Dalston shopkeepers ‘in limbo’ as Crossrail 2 route gets green light
On track: TfL has been given go ahead to run new Crossrail 2 line through Dalston. Photograph: Pascale Hughes
Divisive plans to demolish buildings in Dalston to make way for Crossrail 2 could be a step closer to reality after the rail route was given the go ahead.
The National Infrastructure Commission, an independent body set up by Chancellor George Osbourne, urged ministers last Thursday to take forward “as a priority” plans for a £27 billion north-south line linking Surrey to Hertfordshire via central London.
Dalston independent shopkeepers have renewed their calls for Transport for London (TfL) to drop proposals to knock down the southern side of Bradbury Street, which is earmarked for a new station entrance and ticket hall.
Ro Rai and his wife Sanju Tamang run Mero Retro, a shop on the north side of Bradbury Street. Mr Rai said: “It is no great surprise that Crossrail 2 is going ahead.
“The announcement only increases the urgency of our campaign of trying to protect our street and community. We’re not campaigning against the infrastructure. It’s just the impact on our part of the community that is our concern.”
Mark Shaffer runs White Rabbit restaurant, one of the businesses that would be forced out should TfL drive through its proposals for the station entrance.
“People on this street are left in limbo,” said Mr Shaffer. “It is difficult to make a plan when you might be kicked out. These are people’s businesses. What are we supposed to do?”
Mr Shaffer urged TfL to use Kingsland Shopping Centre, which is a short stretch down Kingsland Road from Bradbury Street and up for redevelopment, as an alternative site for the station entrance.
“Surely the right way to approach this is to work with the developers of the shopping centre, secure the site and sit on it up until the point when they are ready to build, rather than destroying peoples lives and upsetting locals on Bradbury Street,” said Mr Shaffer.
Councillor Guy Nicholson, Hackney Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: “The council has made it clear to Transport for London that it cannot support the proposed demolition of properties in and around Bradbury Street, and is supporting residents and businesses in calling for a fundamental rethink on the proposals.
“There is also a great deal of concern about the proposals to construct a ventilation shaft in nearby Birkbeck Mews. This could have a serious impact on the day-to-day running of Ridley Road Market as well as the nearby Colvestone Primary School.”
TfL said it is still analysing the 20,000 responses to the Dalston consultation and a decision about the site has not been made.
Eastern phase
Hackney Mayor Jules Pipe has welcomed the Commission’s recognition of the value of including an ‘eastern phase’ of the line, which would extend it to the east through Hackney.
The Commission said an eastern phase “could bring greater overall benefits” including by “unlocking housing and economic growth in the east of the capital”.
Mayor Pipe said: “I particularly welcome the recognition given to a potential eastern phase, which would create hundreds of thousands of new homes and jobs across East London and Essex, attracting huge investment and boosting the national economy.
“It is crucial that the government commit to an eastern phase as soon as possible.”
Crossrail 2 Managing Director Michèle Dix said: “We welcome the Commission’s ringing endorsement that the case for Crossrail 2 is well founded and should be taken forward as a priority.
“The report is clear that Crossrail 2 is an essential response to the challenges the region faces – and that funding must be made available now to fully develop the scheme.”
Well thank god we are getting much needed transport link !! well done .
I’ll bet my right hand that Ridley Road market gets the cut. Anything that supports community and non-corporate business is a bad thing to the government. I bet they’re looking for any excuse to get rid of it.
I hope that’s sarcasm I detect. Dalston Kingsland is 5 mins to the Victorian Line – we don’t need crossrail 2.
I am all for this development and how it will greatly improve transport links for Hackney. If the development does involve the demolition of the horrendous ‘downmarket’ Ridley Road market – the sooner the better. The gruesome shops selling slimey animal innards/giant snails/cows hooves, stalls selling cheap tacky mobile phone covers, nylon clothes and plastic training shoes complete with discarded rotting vegetables on the street; has to be one of the worse examples of a market I have ever seen.
I’m really sorry but I believe you’ve got Ridley Road all wrong. Its the last example of community and good quality living left.
Where do you shop? Tescos? M&S? If you’re happy for all your vegetables to come from overseas, be genetically modified and be artificially ripened with chemicals then good on you. But for a lot of people who want to eat real food, Ridley Road is the place to go. Obviously the butchers could be better but I don’t use them.
Hackney doesn’t need those transport links. Its already too expensive to live in and this would push out the last few families.
You should be supporting the atmosphere and community around Ridley Road. These places are what make life good. So many families and people rely on this place. You getting to work quicker is not more important.
Please don’t be sorry Lydia for your fecetious remarks….nor for your inference by referring to Tesco or M&S that I purchase ‘ready meals’ from the chilled/frozen units. You are a million miles away from the truth…but don’t let that get in the way of your rant.
I live and work in Hackney; getting on for ten plus years – and yes, transport links are important to not only me but my fellow citizens of Hackney.
Where do you think the market traders buy their produce??? Presumably, a wise and well informed you would know of the ‘Ye Olde Spitalfields Market’? You know the one, on the A106. Naturally, all the fruit and veg in Ridley Road are all organic and handpicked hey Lydia?
How do you know what or who I support? You have an attitude of a facist; in that if another individuals idea of a good life doesn’t meet your ideal – then an onslaught of presumption entails.
If you want to buy half rotten veg, plastic mobile phone covers, and animal entrails…good for you.
On, the other hand…if you were to inform that the Turkish Food Centre in Dalston was to be threatened with closure – I would willingly set up a road block because of its amazing/delicous food stuff
I see no sarcasm there. I guess you are not one of the thousands of people who use the public transport into central london every day. The station overcrowding at Dalston and H&I in the mornings is crazy. Dalston to West end / central: 4 miles, 45mins for me with public transport. or 20 mins by bike (my preference). Something is wrong there. We need more transport, and if not now, then certainly by 2030.
Well said