Environmentalists have condemned the business plan behind the proposed Croxley Rail Link, warning the county council could miss a "golden opportunity" to finally get the long-awaited project on track.
Hertfordshire County Council, backed by Mayor Dorothy Thornhill and Watford MP Claire Ward, presented its business case for the £95m scheme to the Department for Transport (DfT) in February.
However, the bid was quickly rejected as being "non compliant" with the Government's funding criteria.
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The DfT said the application could not be considered for Government cash until the flaws in the business plan were resolved.
In a letter sent to the county council the DfT said there was a lack of evidence to show the East of England Regional Assembly (EERA) - the project's primary funder - could meet the current cost.
A spokesman for EERA told the Watford Observer this week that the assembly had promised to invest £50m in the project.
Transport for London has previously promised a further £18m for the scheme. However, the government is also seeking a clarification on that promise.
Watford Friend's of the Earth has criticised the county council for submitting an unsuitable business plan.
Alina Congreve planning advisor for the group said: "A lot of good quality research is needed to make a sound case.
"The large redevelopment of the health campus is a golden opportunity to show how many staff, patients and visitors would use the new rail services.
"The Government has been highly critical of the quality of Hertfordshire's bid for Government funding, with missing information and a lack of up to date costs.
"Simply saying it would be a good thing without doing the work to justify the rail link is not good enough."
A council statement said the DfT has agreed to carry out a "limited assessment" of the project and assess it against government "value for money" criteria.
The statement read: "In the meantime, we will be working with London Underground to identify the level of contribution it is able to make into the project.
"This work will be undertaken between now and the end of May."
The county council said further discussions were scheduled in the coming weeks.
It added that it expected a final decision to be made by "late autumn".
Alina added that she felt it was time planners involved in the Watford Health Campus publicly backed the Croxley Rail Link.
She said: "In the last two issues of the Watford Observer we have seen two letters, one from Alastair Robertson (chief executive of Watford Borough Council) and one from the project director of the health campus, Kyle McClelland, in support of the hospital's new link road.
"So where is their vocal support for the Croxley Rail Link?"
Posted by: John Howard Norfolk, Tiverton, Devon (formerly Oxhey Village) on 2:02pm Fri 2 May 08
This project has been on and off for decades and the uncertainty is damaging for the locality as so many other developments are related to it. Is there a political lack of will to make this happen or is is quite simply not enough cash? The Watford and Three Rivers public need to know if there is anything they can do themselves to help this Croxley Rail Link project along.
This project has been on and off for decades and the uncertainty is damaging for the locality as so many other developments are related to it. Is there a political lack of will to make this happen or is is quite simply not enough cash? The Watford and Three Rivers public need to know if there is anything they can do themselves to help this Croxley Rail Link project along.
Posted by: The Rover, Watford on 2:37pm Fri 2 May 08
There is widespread support for the Croxley Rail Link. With the development of Watford Hospital and Watford Football ground and the increase in industrial units on Tolpit Lane and housing on Vicarage Road since the line was last open there are many benefits to the Croxley Rail Link. I would hate to think how much public money has been wasted over the last 20 years on consultations and planning. It is about time that a final decision was made .
There is widespread support for the Croxley Rail Link. With the development of Watford Hospital and Watford Football ground and the increase in industrial units on Tolpit Lane and housing on Vicarage Road since the line was last open there are many benefits to the Croxley Rail Link. I would hate to think how much public money has been wasted over the last 20 years on consultations and planning. It is about time that a final decision was made .
Posted by: tallgreengiant, watford on 10:25am Sat 3 May 08
I have traditionally been in support of the Croxley Rail Link, but we have to be a bit circumspect. there has been talk that the plans will also entail closing Watford Met station - not such a bright idea what with the massive immediate residential area it serves - Cassiobury & homes on the Cassio Metro development. Can we be sure that benefits in one hand are not withdrawn in the other?
Also, the track route is now in very close proximity to homes built on the ex-Sun printer site.
I have traditionally been in support of the Croxley Rail Link, but we have to be a bit circumspect. there has been talk that the plans will also entail closing Watford Met station - not such a bright idea what with the massive immediate residential area it serves - Cassiobury & homes on the Cassio Metro development. Can we be sure that benefits in one hand are not withdrawn in the other?
Also, the track route is now in very close proximity to homes built on the ex-Sun printer site.
Posted by: John Howard Norfolk, Tiverton, Devon (formerly Oxhey Village) on 8:01pm Sun 4 May 08
You can be certain that Watford Met would close as it is a terminus with no possibility of extending the track. Cassiobury residents will need to get on their bikes and pedal to the Junction !
You can be certain that Watford Met would close as it is a terminus with no possibility of extending the track. Cassiobury residents will need to get on their bikes and pedal to the Junction !
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