The TfL and Department for Transport (DfT) have dismissed criticism for the refusal of a petition signed by thousands in and around Watford.

Liberal Democrat London Assembly member Caroline Pidgeon presented a petition with 6,000 signatories from Watford including Watford's MP Richard Harrington to the Greater London Authority in September.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan rejected this plea in October.

More recently, a letter given to the Elected Mayor of Watford Peter Taylor by the DfT in December cited costs and loss of revenue for train operators as a reason to not re-zone Watford Junction or Watford Tube Station.

Mr Taylor has since hit out at this response,

He said: “I’m really disappointed by the government’s refusal to look into the zoning of all of Watford’s train stations.

“Over 6000 Watford residents signed our petition over the summer.

“The cost of travel is the main concern of commuters.

"Some people are turning down jobs in London because it is so expensive to use train services from our town.

"It costs over £1000 a year more to travel into Central London than other stations the same or further away from Central London.

"Every day, thousands of people travel here from London to work, study or for leisure. "Making our zone fair would have a really positive impact on travellers too."

The Watford Observer requested for further information and whether the DfT and TfL had anything to say regarding the criticism.

A DfT spokesperson said: "Any changes to London Zone boundaries are a matter for train operators and TfL."

A spokesperson for the TfL said: “Watford Junction is a London Northwestern Railway station and any decision to change its zone would be primarily a matter for them to discuss with the Department for Transport.

“TfL has no plans to make changes to the zoning of any stations on the TfL network.