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Mayor ready to back new name for Edgware Road Tube station
Livingstone begins talks with transport bosses as campaign wins new support
A CAMPAIGN calling for Edgware Road Tube station to be renamed as Church Street Market was boosted this week when Transport for London began official talks with the Mayor of London’s office. Mayor Livingstone said the two Edgware Road stations could also be renamed to end the confusion between them.
The station’s Bakerloo line stop should be called Church Street Market, according to London Assembly member and Paddington resident Murad Qureshi, who first raised the idea in September.
Mr Qureshi said there was no point in having two stations with the same name – as there are in Edgware Road – and argued the new name would boost the fortunes of the Church Street market.
He said: “Having two Edgware Roads is confusing and unnecessary. In my opinion it is the Bakerloo line station on Edgware Road that should have its name changed. “That is the real community station and it would cost less for Transport for London to implement.”
TfL commissioner for transport Peter Hendy wrote to Mr Qureshi this week outlining his fears that “significant costs” would arise with thousands of maps and literature having to be scrapped.
But he has welcomed the plans and in his letter to Mr Qureshi said: “London Underground agrees in principle that one of the Edgware Road station names could be changed. “The mayor has asked me to look at the case for changing the name. “We would have to have broad agreement on a suitable station name.”
The plans have been backed by traders in the Church Street Market and by local ward councillor Barbara Graheme.
She said: “Whenever I tell people to meet me at Edgware Road there is always confusion. The market is coming on leaps and bounds and this would help even more. “But the Tube station, although being quite beautiful, is in real need of upgrading.”
There have also been calls for Aldgate East Tube station to be renamed Brick Lane station in a bid to promote tourism and business. |
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