THIS week I launched a campaign to persuade the Labour administration at Croydon Council to open a link from Cherry Orchard Road to the new northern entrance to East Croydon Station.
In December 2013, Network Rail opened a new northern entrance to East Croydon from Dingwall Road, together with a bridge over the railway. The idea was that property developer Menta would build a link from Cherry Orchard Road to the bridge.
Nearly one year later, nothing has happened. Addiscombe residents are still having to walk all the way up Cherry Orchard Road and Billington Hill, into the ticket hall then back down the ramps to the platforms.
The Conservatives running Croydon Council until May were planning to build a temporary link across Menta's land.
But the new Labour administration has told me that they can't afford to do this and residents will have to wait until "circa 2019/20" – and even this is dependent on Menta building their 53-storey tower, which many people don't want.
It's unreasonable to expect residents to wait five more years to get access to the bridge from Cherry Orchard Road. That's why I'm collecting a petition calling on the council to open a temporary link as soon as possible. You can sign the petition at www.gavinbarwell.com/EastCroydonEntrance
At the time of writing nearly 700 people have signed, but the more people who join the campaign the greater the chance Croydon Council will listen to us. Please tell anyone who may also be interested and together, I hope the council will listen to residents and commuters in Croydon.
