Axeing East London Line would show utter contempt for Londoners

4.51.38pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 30th Apr 2004

Commenting on media speculation that the Government will axe the East London Line extension project in the forthcoming Spending Review, Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson, said:

"Speculation that the Labour Government plans to axe the East London Line extension will send a shudder down the spine of everyone working for regeneration in London.

"£10 billion worth of regeneration in North, East and South London depends on this project. It is immensely good value for money as just 7km of new track links up over 50km of existing railway and makes it work for London.

"As ever Labour's endless dither and delay over the East London Line, Crossrail and Thameslink 2000 shows the Treasury's stranglehold on crucial investment and their utter contempt for Londoners."