The leader of Brentwood Council has met Shenfield residents to update them on plans for Crossrail.

Crossrail chiefs said that the work will include the renewal of the overhead line equipment and upgrade of track as well as changes to the station.

A public information session about the work Crossrail intends to do will be held early next year, and it is not due to start until late 2014 after it has been given planning permission.

Traders felt they were not being given enough information about the plans for the new train line in Shenfield and wanted to avoid a repeat of when the roads were closed for National Grid works in May, which resulted in a loss of trade.

‘Disruption’

Leader Cllr Louise McKinlay, who heard residents views on Monday night, said: “I am keen to ensure that residents in Shenfield, and in the rest of Brentwood, are both kept fully informed but also are fully consulted by Crossrail about the forthcoming works to Shenfield train station.

“I have been attending public meetings about the scheme and I will keep residents informed about progress over the coming months.

“I have also assured residents that they will be given the opportunity to feed in their views regarding the forthcoming planning application from Crossrail prior to a final decision being made, as we seek to minimise disruption for local residents whilst also maximising future benefits.”

Crossrail links Maidenhead and Heathrow in the west, to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east via 21km of new twin-bore tunnels under central London.

It will bring an additional 1.5million people within 45 minutes commuting distance of London’s key business districts.