170 replies to this topic

[Retired Member 1]

Has everyone received the doc through the door?

I got it yesterday, had a quick scroll through it but have not made my mind yet.

However it seems as if local residents may go through a rough time and the park will be affected too.

The one that does not go through the park looks like my fav options at this stage but have to look into the details.

[ajames]

I think there should be an option 4. Via railway and Ledrington Road (as per option 2). Then back on to Anerley Hill and into the park at the top (as per option 1).

This would have the least impact on the park. Just because the part of the park they have their eyes on is at the moment "underused and neglected" doesn't mean it should stay that way (or be lost forever).

I'm all for a link by the way.

[charlie]

We received the consultation document yesterday too. I for one can not wait for the tram, although I do wonder about the noise and how it will affect adjacent properties. Just wish it could be connected to the Cross River Tram Proposals -surely they could take it down to Brixton?

Edited by charlie, 26 October 2006 - 11:48 AM.

[Angeles]

I suppose that if the tram follows the railway the adjacent properties will already be used to the noise of the trains. Me too I would like the tram to have a link with Brixton or somewhere else with a tube line, but I hope this extension will only be a first step and that more extensions will come in the future.

[little my]

I think they should carry it on down the parade, down to sydenham hill station and along the track to Brixton. That would be great, just like an extension of the victoria line (almost).

I should have been a railway planner...

[Axean]

I want to see the tram come to Crystal Palace, but dont want to see it entering the park, especially below the museum. Option one has the tram going nearly all the way up the hill, so there is no "engineering" reason to enter the park, and the triangle junction is wide enough. It may as well go a extra few metres, around the outside of the gate, finishing on the wide parade. I'd prefer a route that goes via the station up Ledrington Rd, then Anerley Hill, turning right at the junction onto the parade.
The land below the museum consists of a large tree lined ridge that screens the park from the sight and noise of Anerley Hill. Loosing this would be bad for the park. The previously peacefull park terraces would be full of the sounds and sights of cars, and tram overhead electrics. Trams are very quite (except on hills and when going around corners.), they'll make less noise than the cars & buses that use the hill.
Secondly, if your going to develop that site then it should be for the benefit of the park. That strip of land could be developed into" green flats", giving the park an income of hundreds of thousands of pounds each year, and increasing the screening of the noise and view of Anerley Hill. Giving the park away for a tram is bad business, especially at a time when the park needs an income source. I suppose you could have the tram going along the basement of the flats.

Not wanting the tram to enter the park, doesnt mean your against the tram.

I think there is good reason to hope that the tram would eventually go to central London via Brixton. There are plans for a Cross River Tram, and it seems obvious that they will connect Brixton to Crystal Palace

Edited by Axean, 27 October 2006 - 02:56 PM.

[Nick]

The big problem with not using the Park is that Anerley Hill is likely to become one way. That would cause a large amount of rat running along Hamlet Road, Anerley Park and Thicket Road. Taking the edge of the park route would be less likely to cause massive traffic problems. I suspect a closer link than the on street option at Crystal Palace station is TFL's primary concern especially with the bus station at the top of the hill and the station half way down.

Nick

[Gipsy]

I think the tram is a fantastic idea.

My real concern is the track up to the bus station. Does this mean the station is definitely staying where it is? I thought it may be under review as part of the park redevelopments?

If it is staying and the tram does link up to the station, won't this create another 'barrier' to that entrance to the park? I really think that gateway needs a lot of work to make it more inviting...

[SimonC]

I went to the exhibition by Crystal Palace station today. There is nothing there that you will not find on the TfL website, although you can pick up a hard copy of the proposal document.

However, there are some representatives there from TfL who are well clued up about the proposals and the politics of the park, and who were able to answer all of the questions I had.

But it was a shame, for once, not to have anyone outside trying to force their opinions on me and getting angry when I suggested I might not agree with them. Maybe I just like the confrontation and to challenge others views.

[charlie]

However, there are some representatives there from TfL who are well clued up about the proposals and the politics of the park, and who were able to answer all of the questions I had.

Agreed - the TfL reps were very well informed.

[Julius]

Don't always believe what you hear from TFL. They will print and say anything to get the vital "vote" to push ahead with Tramlink. It is the Mayor's baby and ever since a presentation meeting with Bromley Council at the NSC in 2003 he has always maintained the favoured option of taking the tram through Crystal Palace Park.

The public consultation document that has been delivered through the letterboxes of many homes in the Crystal Palace area will show you the three options but the favoured one will be through the park.

Personally I have no problem with Tramlink coming to the palace myself but to terminate at Crystal Palace Station but this is an option they want to avoid I'm afraid.

[Angeles]

I don't think the tramlink would be of much use if it were to finish at Crystal Palace Station. There is already the train Station with trains running to and from Croydon plus many buses going up hill.

The point is that there is no reliable public transport serving the triangle and that exacerbates the trafic problems. Maybe the car pollution benefits the park? I think the tramlink would be less disruptive to the park than all the cars and besides it is suppose to run on the border of the park, following the already existing railway line.

[Julius]

Tramlink will be disruptive in every way when you start to realise that the intension of TFl is to take the tram through this historical Grade II*Listed Park.

The preferred option is Option 3 in the public consultation document-Anerley Road/Crystal Palace Park on street from the railway line at Hamlett Road, up Anerley Road, crossing right into Crystal Palace Station then left up Ledrington road through the park passing close to the Museum and through the ornamental gardens and terminating behind the bus station on the park.

One thing that TFL are not telling you is that they are thinking to make compulsory Purchaces of two or more houses for demolition, this coming from Mathew Yates who is the Project Manager for Croydon Tramlink.

The public consultation document does contain a number of inaccuracies, one on page 11 that states " The LDA undertook public consultation on their proposals in late 2005 and all the options presented in the consultation for the Norwood Gateway at that time made allowance for the tram" Those who visited the LDA exhibitions and road shows and completed questionaires may recall that the four options on offer for the Gateway were focussed on landscaping or housing. There was no mention of the Tram accessing the Park at this point.

[Axean]

The point is that there is no reliable public transport serving the triangle and that exacerbates the trafic problems. Maybe the car pollution benefits the park? I think the tramlink would be less disruptive to the park than all the cars and besides it is suppose to run on the border of the park, following the already existing railway line.

I know its stating the obvious but the tramlink will not follow the "already existing railway line" The railway goes under the park, the tram will go through the park. The plans for the tramlink do show the railway line going through the park. An attempt to misslead and make that edge of the park look as if its already blighted?

You think the tramlink would be less disruptive to the park than the cars and will reduce car pollution to the park? I think thats wrong. There's a wide and high tree-lined ridge running down that section of the park. Its screens off the park, from chemical, noise and "vision" pollution. The tramlink would remove that ridge and the trees. That section of the park would then be blighted by the pollution from the cars, and the noise and view of Anerley Hill traffic.
If you believe the tramlink will reduce the number of cars, then the tramlink should be constructed along the road.

If the tramlink finished in Ledrington Rd, it would only be four minutes walk from the bus station. Its not worth destorying a section of the park for that.

[Julius]

Well said Axean please read what is really the truth of Tramlink.