The closure of Watford’s Metropolitan Line station could be stopped in its tracks amid growing opposition from residents and political figures.

A petition boasting more than 3,000 signatures was handed to Watford MP Richard Harrington and Hertfordshire County Council candidate David Fallon outside the station on November 4 by Cassiobury residents Carol Scleater and Michael Fish.

Organised by the two concerned locals, the petition opposes the planned closure of Watford’s Met Line station when the Metropolitan Line Extension (MLE) is complete.

Mr Harrington will take the petition to rail minister Paul Maynard MP, continuing the fight to save the station.

“I have been working on this for some time, and hard work like this by concerned local residents very much bolsters our case to keep Watford Met open,” said the Watford MP.

“It is my view that the station could easily remain open for passengers, generating an income for TfL and giving Watford the best of both worlds.

“The fact that trains will run to the station without passengers is a crying shame.”

Under the current plans, the station will remain open purely for the stabling of trains, with four an hour reversing at the station to head into London with no passengers on board.

The petition argues that keeping Watford Met open to passengers will improve the Met extension at little cost.

The MLE will link Watford Junction to the Metropolitan Line at Croxley via two new stations at Cassiobury and Vicarage Road, and the existing Watford High Street station.  

However the two organisers argue the existing station is useful to Cassiobury residents, Watford Boys Grammar School pupils, park users and local commuters.

Mr Fallon signed the petition himself as a regular user of the station.

“I am committed to saving Watford Met station,” he said.

“I know this is a key issue in our area – in fact it is a major concern of mine and my family.”

Currently, four out of every five passengers walk to Watford Met, with another two per cent cycling, thereby reducing car use and pollution in Rickmansworth Road.

In his supporting letter attached to the petition, Mr Harrington pointed that many of the 3,000 passengers using the station on weekdays will have to walk to walk much further to Cassiobridge Station, with many likely to resort to using their cars if Watford Met is closed.

If you would like to sign the online petition, please go to www.gopetition.com/petition/42760.html