SKUD attack hits Tube Plan

Alex West, Kensington & Chelsea News

05 February 2004

London Underground has pledged to continue plans for redevelopment of a ‘dangerous’ station.

Residents’ group South Kensington Underground Development’s (SKUD) attack on a plan for South Kensington Underground station forced developers Stanhope plc to withdraw its scheme last month.

But London Underground has submitted a revised application.

South Kensington and Queensgate Residents Association chairwomen Caryl Harris said: “It’s the most dangerous station on the network.

“Thirty million people use it every year and it’s an accident waiting to happen.

“I can’t believe a group of people with their own interest at heart have set back the plan to make this station safe.”

SKUD called a meeting of the 300-strong residents’ group the Brompton Association to discuss the plans in November last year.

The Brompton Association executive committee – including chairman Jeremy Taylor, treasurer Tim Kemp, and secretary Susan Walker – resigned on December 31 to make way for members keen to put the station top of the agenda.

Recently appointed Brompton Association chairwoman Sophie Blain said: “we would like to see the local authority take a much more holistic view of the area.

“We’re all for increased safety and improving the station but we’re not convinced a total redevelopment, like the plans recently withdrawn, would do that.

“The Brompton Association is very supportive of any proposals to improve access to the station but they need to be tied in with the traffic flows, which previous schemes have not addressed.”

A London Underground spokeswoman said: “We will be working with our development partners on a revised scheme that will give London Underground an improved station and a development that will be more agreeable to all parties than the scheme recently withdrawn.”

Stanhope plc property director Charles Walford said: “We are committed to the redevelopment of South Kensington station and hope to work with all parties to move it forward as quickly as possible.

“We withdrew our initial scheme following extensive consultation with the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea.

“We are now reviewing the scheme, taking on board the comments received during the consultation period.

“We plan to revisit some of the engineering restraints to see if we can respond to the residents’ concerns, while maintaining the value required for the project to progress.

“When a new scheme has been developed there will be another intensive period of consultation before a new application.

“With increasing numbers of visitors, there is a desperate need to upgrade South Kensington Underground Station.”