Lea Bridge Station August 2014
	Curious Lea Bridge Station news Odd things were being said about Lea Bridge station in summer 2014, notably that Japanese Knotweed and unexpected ground conditions were holding up development. The line used to be able to take steam engines, which are much heavier than modern locomotives, and has regularly seen the so-called Ghost Train (a real train but not timetabled) pass by. If it was safe for them what could the hazard be now? In August the Labour Group at the Greater London Council briefly appeared to confirm that plans for the station were being re-thought causing suspicions that the Cross Rail 2 scheme , could have thrown a spanner in the works. But hard information was not available just the names of people who were clearly so busy they did not have time to reply to emails. (August 7, 2014)
	Claire Weiss (who took the pictures on this page) posted the following on Facebook on August 5, 2014. "When I took these photos of the former Lea Bridge railway station last February (during the floods) I was extremely doubtful that the proposed re-opening of the station (closed back in 1985) would be completed in 2014 as planned. Since then Waltham Forest Council has had to stump up £6million in extra costs demanded by Transport for London (TfL) and yet there is no sign of any work starting. Bizarrely, Waltham Forest Council were told that one reason for the extra costs was that there was an infestation of Japanese Knotweed on one of the platforms. I felt that this was all a smokescreen and I made formal enquiries of Stella Creasey MP and Cllr Clare Coghill Cabinet Member on Waltham Forest Council - neither of them have come up with any news so far. However Jennette Arnold's (Greater London Assembly Member for North-east London) office has told me today that the plans have changed and that TfL is now 'reticent' about the project. A new report is being drawn up for the North London Transport Forum. I suspect some local figures know more about what is going on and we are about to lose this little project for the time being owing to much bigger things going on around - ie Cross Rail. Does anyone else have any news? Claire Weiss subsequently added: "This posting and an email that I sent on the back of the information from Jennette Arnold's office seem to have caused a stir! This morning, I got the following from Duncan Maclean at London Assembly Labour: "Dear Claire, Just to follow up on the e-mail I sent yesterday about Lea Bridge Station. Sincere apologies, but I misinformed you about plans for the station. Waltham Forest Council is leading on the negotiations for the redevelopment of the station, not TfL, and the Council is in advanced stages of finalising the plans for its re-opening, which is great news I'm sure you'll agree. Should you require any further information about the project, I'm sure Cllr Chris Robbins or Cllr Clare Coghill would be able to update you." " I would never have guessed that from the responses I had received earlier from various sources in Waltham Forest. A station needs to be actually constructed before it can be re-opened. So yes, Stuart Moore as far as I am concerned by all means let people know that the station which was to have been opened in 2014 still looks like the pictures above and the borough is still only 'in advanced stages of finalising the plans', and it has so far cost the borough an extra £6m more than previously planned."
	(PHOTO Claire Weiss: February, 2014) Click to see more photos.
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Lea Marshes Railway
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		Stairs to Lea Bridge Station (PHOTO Claire Weiss: February, 2014) Click to return to text and original photo.
		Close up of the platforms at Lea Bridge Station. (PHOTO Claire Weiss: February, 2014) Click to return to text and original photo.
		A platform at Lea Bridge Station. (PHOTO Claire Weiss: February, 2014) Click to return to text and original photo.
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