Many thanks to Caroline Pidgeon AM (I prefer the acronym GLAM - Greater London Assembly Member - it adds a certain something) and Deputy Chair of the GLA Transport Committee, not only for her wholehearted support of this campaign since the word go, but also for the letter she has sent to Network Rail today:
Re: Pedestrian access from North East of King’s Cross/St Pancras station
I am writing on behalf of the Liberal Democrat members of the London Assembly to object to Network Rail’s decision that there is to be no replacement for the original north-eastern entrance to the King’s Cross/St Pancras station complex.
You will already be well aware of the furore that this announcement caused among residents in the nearby King’s Cross community, and that a well-attended protest meeting was held yesterday evening. Local people feel very strongly that by closing the existing entrance for pedestrians and cyclists they are being cut off from goods and services that have previously been an integral part of their community. It is all the more ironic that just at the point where the regenerated St Pancras has become an attractive retail outlet it will become inaccessible to its host community.
In terms of access to the station and the trains, pedestrians from the north-east will have to walk three times as far as they currently do to reach the entrances of either station. This scarcely seems to address the sustainability agenda of central Government at a time when we are supposedly encouraging walking, cycling and the use of public transport.
The process by which Network Rail came to its current position on NE access seems to us very questionable. Residents feel there has been no adequate consultation. The feasibility study undertaken by ARUP appears to have considered only options which had already been judged to be impracticable. Moreover, ARUP seem to have overlooked a commitment made by Network Rail (at the LB Camden Development Control Committee meeting that gave final planning consent) that they would consult the community as part of their feasibility study.
I would urge Network Rail to look seriously into providing a badly needed pedestrian and cycle link from the east to the west of the station starting at the junction of Wharfdale Road and York Way and ending near the new concourse of King's Cross and the new entrance to St Pancras on Pancras Way. This would hugely enhance the redeveloped station and restore the bond between the stations and their surrounding community.
Yours sincerely
Caroline Pidgeon
Deputy Chair, Transport Committee
Liberal Democrat Assembly Member
Comments