Wimbledon MP and former transport minister Stephen Hammond has warned Crossrail 2 would be a “death knell” for Wimbledon if the current proposals go ahead.

Meanwhile Labour have accused the Conservatives of “hijacking” Crossrail 2 opposition for their own interests.

In a statement posted online, Mr Hammond said he still supported the concept of Crossrail 2 but voiced concern about the disruption to businesses, levels of pollution and speed of the work.

October 30: Parts of Wimbledon town centre including Centre Court Shopping Centre could be demolished to make way for Crossrail 2

He argued the plans would “involve loss of commercial and retail space, as well as possibly residential, with seven to ten years of upheaval in the town centre causing negative impacts in terms of noise, road and traffic disruption and the environmental/health impact that building pollution will have.”

He added: “Moreover, the current phasing plans are likely to lead to an effective “shutting down” of Wimbledon for up to seven years, from which I doubt it would recover.

“Therefore instead of a regeneration project it would be a death knell.”

However, a leaked email sent by Brenda Grant, the chairman of the Dundonald and Merton Park branches of the Labour party, has accused the Conservatives of trying to “hijack” the opposition to the plans.

In the email, sent to other Labour party members, Ms Grant writes: “What is worrying is that a cross party committee, which was formed to oppose the current plans (on which Tony Kane and some other Labour members sit) seems to have been hijacked by the Tories.”

She complains that members of the Conservative party have been distributing cross-party committee leaflets opposing the plans alongside pro-Conservative leaflets, and urges Labour colleagues to attend a protest meeting due to be held tonight, Thursday, January 7, at 7pm in the Holy Trinity Church off Wimbledon Broadway.

Speaking to the Wimbledon Guardian, Mr Hammond said: “I think they need to rethink the scheme.

“If we knock down half of Centre Court, if we knock down Bridge House, if half your retail goes, if you destroy your town centre, then what’s going to happen is that people are never going to come back.

“It sounds dramatic, but ‘death knell’ is my genuine view.”

The current proposals for Crossrail 2 have earmarked seven sites in Wimbledon town centre for major redevelopment, and include demolishing the landmark Wimbledon Bridge House, which contains seven floors of offices, the Everyday Church in Queens Road and about 60 per cent of Centre Court Shopping Centre.

This is to prepare Wimbledon for an expected 3,000 extra peak time commuters, four extra rail platforms and 30 Crossrail 2 trains passing through the station each hour.

November 23: Crossrail 2 update: Centre Court Shopping Centre, homes and Wimbledon Bridge House offices may be demolished over 11 years

Mr Hammond also raised concern about the plans to build a tunnel portal at Gap Road and clear space for works at Weir Road, and the proposed changes to Raynes Park station.

His statement concluded: “The current proposals are not acceptable nor are they in the interests of Wimbledon and therefore I cannot support them and urge Crossrail to bring forward new proposals.”

January 6: Crossrail 2 protest meeting called as public consultation on controversial plans draws to a close

Ms Grant writes: “Whether you are for or against Crossrail, this issue will dominate Wimbledon politics for the foreseeable future and it is important that Labour members and Councillors (especially those living in and representing Wimbledon wards) attend this meeting and ensure this campaign is genuinely cross party and not a Tory front to attack Merton Council and promote Stephen Hammond.”

Ms Grant agreed with Mr Hammond’s view that Crossrail should look into the possibility of tunnelling underneath Wimbledon to reduce the impact on the town but accused Crossrail of making up costs as they go along, arguing that an original November estimate that tunnelling underneath Wimbledon would cost “up to £2 billion” was then scaled back to £1.2 billion by December 7.

Ms Grant argues: “One can only conclude that the cost to tunnel under Wimbledon is complete guess work.

“TfL and their colleagues clearly believe that blighting central Wimbledon for up to fifteen years is a price worth paying.”

Labour Councillor Andrew Judge, cabinet member for environmental sustainability, planning and regeneration, said: "We are working as a cross-party with other political groups. We have one voice on this issue."

He said the council and Love Wimbledon would be working on a town centre Master Plan shortly, which it would encourage TfL to sign up to.   

A public consultation on the Crossrail 2 proposals closes tomorrow, January 8.

To view the proposals, click here.

To comment on the plans before the end of the consultation, visit www.crossrail2.co.uk

What do you think? Comment below or email letters@wimbledonguardian.co.uk