The managing director of Crossrail 2 Michéle Dix has admitted that it “isn’t very easy” to find a solution to concerns raised about the demolition of Wimbledon town centre, and insisted Crossrail believed it had found the “least disruptive” proposals.

However, Ms Dix acknowledged the volume of concerns raised by residents and politicians to the plans, and said they would all be taken on board and listened to.

Ms Dix discussed the controversial plans for Wimbledon town centre, which include the demolition of Centre Court Shopping Centre, Wimbledon Bridge House, the Everyday Church and some residential homes, during a visit to the Wimbledon Guardian offices on Wednesday, May 18.

Wimbledon Times:

November 2015: Crossrail 2 update: Centre Court Shopping Centre, homes and Wimbledon Bridge House offices may be demolished over 11 years​

The major works aim to make way for 30 Crossrail 2 trains per hour passing through Wimbledon station, and include adding four extra platforms to help cope with an expected 3,000 extra peak time commuters.

Ms Dix explained that it was difficult to build in Wimbledon, due to the number of train lines running through the station and the amount of commercial and residential properties around it.

She said: “Finding a solution isn’t very easy. We felt we had taken the line that minimised residential take - knocking down houses and open areas.

“We were trying to minimise impact and build something that would work and allow an active interchange between Crossrail 2 and existing services in that confined space.

“We felt it was the least disruptive.”

January 8: Crossrail 2: 400 residents stuck outside as protest meeting against "unacceptable" Crossrail 2 has huge unexpected turn-out​

The current proposals have been robustly condemned by residents and politicians alike, with a cross-party statement from Merton Council released in January describing the plans as placing Wimbledon town centre in “a uniquely vulnerable position”, and warning of the possible loss or displacement of between 3,000 and 5,000 jobs due to the impact and duration of the intense construction in the town centre.

The new Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has described the plans as “bad for Wimbledon”, while Wimbledon MP and former transport minister Stephen Hammond warned that “instead of a regeneration project it would be a death knell.”

March 14: Mayor of London candidate Sadiq Khan calls Crossrail 2 proposals "bad for Wimbledon"

More than 5,000 people have signed the Wimbledon Guardian’s petition to ‘Save our Town Centre’.

Sign the petition here

However, Ms Dix stressed the importance of building new rail infrastructure that can support a dramatically expanding population in London, adding that south west London was one of the worst areas for overcrowded trains.

She also said the next set of updated proposals, expected in the autumn, would take into account the concerns raised, but was reluctant to say what, if any, changes would be made.  

She said: “We have to work out what the changes would mean before saying there’s an alternative, or there’s not an alternative. That’s why there’s a silence at the moment, because we want to be sure of what is feasible before we go back to the public.

“We want to ensure that alternatives work. We don’t want to shift the problem from one group to another.”

What do you think? Email us on letters@wimbledonguardian.co.uk