Stay on track, warns MP

Adam Hewitt • Last updated 23 Oct 2008 13:38 1 Comment

READING Station could be botched forever if the redevelopment is rushed to bolster the failing economy.

Reading East MP Rob Wilson said the project was too important to be brought forward in a Government attempt to tackle unemployment.

He told the House of Commons on Monday: "This morning I was informed by Network Rail that trying to rush forward the £500m upgrade of Reading Station in my constituency would be problematic.

"It could lead to poor planning and mistakes, and it would make little short-term difference to unemployment. Does the Secretary of State agree that trying to bring forward big capital projects such as the one at Reading Station is not the answer to unemployment?"

But Work and Pensions secretary James Purnell replied: "The honourable gentleman is welcome to campaign against investment in his constituency if he wants to. All I can say is that it is a very odd approach."

Politicians in Reading have followed Mr Purnell's lead.

Mr Wilson's Labour foe Anneliese Dodds said: "I have written to ask him why he appears to be campaigning against investment in his own constituency."

Reading West MP Martin Salter chipped in: "Everybody knows that most public sector projects take far too long and that commuters are already suffering unacceptable delays because of the lack of capacity at Reading Station. It seems as if poor old Rob Wilson has finally lost the plot."

Reading West Lib Dem candidate Patrick Murray and transport spokesman Ricky Duveen also criticised Mr Wilson, as well as Reading East candidate Cllr Gareth Epps who said: "Rob Wilson needs to come clean about whether the Conservatives are in fact calling for the vital Reading works to be put on ice."

But Mr Wilson hit back yesterday: "To say that I want the project shunted or slowed down is simply telling untruths.

"I want the project run at the pace experts have advised after their detailed consideration, I don't want it rushed forward simply because the Chancellor is in difficulty."

In a statement, Network Rail said: "Progress on the Reading project has already started and cannot be shortened any further. A work schedule is in place to move signalling away from the station area, which will then enable the main engineering works to begin.

"Network Rail's priority is to run the project with minimum impact on the people of Reading and rail users through carefully planning and implementation of the works."

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This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 23 Oct 08

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