> From eWatford Observer 2/5/08
>
> Golden opportunity missed?
>
> By John Harrison
>
> Environmentalists have condemned the business plan behind the proposed
> Croxley Rail Link, warning the county council could miss a "golden
> opportunity" to finally get the long-awaited project on track.
>
> Hertfordshire County Council, backed by Mayor Dorothy Thornhill and
> Watford MP Claire Ward, presented its business case for the £95m
> scheme to the Department for Transport (DfT) in February.
>
> However, the bid was quickly rejected as being "non compliant" with
> the Government's funding criteria.
>
> The DfT said the application could not be considered for Government
> cash until the flaws in the business plan were resolved.
>
> In a letter sent to the county council the DfT said there was a lack
> of evidence to show the East of England Regional Assembly (EERA) - the
> project's primary funder - could meet the current cost.
>
> A spokesman for EERA told the Watford Observer this week that the
> assembly had promised to invest £50m in the project.
>
> Transport for London has previously promised a further £18m for the
> scheme. However, the government is also seeking a clarification on
> that promise.
>
> Watford Friend's of the Earth has criticised the county council for
> submitting an unsuitable business plan.
>
> Alina Congreve planning advisor for the group said: "A lot of good
> quality research is needed to make a sound case.
>
> "The large redevelopment of the health campus is a golden opportunity
> to show how many staff, patients and visitors would use the new rail
> services.
>
> "The Government has been highly critical of the quality of
> Hertfordshire's bid for Government funding, with missing information
> and a lack of up to date costs.
>
> "Simply saying it would be a good thing without doing the work to
> justify the rail link is not good enough."
>
> Hertfordshire County Council this week said it had held a "productive
> meeting" with the DfT, EERA as well as Claire Ward last month.
>
> A council statement said the DfT has agreed to carry out a "limited
> assessment" of the project and assess it against government "value for
> money" criteria.
>
> The statement read: "In the meantime, we will be working with London
> Underground to identify the level of contribution it is able to make
> into the project.
>
> "This work will be undertaken between now and the end of May."
>
> The county council said further discussions were scheduled in the
> coming weeks.
>
> It added that it expected a final decision to be made by "late
> autumn".
>
> Alina added that she felt it was time planners involved in the Watford
> Health Campus publicly backed the Croxley Rail Link.
>
> She said: "In the last two issues of the Watford Observer we have seen
> two letters, one from Alastair Robertson (chief executive of Watford
> Borough Council) and one from the project director of the health
> campus, Kyle McClelland, in support of the hospital's new link road.
>
> "So where is their vocal support for the Croxley Rail Link?"
>
> ...........................................................................­......