|
|
 |
| |
Cllr Kasprzyk and Metro café owner Mahmoud Ismail |
‘All we want for Christmas is a Tube station at the weekends’
Mayor slams plan for Archway station closure that will ‘cripple local businesses’
PLANS to close Archway Tube station every weekend in the run up to Christmas will “cripple” business in the area, traders warned this week.
Transport for London (TfL) will carry out a four-month station refurbishment beginning next month, with work taking place every Saturday and Sunday in December ahead of the festive break.
The station is expected to close for 14 out of a possible 23 weekends until April next year.
The work comes as Islington council, desperate to improve trade in the area, is due to remove parking restrictions in Junction Road shopping centre in the three weeks up to Christmas.
Metro café owner Mahmoud Ismail said many of his customers come by Tube: “Small shops need all the help they can get,” he added. “Closing the station in the run up to Christmas is not going to help anyone.”
Former Mayor and Lib Dem Junction ward Councillor Stefan Kasprzyk said he was appalled: “How can TfL do this to us? I’m sure the refurbishments are important, but why can’t they do them in the New Year?
“I’ve written a strong letter to TfL and am awaiting a reply. There are no excuses for doing this work in the run up to Christmas.”
A TfL spokeswoman said: “As part of TfL’s multi-billion pound investment programme to upgrade the Tube, Archway station is being completely modernised.
“Customers will benefit from new help and information points, electronic display boards, an improved public address system and CCTV.
“The station is being thoroughly redecorated.
“Our contractor, Tube Lines, is carrying out this work at the weekend because this is when fewer people travel.
“We advise customers to check before they travel and to use nearby Tufnell Park and Highgate Tube stations while the station is being refurbished. Work is due to be completed in spring 2010.” |
 |
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
