Ken Livingstone Pledges Crystal Palace Tram Extension

With the race to the London Mayoral Elections next May currently in full swing, as always the candidates have already started their predictable pledges to gain public support. Labour hopeful Ken Livingstone started his tour of Croydon early to gauge local views, but criticism of his plans to extend the Tramlink to Crystal Palace next year, which he is making his top priority if he wins the Mayoral race in May 2012.

Livingstone's pledge came at the end of a day-long tour of the borough, part of a commitment to visit every London borough in the run-up to the election, while addressing a 'Tell Ken' public meeting held at the Croydon Conference Centre last month, the Livingstone condemned current mayor Boris Johnson for pulling the plug on the extension and other outer London transport projects shortly after coming to power, he said: "The first project we will reinstate will be the building of the Crystal Palace link."

Clearly Mr Livingstone has not spent anytime in Crystal Palace because if he had he would realise that locals aren't as enthusiastic about the tram extension, as he might have hoped, considering the bulk of the changes and disruptions will most prominently affect those residing in the local area and not those living in Croydon­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­.

I have it on good authority that the controversial plans to extend the tram, could mean having a station situated within the grounds or very near to the park and along with the already approved housing development set to be built in the next few years, I think we have had enough of our beautiful green space encroached upon.

Locals are clearly upset by the plans and intend to fight those responsible on both issues. There is still time to sign the online petition to stop the private housing development plans from going ahead and we will keep you updated on the progress of the proposed tram extension plans...

Photo: geograph