Croxley Rail Link welcomed

It's going to become easier to travel to Croxley and Watford Business Parks, the football stadium, Watford General Hospital, Watford High Street, Watford Junction and the West Coast Rail Line after the long-awaited new rail link plan was announced today by the Department of Transport (14 December).

Councillor Martin Trevett, Cabinet Member for the Environment, said:

"A lot of work by community groups has gone into this over 20 years. All credit to the hard work, patience and tenacity of the Croxley residents involved. This is a genuine improvement in public transport for Three Rivers and Watford."

The agreed link is between a new station on the edge of Croxley Green in Ascot Road to Watford Junction and a new station next to Watford General Hospital. Three Rivers District Council has been working with residents' groups, Croxley Green Parish Council, Watford Borough Council and Hertfordshire County Council for two decades in order to bring about the improved Metropolitan Underground rail links.

The new link will be made by way of a new viaduct which would cross Baldwins Lane, part of the Cinnamond site, the A412 and the existing children’s playground, before joining onto the old Network Rail Croxley branch. The Council has been advising the Department of Transport on protecting Croxley Green's environment, making sure that sound barriers are in place to reduce noise for residents, and planning to keep children's playground facilities and the sea cadet building in the vicinity of the Two Bridges roundabout.

Martin Trevett added:

"The benefits to local business and residents are obvious but we will continue to work with local groups and agencies to make sure that environmental and noise concerns are met, particularly in relation to the area close to the planned viaduct. We will make sure that the play park, sea cadet building and the other local amenities will remain within the locality."

The Council will be working with the Department of Transport to minimise particularly the environmental impact on residents and businesses in Dorrofield Close, Watford Road, Sansom Close, Baldwins Lane, the Cinnamond site, the Mayfare estate and the cottages together with the marina and long term residential moorings on the Grand Union Canal at Cassiobridge.

Three Rivers has also pledged to make sure that compensation arrangements from the Department of Transport are fair.

Draft planning conditions are being considered at Three Rivers' Planning Committee tomorrow evening (15 December.)  

The new link is expected to be operational in 2016/17. The current Croxley tube station will remain open once the scheme has been completed. The current Watford Underground Station is expected to close or operate reduced hours once the scheme is completed.

Under a separate scheme, Three Rivers District Council recently worked with Sustrans to help Croxley residents make more use of public transport and reduce the cost and C02 emissions of car use.