Former construction minister reacts angrily to government's 'crass' refusal to add a station at Woolwich

Former construction minister Nick Raynsford has slammed the government after it refused a select committee's demand for an additional station at Woolwich.

The station could not go ahead because it was too expensive, the government said this morning in its response to the crossrail select committee鈥檚 interim decisions.

Raynsford, MP for Greenwich and Woolwich and a 好色先生TV columnist, said the decision against the station development was shameful. He said: 鈥淭he case for the Woolwich station is overwhelmingly strong both on transport and regeneration grounds. The secretary of state鈥檚 rejection of their unanimous recommendation is crass, short-sighted and shameful. It flies in the face of the evidence and demonstrates contempt for the parliamentary process.鈥�

Also included in the government response was the pledge to provide additional compensation to Smithfield Market traders to allow for losses caused by the construction of the works. This was not reflected in the money traders received for the value of the land and could have been payable as damages if the construction was not authorised by statute.

In July, the committee told Cross London Rail Links, which acts on behalf of the government, to build an extra station Woolwich, as well as major upgrade Liverpool Street Station.