Memorandum submitted by London Borough
of Waltham Forest
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Waltham Forest is delighted that London
has won the 2012 bid and is proud to be one of five boroughs hosting
the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Council sees the event providing
a unique opportunity for major regeneration in this area of east
London and recognises that many thousands of new jobs will be
created along with new businesses and new homes.
1.2 The London Borough of Waltham Forest
is located immediately to the north of the Olympic Park, extending
from the northern edge of Stratford to Chingford about six miles
north of that. The borough's population of approximately 225,000
people therefore all live within a few miles of the Olympics site.
2. TRANSPORT
CONTEXT
2.1 The provision of effective transport
links is a key issue in achieving a successful games. It is also
important for the duration of the seven year construction phase
and for the legacy situation. Over recent years increases in car
ownership and car use have put severe pressure on the local road
network in Waltham Forest. The problem is particularly applicable
in respect of north/south journeys between Waltham Forest and
Stratford and the Lower Lea Valley. Whilst road and rail radial
transport connections between the borough and central London are
fairly extensive, north/south connections are limited and there
are no rail or underground lines connecting most of the area of
the borough with Stratford.
2.2 The Olympics site can only be accessed
from Waltham Forest by a limited number of north/south road corridors
crossing the A12 Hackney to M11 Link Road. These roads pass through
densely populated urban areas and are consequently severely congested
during peak periods and for much of the day. There is effectively
little scope on local routes in the south of Waltham Forest to
accommodate increases in traffic movement associated with the
Olympics construction and legacy phases. Significant improvements
to the public transport system are therefore seen as essential
to accommodate these increases.
2.3 The Council is concerned that the Olympics
will result in the heavily overloaded roads in the southern part
of Waltham Forest becoming more congested, discouraging local
people from travelling to the Stratford area and in particular
seeking the many employment opportunities arising from the Olympics
and other development.
3. RAIL SERVICES
IN WALTHAM
FOREST
3.1 A key component of the successful olympic
bid is the ability to service the games by rail from all directions,
as it is anticipated that 80% of spectators will arrive by this
mode. During peak times up to 300 trains per hour will arrive
at the site on the relevant national rail and underground lines.
3.2 It is a matter of great concern to Waltham
Forest Council that approximately 170,000 of its 225,000 residents,
living just a few miles to the north of the site, have no rail
services to it. The Lea Valley rail line runs from Stratford northwards
to Tottenham Hale and Stansted Airport and Cambridge. However,
Waltham Forest residents are unable to access this line as the
only station on it in the borough (Lea Bridge) closed 20 years
ago. From December 2005, a two trains per hour service will operate
on the Lea Valley line between Stansted Airport and Stratford,
passing through the disused Lea Bridge station.
3.3 Waltham Forest's main commuter rail
service, the Chingford to Liverpool Street line, provides an efficient
passenger service from five overground stations in the Borough
(Chingford, Highams Park, Wood Street, Walthamstow Central and
St James Street) to the City of London. However, the connection
between the Chingford to Liverpool Street line and the Lea Valley
line (the Hall Farm Curve) was removed many years ago. No rail
service is therefore possible between the five Waltham Forest
stations and the Olympics site at Stratford.
3.4 The south eastern section of Waltham
Forest does have connections to Stratford via the Central Line
at Leytonstone and Leyton stations. It is estimated that approximately
55,000 Waltham Forest residents live on the Central Line corridor
and therefore have an efficient connection into Stratford. However,
there are serious capacity issues at Leyton station which are
addressed later in Section 4.
3.5 The key project for the improvement
of rail services between Waltham Forest and the Olympics site
is the reinstatement of the Hall Farm Curve at Coppermill junction.
The scheme would involve laying approximately 800 metres of track
on the existing embankment, which is still in good condition.
Services could then be run from Chingford in the north of Waltham
Forest, via the Hall Farm curve to a reopened station at Lea Bridge,
then Stratford and possibly beyond. A journey time of about 20
minutes from Chingford to Stratford could be achieved, very much
quicker than the current journey by car or bus. It is likely that
road congestion during the Olympics could cause serious delays
for buses. The rail service would ensure that the entire population
of Waltham Forest had an efficient rail connection to the Olympics
site and Lower Lea Valley area.
3.6 In 2002 the Council commissioned feasibility
and demand studies for the scheme to reinstate the Hall Farm Curve
and reopen Lea Bridge station. The work was funded by a £50,000
grant from Transport for London. The studies showed that the scheme
was relatively straightforward in engineering terms and that there
were no major technical problems. It offered four options of track
and platform alignment, the preferred option being costed at £18.1
million.
3.7 Following representations from Waltham
Forest Council, the London Development Agency has recently agreed
to fund a regeneration study on the Hall Farm Curve. This will
look at how the scheme could be justified in the light of the
Olympics, Stratford City development and other regeneration proposals,
both in Waltham Forest and the Lower Lea Valley area generally.
The provision of the new rail infrastructure could help to unlock
sites in the area for development and contribute to the increases
in housing identified in the Mayor's London Plan. In particular
the scheme would benefit Leyton and Lea Bridge wards, two of our
five priority wards for Neighbourhood Renewal due to high levels
of deprivation. The terms of reference of the study have been
agreed with the LDA and work will commence soon.
3.8 Waltham Forest is located in the London
Cambridge Peterborough growth area and has received ODPM funding
to support the delivery of housing growth over and above the London
Plan targets. The Leyton area is identified as an area for regeneration
in the London Plan and an important factor is the linking of London's
most deprived communities to areas of opportunity and employment
such as Stratford and Stansted. There are smaller pockets of severe
deprivation in the Wood Street area. The Drive in Hoe Street ward
is in the worst 5% in England for employment and the Index of
Multiple Deprivation as a whole and several other areas adjacent
to Wood Street Station rank in the 20% most deprived. Similarly
(but less severe) in High Street and Markhouse wards there are
a number of areas which rank in the 20% most deprived on the IMD
as a whole.
4. LEYTON UNDERGROUND
STATION
4.1 Leyton station on the London Underground
Central Line is located less than one mile from the northern edge
of the Olympics site. The station currently has a very limited
passenger capacity due to the small size of the ticket hall and
the narrow entrance onto Leyton High Road. In peak times the station
is chronically overcrowded and is already operating at well over
capacity in a number of key respects. Consultation with local
residents has indicated that improvements to capacity and accessibility
at Leyton Station are a key priority
4.2 Following earlier representations made
by the Council on this issue, the London Development Agency agreed
to carry out a study into options for improving the station, both
in terms of increasing its capacity and improving its accessibility.
The study has recently been completed. The final report on options
for improvement is now being assessed.
4.3 It is recognised that Leyton has not
been chosen as one of the stations serving the Olympic precinct
because of its limited capacity and could not accommodate significant
numbers of visitors to the Olympics. However, the Olympic velodrome
facility is located in Waltham Forest and Leyton is the closest
station. If during the Olympic event, there was a problem at Stratford
(such as a security incident or overcrowding) passengers travelling
on the Central line could get off at Leyton and still access the
venue. This would be far more desirable than decanting trains
at Mile End and changing onto the District line to West Ham. The
Council considers that measures to increase the capacity of Leyton
station and to make it more accessible would be very desirable
in this context.
5. THE BUS
NETWORK
5.1 During recent years the Council has
implemented a substantial system of bus lanes and bus priority
measures across the borough. However, due to lack of available
roadspace, little scope exists for further bus priority measures
in the southern part of Waltham Forest. Any improvements to bus
services will therefore have to use the very congested road corridors
outlined previously.
5.2 The Council is working with Transport
for London Buses to discuss possible service enhancements associated
with the Olympics. These proposals are welcomed. However, any
new services will have to use the highly congested north/south
road corridors and will have long journey times. They are unlikely
to form an attractive travel option, particularly for commuters.
6. CONCLUSION
6.1 The proposed Olympics site at Stratford
is currently poorly served by public transport from most of Waltham
Forest and in particular, there are no rail services.
6.2 The Council wishes to see the reinstatement
of the Hall Farm Curve and reopening of Lea Bridge station to
enable residents of the borough to be provided with a viable rail
service to access the Olympics site, Stratford City development
and the Lower Lea Valley area generally.
6.3 The Council also wishes to see capacity
and accessibility improvements to the Central Line station at
Leyton to enable it to accommodate the increase in passenger numbers
resulting from the Olympics and other regeneration proposals.
| 
