Transport for London have included Shoreditch Park as a potential ventilation shaft and construction site for the proposed Crossrail 2 underground railway which is currently in the early stages of consultation. The construction site would cover approximately one fifth of the western part of the park.

We recognise that Crossrail 2 will greatly improve public transport capacity in Hackney, taking cars off our roads, and making our journeys to work quicker and safer. We also recgonise that the design of the railway means that a ventilation shaft is required in this part of Hackney.

However we do not think this should be at the expense of Hoxton's only significant open green space.

Shoreditch Park is the garden of thousands of people who live in flats next to and near our park. It is where our children play, we walk our dogs, play sport, take part in local events, and lie back and enjoy the summer sunshine. It is not a suitable site for a construction site - whether that be for one month, one year or - as Transport for London are proposing - three to six years.

Therefore we urge Transport for London in the strongest terms to ensure that the construction site and shaft required in north Hoxton to be put somewhere other than Shoreditch Park. Whilst we recognise consultation for Crossrail 2 is in its early stages - with construction not beginning until 2020 or beyond - we think it is important that this issue of great concern is resolved as soon as possible.

Supported by:

Councillors Kam Adams, Feryal Demirci, Tom Ebbutt, Phil Glanville, Clayeon McKenzie and Carole Williams, Hackney Councillors for Hoxton East and Shoreditch Ward and Hoxton West Ward with the community of Hoxton and beyond.