Theresa May has continued to stand up for the interests of Maidenhead and Twyford in the face of the Crossrail development. In a meeting with senior executives from Crossrail she raised local concerns over the level of services provided and the impact the project will have on the community.
On 8th December, Cross London Rail Links, the company developing the £16 billion scheme, became a directly controlled subsidiary of Transport for London, sparking fears that the scheme was becoming overly focussed on the capital at the expense of Maidenhead.
Theresa said, “As MP for Maidenhead my main concerns about Crossrail have always been about the benefits that it will bring to the area. I strongly believe that the service from Maidenhead will deteriorate as a result of Crossrail; the journey time from Maidenhead to Paddington will be forty minutes – almost double that of the current fast First Great Western services.”
“Furthermore, Maidenhead has no desire to be part of London’s transport scheme. I am particularly concerned that Transport for London now has full responsibility for the line through to its terminus at Maidenhead as we were told the project would be part of the main rail network. I have written to Peter Hendy, Commissioner for Transport for London, asking for his assurance that the interests of Maidenhead will not be sidelined.”
“I will continue to keep a close eye on Crossrail’s developments to ensure that we receive the kind of service that a busy and thriving commuter area like ours deserves.”
