Council Leader to ensure Crossrail works for Shenfield

BRENTWOOD’S Council Leader is to meet The Mayor of London and Minister of State for Transport to discuss Crossrail plans later this month.

Councillor Louise McKinlay will be teaming up with Boris Johnson and Theresa Villiers MP on Wednesday November 17 to discuss the rail project which will terminate at Shenfield.

Crossrail claims the new project will ‘make travelling in the region easier and quicker’, and Cllr McKinlay will be seeking assurances fast trains will continue to run into Liverpool Street, maintaining the existing service which thousand of Brentwood residents rely on each day.

Cllr McKinlay said: “Unfortunately, the past Labour government chose to ignore all of our previous submissions as a borough, so I am delighted that the new coalition government is keen to listen.”

Cllr McKinlay will be ensuring Brentwood gets the best possible deal from the project, both whilst it is under construction and following its completion.

She said: “During the build Shenfield will see a major impact on the local car parks as part of them will be taken over with construction works. I am worried this will make the traffic even worse on what are already heavily gridlocked roads at peak times. I will be talking to those concerned about the need to make extra provision so our commuters can continue to use Shenfield to get about as they do now.”

She also said she would seek to protect independent local shops worried they will lose trade from commuters who turn to other towns to avoid the chaos.

Any residents with issues they feel should be put to the Coalition Government and The Mayor of London concerning Crossrail can write to Cllr McKinlay at telltheleader@brentwood.gov.uk or by mail to the Town Hall.