work on time from Imperial Wharf Station. I have lived in Imperial Wharf for several years now and the area has grown from strength to strength and is becoming increasingly popular."
Speaking after TfL's consultation came to a close, Member of Parliament for Chelsea & Fulham, Greg Hands, said: "I am grateful to Cllr Greg Smith and the rest of the H&F Conservative Group for their really constructive input into the Crossrail 2 consultation process. I gather that they received several thousand responses to their letter, and that the vast majority of these responses supported a Crossrail 2 station at Imperial Wharf.
"It is good to hear that positive action is being taken, but I must point out that the end of TfL's most recent consultation does not mean that everything is now certain. There will be further consultations in the future, and I urge all of my constituents to continue making sure that their views are heard."
TfL's most recent public consultation on Crossrail 2 closed on 8 January 2016. However, if you would like to receive updates on future consultations, please send an email to [email protected].