A PASSENGER watchdog has called on the Secretary of State to defer closure of the Croxley Green branch railway, protecting the site of the proposed Croxley Rail Link.

A bus has been running in replace of trains on the line since it was severed by the construction of Ascot Road in March 1996.

However, plans to officially close the line were opposed by those who wished to safeguard the rail link project, which would connect London Underground's Metropolitan Line with Watford Junction.

Mr Steve Rackett, of Watford Green Party, objected to the closure as the loss of a transport route in its own right. He described the report by the London Transport Users Committee as a "partial victory".

He said: "My concern is that this is a resource we could make use of on its own."

The committee has now submitted its recommendations to Secretary of State for the DTLR Stephen Byers.

Its chairman Mrs Suzanne May said: "The Secretary of State does not have to make a decision on the closure proposal within any specific timescale and we strongly urge him not to do anything that might jeopardise the Croxley Rail Link project."

Watford Council leader Vince Muspratt said deferral would enable the authorities to fine tune proposals for the rail link.

He said: "It is very important for the town to make sure that the line remains open."

August 17, 2001 12:36

Joanne Davis