Boris scuppers the South London Line

One of the London Mayor’s favourite tactics is to totally confuse an issue, joking around to avoid anything sticking. With an issue like the South London Line he’s in his element. Except that residents of south London might prefer if he used his wit to help save public transport services, rather than trying to deny any responsibility.

Jenny Jones and me by a SLL train

To recap very quickly, the excellent train service (which I use daily) is due to be axed in 2012. Boris has tried to claim it’s the government’s responsibility; that it is purely a technical decision which he can’t reverse; and that he is fighting our corner (only when his hand is forced, of course). In fact, we can be pretty sure that it all comes down to money, and that Boris won’t stump up the measly £2.4m per year for two years out of a massive central Government grant to save the line because he came up short on the East London Line extension.

OK, this is getting a bit nerdy. But today Southwark Councillor and London Assembly Member Jenny Jones stuck it to him again, asking if he would set-up a meeting between Transport for London and Network Rail to discuss the technical issues with London Bridge station. His answer? No.

He can fluster and wheeze about his commitment to public transport all he likes, but campaigners in south London know a Mayor who doesn’t give two f**cks about our services when we see one!

3 Comments

  1. What a joke. South London is still seen as a poor relation of the north of the river. I am south london and proud although I do support Arsenal! Mind they we born in Woolwich just like me.

    17th December 2009
    • Tom Chance said:

      Absolutely, hundreds of millions invested in the tube and improvements for the same old bits of London, but here in south east London we get one tube line that takes us out to the east and over to Clapham at the expense of a great train line that takes us into the centre.

      17th December 2009

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