6 March 2007
City welcomes Blair's backing for Crossrail - but warns over
delay
City leaders today (Wednesday) welcomed an endorsement from No
10 for the vital cross-London Crossrail rail link.
Mayor Ken Livingstone and Michael Snyder , Policy Chairman of
the City of London , met with the Prime Minister together with
business leaders and TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber .
Michael Snyder said afterwards: "The window of opportunity for
Crossrail is now and Prime Minister Blair sees that; he agrees we
have to get it off the drawing board and get it built.
" London 's world-leading success in financial services brings
billions to the Exchequer so building Crossrail is an excellent
investment in continued prosperity. And now is the time to do it,
to build on the success of the UK 's foremost sector.
"A report today suggested that London would in the next 14 years
move up from No 6 to No 4 in the listings of world cities by
GDP.
"But this success conceals a risk. London is unique in that much
of its economic vibrancy depends on the international financial
business based here - and they don't have to stay here if the
environment is no longer comfortable.
"The big businesses that are based here can simply get on a
plane from Heathrow and go elsewhere - that's if they can manage to
actually get to Heathrow in time for their flight!.
"Crossrail is the most important single transport enhancement
for a generation and will pay for itself many times over in the
benefits it brings to all of the people of the UK ."
Mr Snyder said regeneration across London would be strongly
boosted by Crossrail.
Ends
More
on the City of London's position on Crossrail
Notes for editors
City of London Corporation:
The City of London Corporation is committed to maintaining and
enhancing the status of the wealth and tax-generating business of
the City as the world's leading international financial and
business centre through its policies and services. Examples are the
extensive overseas business missions on behalf of UK-based
financial services and the wide-ranging economic development,
research and regeneration effort the City of London Corporation
undertakes across London . It also runs the City Office in Brussels
on behalf of the City and City Representations in Beijing ,
Shenzhen and Shanghai – and a City Office in Mumbai. Although the
City of London Corporation provides local government services for
the City, the financial and commercial heart of Britain, its
responsibilities also extend far beyond the City boundaries and
include management of the Barbican Centre, Central Criminal Court
at the Old Bailey, Epping Forest, Hampstead Heath, three wholesale
food markets, as well as acting as the London Port Health Authority
– and running the Animal Reception Centre at Heathrow.