Has Money Run Out for Ealing Broadway Station Works?
Concern growing at apparent lack of progress for forecourt upgrade
Hoardings around the new entrance to Ealing Broadway station
Concerns are growing that planned work on the forecourt area at Ealing Broadway Station may remain unfinished due to lack of funds.
Work has apparently ceased on the public realm outside the station which was due to be upgraded at the same time as the interior. The new station is likely to see a significant increase in footfall when Crossrail finally starts operation.
Landscape architecture company KLA was originally commissioned in collaboration with Alan Baxter structural and traffic engineers to provide proposals for the area and the design required the rearrangement of bus stops, pedestrian movement, cycle parking and vehicle drop off above five bridges of different ages. The design also aimed to link the station and the High Street more effectively to Haven Green. The designs had attracted criticism for not allowing for drop off or pick up of passenger in front of the station.
It is understood that the work was being undertaken by Ealing Council with funding provided by Transport for London (TfL). However, TfL is due to vacate the part of Haven Green it has been using during the station works and there is no indication of when the forecourt will be completed even though the work was scheduled to be finished some time ago.
New ticket hall at Ealing Broadway station
Some local residents are speculating that money has been diverted from the project to pay for the dismantling of Low Traffic Neighbourhood schemes which Ealing Council are removing this week. The government are understood to be unhappy with Ealing Council over the removal of the LTNs and the Prime Minister’s transport advisor, Andrew Gilligan, has indicated that the borough was likely to have difficulty obtaining transport funding in the future.
One station user said, “It’s a shame because of the contrast with the pristine new interior of the station but it is quite a symbolically powerful way for the government to punish the council over LTNs if that is what is happening here.”
An Ealing Council spokesperson said, “‘The leader of the council, Cllr Peter Mason, recently met with representatives from Friends of Haven Green and local residents associations to make clear the council’s commitment to delivering this vital scheme. The improvements to the area outside the station are vital for improving accessibility, supporting active travel and giving a great first impression of Ealing to people arriving on the Elizabeth Line.
“Cllr Mason has confirmed that funding will be available to complete these works, and that engagement with stakeholders on the final design of the works will be taking place shortly. Specialist materials have a 12 week turnaround but it is proposing to commence the works in December 2021.”
TfL has been approached for comment.
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October 7, 2021