Works on the upgrading of Harold Wood Station are due to start this year and Dame Angela has met with Andrew Wolstenholme, Chief Executive of Crossrail to discuss progress and learn how Harold Wood residents might be affected.

Major improvements will be made to the station car park and surrounding area and the platform will be lengthened to accommodate the longer Crossrail trains. Adjustments will also need to be made to the bridge as the new trains will be slightly higher. A new footbridge and lifts will make the station far more accessible. The finished project will be a smart, open and attractive station area with faster journey times for the benefit of everyone.

Crossrail has worked closely with Network Rail, TfL and the London Borough of Havering to prepare an Urban Realm Report which sets out potential improvements that can be made outside stations including Harold Wood. Havering Council will take this project forward funded, in part, by £1.4m awarded from TfL and monies from the complementary measures scheme to help deliver a host of borough led developments outside Crossrail stations. The funding is designed to improve and enhance the areas around the stations, ready to welcome passengers.

Dame Angela said “Some inconvenience will be unavoidable for the duration of the works and Crossrail wants to minimise any disruption to passengers and to local residents and shopkeepers. A public meeting will be arranged by Crossrail to enable questions to be answered and a full public consultation exercise will be held to ensure that people’s concerns may be taken into consideration and full information made available.”