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Published: 10 June 2011
EXCLUSIVE by JOSH LOEB

THE boss of Crossrail was last night (Thursday) under pressure to apologise for “failing” Westminster residents and businesses.

In an unprecedented display of frustration, a committee investigating the effect of construction work in the West End demanded that the organisation’s chairman Terry Morgan visit the area to view for himself problems caused by the scheme.

The call by Angela Harvey, who heads the city council’s built environment scrutiny ­committee, followed damning reports from “witnesses” including a priest and a businesswoman who said Crossrail had made her life “hell”.

The committee, a cross-party body, also raised urgent questions about safety on the streets surrounding the construction site.

Crossrail were represented by an acquisitions manager who said such issues were beyond his remit – a response that prompted Cllr Harvey to rebuke the organisation. She told West End Extra: “It’s shocking that they send somebody who is not competent to answer these questions. We wanted somebody from Crossrail who, having heard from our witnesses, would have said, ‘We got it wrong’. What we got was someone who effectively said ‘Nothing to do with me, gov’.”

Restaurateur Julia Forte, who lives and runs a business in Great Chapel Street, Soho, said crime had greatly increased because of “inadequate” lighting in roads next to Crossrail hoardings. She said it had taken more than a year of complaining before Crossrail installed lighting and signage informing passers-by that the street was still open. 

She said: “All these problems could have been avoided had there been some planning and consideration. It’s been hell basically.”

Father Alexander Sherbrooke of St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church, Soho Square, said Crossrail had “consumed hundreds of hours of my time” and added: “The police have borne out the concerns we have about safety as a result of Crossrail shutting off part of the north wall of our building and exc­luding access to one of our entrances.” 

Paul Mason, who part owns a prop­erty in Dean Street which was compulsorily purchased by Crossrail, told of the “pain” of losing a home that had been in his family for three generations.

Other witnesses said Crossrail had offered “unfair” compensation.

Cllr Harvey said she believed Crossrail was “a great scheme”, but she added: “They are failing to look after the people.”  

A Crossrail spokesman said: “Crossrail is very sensitive to the concerns of local residents and businesses in the ­Tottenham Court Road area and has worked closely with the local commun­ity to resolve issues and reach fair agreements. We meet local businesses on a regular basis and welcome any requests to meet to discuss specific issues.”