‘Residents just will not wear the chaos and disruption’ of trams

9:09am Monday 6th February 2006

BOROUGH bosses are looking more isolated than ever in west London following news that Hillingdon Council has formally voted to register its opposition to the west London tram.

Liberal Democrats and Conservatives on Hillingdon Council both backed a motion to object to the scheme on Thursday, January 23.

This leaves joint promoter Ealing Council out on its own as the only authority affected by the tram plan to support the unpopular scheme.

Conservative transport spokesman Cllr Will Brooks welcomed Hillingdon's decision to stand up to Mayor of London Ken Livingstone over the tram, and called on Ealing Council to make a stand and represent the interests of local residents.

He said: "This is a deeply unpopular scheme for good reason. It will make congestion worse not better in Ealing, and it will blight the lives of thousands of residents who will suffer from traffic diverted to outside their homes.

"As further details emerge it becomes ever more obvious that residents will not wear the chaos and disruption that Mayor Livingston wants to foist on us.

"Labour Hammersmith and Fulham Council recognises this and Conservative Hillingdon does too.

"We need Ealing Council to abandon its dogmatic faith in Ken Livingstone's pipe dream and stand up for local people."

But cabinet member for transport and planning policy Cllr Ray Wall said the tram was an "investment for the future".

He said: "Ealing Council will continue to support and promote the tram because of the very real benefits it will bring to the people of Ealing and west London.

"Given that half the tram's route as well as key destinations are in Ealing, with only smaller parts running through Hillingdon and Hammersmith and Fulham, it is important that Ealing continues to work with Transport for London (TfL) as it is our residents that will be far more affected than those in neighbouring boroughs."

Hillingdon now joins Hammersmith & Fulham and Kensington & Chelsea in formal opposition to the tram.

The plan which would link Uxbridge to Shepherds Bush will cost around £650m and is being developed by TfL and the Mayor of London Ken Livingstone.