Liberal Democrat Press Statement:
Brent East MP Sarah Teather has urged the government to call in the Brent Cross Cricklewood development after it was pushed through by Barnet’s Labour and Conservative councillors against the wishes of local people.
Thousands of local residents have signed petitions supporting Sarah’s demand for the Labour government to call in the controversial scheme for public inquiry.
Barnet councillors gave the go ahead despite formal opposition from neighbouring boroughs Brent and Camden, who will suffer the devastating impact of extra traffic and pollution. The development includes a large waste dump on the border with Brent and would bring an estimated 29,000 extra cars a day onto local roads.
Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather said:
“The Secretary of State holds the long term future of our area in his hands, and owes it to thousands of people in Brent to do the right thing. If the development goes ahead we face tens of thousands of extra cars on local roads, and hundreds of lorries and rubbish trucks on their way to the dump.
“Local people are understandably furious that councillors in Barnet forced through the scheme despite the cries of objection. Inner London already suffers from dreadful levels of pollution and congestion, and it simply can’t be right to make the situation event worse.
“You simply cannot build a colossal new urban centre without taking steps to protect the environment and the community that is already there. The Labour government now have it in their power to right this wrong, and must urgently step in to protect our area from the devastating impact of this development.”
Members of the Coalition have urged the Mayor to direct 'planning gain' money from the north and west London areas to spending on light-rail instead of roads. This would use the existing hardly-used freight lines that join Park Royal/Wembley to Brent Cross, Colindale and West Hampstead, and the old railway trackbed to Mill Hill East. If you agree, please tell the Mayor that as well. (The map here was published in Transport for London's 'Transport 2025' document.)
