I am afraid, Ernie MacKenzie, you didn’t quite get my drift when talking about the Croxley Link (February 25).

In some respects we are on the same side about wasting money, indeed I was unaware we could have had the scheme for a mere £500,000 in 1956. What a wasted opportunity, imagine the cumulative benefits Watford could have had all these years? It may have seen John Lewis et al remaining in Watford! Shame on those who didn’t see the value back then!

Croxley deferred in 1956, wasn’t that the time of the Suez crisis and a huge financial hit when oil supplies were cut off and petrol coupons issued? Huge economic consequences too but long after they were just memories Watford still suffers from second best transport links.

But come on Ernie, I never suggested it could be built for £5.5million. Please check the intention of my letter, not what you think it read. I used the bridge in Cumbria to illustrate a point that Croxley was vastly overpriced. Specifically I said “Cumbria is not of course identical to Croxley.” I also, to illustrate the disparity of the costs, compared the passing loop at Bricket Wood to Pooley Bridge, twice the price and a fraction of the work too!

A neighbour had to break into their home as the keys were inside. Replacing the tiny pane of glass was quoted by one firm at £150. Obviously they didn’t want the job. The same tactic was applied by TfL. They didn’t want the job, they had big problems internally. Had my neighbour accepted the £150 quote doubtless another excuse to not do the work would have arisen. They’re TfL’s tactics too. Every time their own quotes were accepted they insisted on a review, and every time up went the asking price. A reverse of competitive tendering. Even TVs dim Apprentices would see through that sort of behaviour.

The essential point is that vast sums have been spent on preliminary work. Bringing it to “shovel ready” state. In your words Ernie “good money” why waste it? Any alternative scheme to Croxley will see fresh sums needing to be shelled out for “feasibility studies” again with no guarantee they will see a completed project.

Leslie Freitag

Watford Rail Users Group