It still feels strange to pass the site of the old Astoria on Charing Cross

Road and see a vacant spot where it once stood. Like missing teeth, Soho is

punctuated with empty pockets of space where the new Crossrail link has laid

waste to various buildings in its path.

The decision to remove businesses from their premises, people from their

homes and to demolish long standing buildings in the area has been a

contentious one for many, but despite the numerous protestations from Londoners,

many of which are people who live, work and play in Soho itself, the plans went

ahead.

No it seems that the Crossrail drama does not just end here; now a debate

has began concerning the name of the new station itself.

The new station will have an entrance on Dean Street, right in the very

heart of Soho and many see this, along with the fact that so many Soho

residents have and continue to struggle with the noise and disruption of the

works, good reason to incorporate Soho into the station’s new name.

I went out onto the streets of Soho to ask your opinions on the debate. I

asked; “Do you think the new Crossrail

Station should be named ‘Soho’ and not Tottenham Court Road Station as before?”

Kelly, 29, works on Wardour Street

Although I don’t live in Soho, I work here and I socialise here and I’ve

seen how much the Crossrail extension has affected Soho, so it almost seems

right to call the stop ‘Soho’, especially if there is an entrance in Dean Street”

Ben, 42, works near Soho

"I don’t see the need – it would just confuse people. Completely unnecessary"

Ryan, 28, lives in Soho

"I don’t see why not? It might make it easier for people to locate Soho,

rather than always wondering around, never know if they actually are in Soho!

The only problem I’d see is perhaps a rise in my rent maybe"

Vicky, 34, lives and works in Soho

"I think it should be, it reflects the location of the station better. A

station should suggest the location it’s in – like Oxford Circus is where I

would go if I was a tourist if i wanted to go shopping on Oxford Circus.

Tottenham Court Road isn’t really a destination now is it? Especially since

they knocked down the Astoria, but Soho still is"

Temi, 52, lives in Soho

"I rather like the fact that Soho is a little more hidden. So no, I’d rather

they didn’t"

A spokesman for Crossrail said: “Over the next few years Totten­ham Court

Road station will be extensively redeveloped and from 2018 will operate as one

integrated station served by both London Under­ground and Crossrail. There are

no plans to rename Tottenham Court Road station.”

So what do you think? Should Tottenham Court Road Station be

renamed? Or do you think it would be a completely unnecessary and unwelcomed

move? Tell us your thoughts!