Local residents and businesses who have been backing our campaign to build a Crossrail station at Woolwich have been bitterly disappointed at the government's refusal to carry the plans forward.
The Woolwich Crossrail campaign has been running for a number of years. In January it was given unanimous support by all three Greenwich borough MPs.
News archive - MPs back Crossrail campaign
In April the case for the station, which included the benefits it would mean for the area, was presented to Parliament.
News archive - Woolwich Crossrail campaign pulls into Parliament
The feedback received was encouraging and in July the station was included in the Crossrail Select Committee’s announcement of interim decisions.
News archive - Massive boost for Woolwich Crossrail Campaign
Decision overturned
However, on 12 October the Secretary of State for Transport overturned the decision giving the depth of the running tunnels as the key reason. He added that the £200million it would cost to build a shallower station was unacceptable.
Campaign will continue
Council Leader, Chris Roberts, has vowed that the campaign will continue. "We are shocked and disappointed at this announcement which will come as a tremendous blow to the people of Woolwich and South East London," he said.
"It will set back the regeneration of the region, halt the development of thousands of much needed new jobs and homes and adversely affect the future development of Canary Wharf and the wider Thames Gateway.
"This decision makes absolutely no economic sense at all and completely contradicts the findings of the Select Committee which just this Summer backed our campaign for Woolwich. The Committee clearly stated that Woolwich provided exceptional value for money.
"The financial case for Woolwich has been made on several occasions, and to reject a station at Woolwich - a station that actually adds value to the whole scheme- simply beggars belief. This is not just our view, the government’s own figures show a greater benefit/cost figures for Woolwich than the Crossrail scheme as a whole."
Watch our campaign video
As part of our campaign we produced a video film, with Nick Raynsford, MP for Greenwich and Woolwich, joining local people and business leaders to support the scheme.
Watch the video online
13 October 2006