Crossrail meeting fails to address problems faced by Soho businesses and residents

Crossrail must urgently 'up its game' and do more to help Westminster residents and businesses manage the ongoing disruption caused by the transport scheme, according to an independent scrutiny commission.

Soho has been hit hard by the development with many businesses succumbing to the compulsory purchase orders laid upon them to make way for Crossrail. Not only that, but many businesses are feeling the squeeze as inevitable road closures mean fewer pedestrians on the closed road, thus reduced passing trade.

Streets for which the organisation has responsibility have become in such a poor state that businesses are losing money, the safety of residents is at risk and anti social behaviour is on the increase, the committee heard.

Hearing from a range of witnesses, the committee was told how a local businesses woman had seen a 40% drop in sales after a West End street sign was missing for more than 18 months while temporary signs indicated the road was closed when in fact it wasn't.

Another witness told the committee was hundreds of thousands of pounds out of pocket following the compulsory purchase of her four storey property, she and her family had lost their main income and she was still in dispute with Crossrail, having not received any compensation money.

According to a local parish priest the removal of lighting and the inappropriate use of hoarding in streets had led to an increase in anti social behaviour, including drug dealing. He told the committee of his concerns about the safety of local people visiting St Patrick's church, which provides a soup kitchen for the vulnerable and is open until 11pm.

In addition communication between Crossrail and residents has been poor, dust and dirt from the project has been excessive and late night unannounced work, including the use of cherry pickers past windows and heavy drilling, was resulting in a decreased standard of living, the committee heard.

On the issue of what the council could do to help, the committee were told that resolving  individual issues was out of the council's hands and due to legislation remained the responsibility of Crossrail to address and resolve.

Nigel Brown, property acquisition manager for Crossrail,  who attended the meeting on behalf of the developer to provide feedback to the committee, said he was "unable to comment on individual cases."

Cllr Angela Harvey, Chair of Westminster City Council's Built Environment, Enterprise and Volunteering Policy and Scrutiny Committee, said: "We're extremely disappointed that Crossrail sent a representative who is unable to comment on individual cases and that Crossrail have not done better by even attempting to answer to some of the very serious issues we have heard about this evening.

"In fact it feels as though we have had nothing from Crossrail. We wanted to speak to someone who knew what was going on and could help to sort the issues out.

"We know Westminster is a complex place and recognise that this is an amazing project which we fully support, but getting the small things right for people is the easiest thing to do, which is why this is all the more difficult to understand."

Addressing Mr Brown directly, Cllr Harvey said: "You've talked about fair property value but we have heard from a lady who owned a property worth at least £1.8m yet only received £1.2m after it was compulsorily purchased, but you still aren't prepared to comment on individual cases.

"It therefore feels as though Crossrail have sent you into battle without the armour to defend yourself - that doesn't reflect well on the organisation."

The committee will now write to the chairman of Crossrail, Terry Morgan, outlining the ongoing concerns raised at the meeting and inviting him to the West End to see the issues first hand.