Last week Richard met with Transport Secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, and presented him with the petition to retain services from Watford Met Station.
He fought for the Croxley Rail Link to be built and is proud that it is finally happening. But he also believes that keeping services from Watford Met Station alongside it is absolutely vital, as he has argued consistently for the last few years – including at the Public Inquiry in 2012.
Richard said;
"Now that Transport for London are taking the project forward, I am making a fresh approach regarding the Met Station and calling for it to be kept open. Footfall at Watford Junction has increased by 1.5million over the last few years, and this is growing as we secure more investment for the town. We need the additional capacity that Watford Met provides. We secured agreement in 2010 that Watford Met would be retained as a functional station, and used as rolling stock. New sleepers have recently been put in which will last for forty more years, as well as replacements to the points, crossings and tracks. The infrastructure is there and will be maintained anyway, and the demand is there – we do need the additional station to serve Watford, and that is why this is so important. The petition will now be considered by the Minister, and I am also meeting Transport for London soon to discuss this further."
Your local Conservative team are behind Richard 100%, Local Candidate Rose Moore said "I live two minutes walk from Watford Met, I know how vital it is to Watford and how much daily use it has. Footfall is only set to increase in the next few years and we must do everything we can to save this part of Watfords Heritage."
We will keep you updated with any new happenings.