London Assembly member Anne Clarke is urging residents to respond to Transport for London's (TfL) consultation on the West London Orbital (WLO) and push for the inclusion of West Hampstead, which was dropped from the plans despite being in the original proposals.
Consultation Opens After Years of Campaigning
The consultation on the West London Orbital is now open, marking progress on a project that has been pushed for over a decade by the London mayor and London boroughs. The proposed line would provide more connections between Barnet and Ealing, with stops in Brent along the way, making it easier to travel between parts of West London without going into Central London first.
However, West Hampstead and Camden have been left out of the current plans, a decision that Clarke says has turned excitement among residents and transport enthusiasts into disappointment.
Cost Implications and the Cricklewood Aggregate Superhub
Clarke acknowledged that one of the major cost implications is routing around the aggregate superhub in Cricklewood. She expressed disappointment that harming the potential of the WLO wasn't considered at the planning stage of the superhub or in the wider plans for the Brent Cross Regeneration.
"That an aggregate the community didn’t want has in part led to a poorer outcome for transport is a bitter twist in this otherwise long saga," Clarke said. She argued that the already poorly located aggregate site should not cause further local damage by leaving out West Hampstead.
West Hampstead as a Major Transport Hub
West Hampstead is already a major transport hub, and leaving it out would mean missing a valuable opportunity to better connect Londoners. Clarke noted that current transport options in the area are not good enough, citing the Thameslink service that connects Mill Hill, Cricklewood and Hendon with West Hampstead as often delayed and cancelled.
The West London Orbital provides a real opportunity to fix this, Clarke said, and the project should seize it.
Financial Pressures and Long-Term Benefits
Clarke acknowledged the financial pressures facing the project, which has taken years to progress partly because of its cost and the struggle to secure government approval. Excluding West Hampstead may reduce the upfront cost, but Clarke argued that the long-term financial benefits of connecting such a busy transport hub should be considered.
Better links could increase passenger numbers and generate additional revenue for TfL. TfL has said that a branch to West Hampstead could be considered in the future, but Clarke stressed that local residents' needs should be a priority now, especially when nearby areas are struggling with unreliable journeys.
Clarke encouraged residents to voice their support for West Hampstead in TfL's new West London Orbital consultation, saying, "Let's make sure that we take advantage of this enormous opportunity."
