10/09/2014 BBC London News

Tonight we're broadcasting live 30 metres under London

as we take a close`up look at progress on Crossrail, the

The ?15 billion railway will carry thousands more passengers

across the capital bringing another 1.5 million people within

Tunnelling at some of its bhggest stations is now complete.

I have absolutely certain the money is well spent. This is such a huge

investment for the future of London. Two hospital A units close as part

of a reorganisation of the NHS. Homes are raided in South London

as police warn children from the capital are being used to transport

drugs to the Home Counties. And we catch up with 80s music

legends Spandau Ballet at the West End club where it all started

for them. Good evening and welcome to

Bond Street Crossrail station. This is a special edition of the

programme live below ground in London. Do not adjust your

television set. We are life beneath the ground, hence the complete

the ground, hence the compldte safety gear that we have to wear. We

are very close to Bond Street station. When completed, tr`ins will

station. When completed, trains will come through this seven metre wide

tunnel heading East that way. tunnel heading East that way.

Tottenham Court Road is not that far up down there at all. It goes

Tottenham Court Road is not that far up down there at all. It gods on

up down there at all. It goes on East to Whitechapel and ethhcs

up down there at all. It gods on East to Whitechapel and ethics and

then in the adjacent tunnel, trains will head West to Paddington,

Heathrow and reading. For example, now it takes ten minutes from here

to Paddington and it will t`ke now it takes ten minutes from here

to Paddington and it will t`ke just two. It will also knock 20 minutes

two. It will also knock 20 linutes off the journey time from here

two. It will also knock 20 minutes off the journey time from hdre to

off the journey time from here to Heathrow. Let's just fast forward to

2018 and 30 metres above right where I am standing now one of two ticket

halls will Bond Street stathon I am standing now one of two ticket

halls will Bond Street station is halls will Bond Street station is

being built. 155,000 people currently use that station every

being built. 155,000 people currently use that station dvery day

currently use that station every day at the moment and when Crossrail

arrives, that number will go up to 220,000. You can imagine th`t

arrives, that number will go up to 220,000. You can imagine that two to

220,000. You can imagine th`t two to halls are needed to cope with

increasing numbers. All of this comes at a cost, in this case ? 5

comes at a cost, in this case ?15 billion. We will talk to thd man in

billion. We will talk to the man in charge of it all in a moment but

first here is our transport correspondent Tom Edwards on

Crossrail's progress and what it means for London commuters. Welcome

to Canary Wharf's Crossrail station, the closest to completion. It

to Canary Wharf's Crossrail station, the closest to completion. Ht gives

the closest to completion. It gives the best idea of what this project

will look like when it is fhnished. In terms of a travelling

experience, these platforms are absolutely huge. The platforms

themselves are 240 metres long and in the peak between five and ten

passengers per second will come through here. We followed as

Europe's largest engineering project has grown. It has already changed to

London. Many buildings had to be demolished. There were complaints

about disruption and concerns over safety after a worker died.

Initially funding was an issue for this project but this was one of the

first schemes to use locality funding. So Londoners and London

business contributed roughly one business contributed roughlx one

third of the costs. I am absolutely certain the money is well spent.

This is such a huge investmdnt certain the money is well spent

This is such a huge investment for This is such a huge investment for

the future of London. This scheme is on track to be delivered on`time and

on budget. It will run from reading and he threw in the West to Abbey

Wood and Shenfield in the E`st and Wood and Shenfield in the East and

will cut journey times and hncrease will cut journey times and increase

capacity by 10%. I think thd capacity by 10%. I think thd

importance of when you are trying to lobby for a big infrastructtre

project in whatever the location, project in whatever the loc`tion,

you demonstrate their commitment from the locality and I think in

terms of the model we have done for London, where Londoners havd

London, where Londoners have contributed to this investmdnt, it

contributed to this investment, it is much easier for London to show

why it should be prioritised for this investment. It is not `ll about

this investment. It is not all about tunnels. This is Crossrail Gardens.

Canary Wharf contributed ?140 million to the scheme. I think

Canary Wharf contributed ?150 million to the scheme. I thhnk of it

as our third leg of public transport. It not only offers

resilience to the current estate but it enables us to grow and continue

to grow the estate. It will give us the potential to go close to 200,000

people as they working population, which is maybe 80% above whdre we

which is maybe 80% above where we are the moment, so vitally

important. This project has been built so that stations and trains

can be lengthened, so there is every prospect of Crossrail continuing to

grow to meet the capital's needs. With me now is Andrew Wolstenholme,

the chief executive of Crossrail. Thank you for joining us but I

imagine you come here very often! Tom just said we were on time and on

Tom just said we were on tile and on budget. Is it value for money for

Londoners, particularly for those who all they see is disrupthon

Londoners, particularly for those who all they see is disruption going

on to get the project built? Firstly, good evening. It is

delightful to have your viewers down here today. Yes, we are on time and

on budget and we are pleased with the progress we have made in the

last two years. We are in one of the running tunnels and we are 83%

complete with running tunnels and the project is 55% complete. We are

absolutely where we need to be in terms of programme and on btdget. Is

it worth the disruption? London will get a brand`new railway line

it worth the disruption? London will get a brand`new railway lind and

extra capacity in 2018, giving passengers were the choice, vastly

reduced travel times and brand`new reduced travel times and brand`new

stations. `` further choice. The largest construction project in

Europe can't be without challenges. What keeps you awake at night? Being

on time and on budget is a great place to be. We now have to complete

the railway fit outs, and then the rolling stock and complex signalling

systems. Those are the sorts of risks we will be coping with over

the next few years but we understand what we need to do and we are in a

great place in terms of timd what we need to do and we are in a

great place in terms of timd and cost. We are confident that we will

open in 2018. When Crossrail was conceived decades ago, increasing

conceived decades ago, incrdasing our travel capacity in the capacity

by 20% probably seems like a our travel capacity in the capacity

by 20% probably seems like ` good by 20% probably seems like ` good

thing but London is growing so fast. Is there a danger that we might

Is there a danger that we mhght outgrow Crossrail's capacity

Is there a danger that we might outgrow Crossrail's capacitx before

outgrow Crossrail's capacity before it is even built? London is growing

fast and in the next ten ye`rs it is fast and in the next ten ye`rs it is

predicted there will be another 1 million people living in London.

What you do at the start of the programme is building extra

capacity. The tunnels are 240 metres. We will start the service

with ten car trains and 24 trains per hour, but we have the

opportunity to increase the trains to 12 cars and increase the level of

service, so plenty of spare capacity is built into this. The sizd of the

stations, the wonderful designs that stations, the wonderful designs that

we have got, London will get a world`class railway station for

2018. You are understandably passionate about it. Thank xou

2018. You are understandablx passionate about it. Thank you for

passionate about it. Thank xou for joining us this evening. We alluded

to the fact that even a project of this scale may not be able to keep

up with the demand for travdl in London. Even while the telling and

London. Even while the tellhng and work continues here, there are calls

for Crossrail 2, which would link the North and South of London. We

have been taking a look at the capital's future transport needs

both above and below ground. London is growing and so are its

London is growing and so ard its needs. Take a look at what that

famous map might look like hn needs. Take a look at what that

famous map might look like in 2050 famous map might look like in 2050

if we are going to satisfy the expected demand for 70% mord

expected demand for 70% more capacity. You can't look at big

project in isolation. High Speed 2 for instance will eventuallx

for instance will eventually disgorge thousands of extra

passengers into the tube station disgorge thousands of extra

passengers into the tube st`tion at the Euston terminus, so a massive

the Euston terminus, so a m`ssive knock`on effect on the whole

network. That is why the calpaign is network. That is why the calpaign is

growing for solutions like ` second Crossrail traversing the capital

North East to South West. If you million pounds has been thrown at

Bell and work but there is no sign of a Government go`ahead yet for the

?20 million project. `` several ?20 million project. `` several

million pounds. We have dond million pounds. We have dond

everything we can but there is no more space so we need to do

something big and new. There is a vital need but no firm fundhng for

vital need but no firm funding for new railway links to connect local

communities, like an extension new railway links to connect local

communities, like an extenshon of communities, like an extension of

the home from Barking to serve thousands of homes at the Riverside.

thousands of homes at the Rhverside. One project that is proceeding is

One project that is proceedhng is extending the Northern line to two

news stations serving the Battersea news stations serving the B`ttersea

Power Station and paid for largely by the companies that will move

here. What about London's roads were 90% of all journeys happen? Motoring

organisations say that investing in Rhodes is the poor relation. There

are some ambitious ideas, like an are some ambitious ideas, like an

inner London ring road underground, but it would be very expensive

inner London ring road underground, but it would be very expenshve and

but it would be very expensive and many doubt that it would happen If

we are going to take road space away from drivers, in terms of sdrvice

from drivers, in terms of service road space and give it to

pedestrians and cyclists, and there are good arguments for that, then

you have to find capacity elsewhere and tunnelling could be key. New

river crossings are seen as vital but environmentalists disagree. And

for a new bridge back on the agenda for a new bridge back on thd agenda

and being consulted on now. A new tunnel seems all but agreed at

Silver Town but it has not got the sign of yet. And what about cycling

safer? There are promises in some areas but a shortage of cash is

getting in the way. We're not talking about huge amounts of money.

Compared to Crossrail and road infrastructures, we are talking

about tiny amounts of money. But it does need to be spent. One of

several decisions needed to cope with ever`increasing numbers.

And our transport correspondent is with me here. No stranger to being

down here either. As we heard, the biggest challenge for London is

transport needs keeping pace with transport needs keeping pace with

population growth. And that is a big issue for infrastructure projects.

As soon as you build them, they fill up very quickly. I spoke to DFL

earlier and they gave me thd earlier and they gave me the

statistics. 2050, 60% incre`se in statistics. 2050, 60% incre`se in

trips on tubes and buses and on railways 80%. That is why all the

talk is of Crossrail 2 today. The talk is of Crossrail 2 todax. The

Mayor appointed an adviser to oversee that today to try and get

that project going. It is e`rly but that project going. It is early, but

how much will it cost to tr`vel how much will it cost to tr`vel

Very early, we are four years away, but I did speak to DFL about that

today and they said this would but I did speak to DFL about that

today and they said this wotld be but I did speak to DFL about that

today and they said this would be a today and they said this would be a

fully integrated part of thd fully integrated part of the

transport network. `` I spoke to Transport for London. You will be

Transport for London. You whll be able to use your Oyster card and

freedom passes as part of the network. People who use the central

line will switch across str`ight on line will switch across straight on

to Crossrail and it will fill up very quickly. You will keep us

updated. Thank you very much indeed. That is all from us below ground,

under the Bond Street Crossrail station. If you want to see more

pictures of the tunnels and if the technically minded want to know how

we broadcast live 30 metres under London, you can just go to the

Facebook page where there is much more orange. Now it is back to the

studio. Thank you. Some more of the news

Some more of the day's news now and two hospital Accident Emergency

Hammersmith and Central Middlesex are being replaced by 24`hour urgent

It's part of a reorganisation of the capital's health service, which will

And as our political correspondent Karl Mercer reports,

It would be fair to say that Gloria is passionate about her local

hospital. No surprise to sed is passionate about her loc`l

hospital. No surprise to see her hospital. No surprise to see her

with other demonstrators at Hannah Smith today on the day the @

closed. Really upset. This should not be happening. This is 21st

century Britain and I want to tell people that we matter and I am

really angry. From today, emergency really angry. From today, emergency

ambulances will no longer bring patients here. Instead up to 25 per

day will be transporting patients to Saint Mary's in Paddington. An

emergency centre will remain open 24 hours a day for minor injuries

emergency centre will remain open 24 hours a day for minor injurhes here.

It is about consolidating services It is about consolidating sdrvices

and providing the best possible care. We know from the major trauma

centre, where the outcomes `re among the best in the country, that

centre, where the outcomes are among the best in the country, th`t if

centre, where the outcomes `re among the best in the country, that if you

consolidate specialist servhces the best in the country, th`t if you

consolidate specialist services, you consolidate specialist servhces you

get better outcomes for patients. consolidate specialist services, you

get better outcomes for pathents. A couple of miles down the road, and

couple of miles down the ro`d, and another demonstration outside

another hospital losing its A This is Central Middlesex. What will

it mean if it shuts? Where will you go? We don't know. Hannah Slith and

go? We don't know. Hannah Smith and Central Middlesex today, a real

blow. But Ealing and Charing Cross to come. It is crazy. Patients from

here will be sent to another hospital, which was recentlx

hospital, which was recently criticised for not having enough

staff A To be honest, it will take time to bed in that we have

been planning this for a very long time, investing in more people, a

key ingredient, and more beds and other things that we need at

Northwick Park so we can improve not only what people here expect but the

people already using that hospital. The closures here remain highly

controversial. Scotland Yard says children

in London are being forced by gangs to sell class A drtgs

in the Home Counties. This morning police raided 01

addresses in South East London, Kent and Hampshire

in an attempt to capture ond network believed to be exploiting boys

and girls as young as 14. Our home affairs corresponddnt

Guy Smith reports. All quiet this morning on a street

in Streatham. But then this. Police raided the home of one of three

suspected ringleaders of an organised crime gang. Unfortunately

he is not in. But at another property in New Cross, they strike

lucky. This is the address of the suspected money man believed to be

laundering cash made from drug deals. Those deals, police say, made

by children, some as young as 14, used to take crack croaked cane and

heroin from Lewisham to Portsmouth and Folkestone. `` crack cocaine.

Too young to drive, they max and Folkestone. `` crack cocaine.

Too young to drive, they may need Too young to drive, they may need

take trains and buses. Teen`gers take trains and buses. Teenagers

have been found selling up to ? 000 have been found selling up to ? 000

of drugs per day, some of them arrested with 200 rocks of crack on

them. If you are an organised crime them. If you are an organised crime

group and are targeting and using children to further your crhminal

means, we will put you at the top of your list, go after you and arrest

and prosecute you. On the other hand, if you're one of the children

getting potentially involved in this, be well aware of what you are

getting in to. You start getting money and potentially the subject of

violence and debt to certain people. It is inhumane. Young people

violence and debt to certain people. It is inhumane. Young peopld are our

It is inhumane. Young people are our future and they need to be protected

and guided. It is a long tile coming and the Met police should have taken

control. That is what they `re being control. That is what they are being

paid for. The council are also responsible for taking action, as

was taken today. Eight people have been arrested today for drug

offences and also most worrxingly offences and also most worryingly

for child trafficking. Scotland Yard say that criminal gangs are forced

children to deal drugs are now a top priority.

Train passengers in the capital have to stand in cramped

That's according to the Transport Minister Claire Perry.

At 73% over capacity, morning journeys from Woking to London

Waterloo and from Oxford to London Paddington were amongst the worst.

In response, train companies say they have plans to increase seats

With just over a week to go until people in Scotland vote

on independence, the opinion polls suggest

So what would be the impact on the City, if Scotland were to

The BBC's business correspondent Simon Jack is with me now.

Simon, are there any signs that financial institutions

Yes, some quite specific ones. We might see some overcrowded trains

from Edinburgh pulling up at King's Cross. One of Scotland's biggest

financial institutions, Standard Life, which has 4 million

customers, 90% of them outside Life, which has 4 million

customers, 90% of them outshde the customers, 90% of them outside the

UK have said that in the evdnt of a UK have said that in the event of a

yes vote, they were transferred lots of pensions and savings the non`UK

customers into companies they have customers into companies thdy have

set up south of `` south of the border. They say there are too many

questions about currency, rdgulation questions about currency, rdgulation

and tax regimes in Scotland. To ensure continuity, they say they

will set up these companies and transfer the money south of the

border so we may have even lore border so we may have even more

bankers in London! What are the impact would a yes vote have on the

City of London? For people like Lloyds and RBS, they are considering

similar arrangements. If you are Lloyds and RBS, they are considering

similar arrangements. If yot are in similar arrangements. If yot are in

the City area or Canary Wharf, the bankers may be a bit more agitated

because finally, the City h`s because finally, the City has

realised the yes vote can whn. because finally, the City h`s

realised the yes vote can win. Up realised the yes vote can whn. Up

until now, they thought it was a remit possibility but now everything

has changed, particularly the weekend polls. The pound has fallen

and we would expect further falls. The markets will be very volatile.

With these big questions relaining With these big questions remaining

unresolved with eight days to go, I think, with a vote to close to call,

the volatility will remain. The bankers might be a bit more agitated

than usual. Boris Johnson faced a committee

of MPs today to explain why London regularly breaches EU standards

for air quality. Air pollution is responsible

for the premature deaths of nearly 3,500 Londoners every year,

according to Public Health Dngland. Today, both the Mayor and the

Labour Party gave more details But, as Katharine Carpenter reports,

Boris Johnson was challenged over his claims to have driven

down emissions. Playing outside is encouragdd at

every opportunity at Wembley primary every opportunity at Wembley primary

school but while the pupils might be benefiting from the exercise,

school but while the pupils might be benefiting from the exercisd, the

benefiting from the exercise, the air they are breathing in could be

putting them at risk. Analysts say the air pollution around this school

the air pollution around thhs school is around three times the accepted

safe level. Largely because it is right next to a main, which

contributes to Brent being one of the worst borough is in the capital

when it comes to air qualitx, the worst borough is in the capital

when it comes to air quality, and the worst borough is in the capital

when it comes to air qualitx, and it when it comes to air qualitx, and it

is estimated that in this borough alone, 75 people have already died

this year because of condithons this year because of conditions

related to pollution. I nevdr this year because of condithons

related to pollution. I nevdr knew that we were at such high risk

related to pollution. I never knew that we were at such high rhsk of

that we were at such high risk of air pollution. It is a worrxing

that we were at such high rhsk of air pollution. It is a worrying. I

air pollution. It is a worrxing I understand childhood obesity and

arresting you can see but asthma and the levels of pollution, you

arresting you can see but asthma and the levels of pollution, yot can't

see so nobody takes it seriously. Something needs to be done. That is

what brought the Labour Party here today, to launch its air pollution

campaign and to attack Boris Johnson's record on the issue. From

the government and Boris Johnson, we have seen delay and inaction. The

time that that is over. This afternoon, the mayor had pldnty of

opportunity to defend self, appearing before the Commons

environmental audit committde. London has seen considerable

London has seen considerabld reductions in pollution in the last

six years, since I was elected. A 20% reduction in emissions of

nitrogen dioxide. He was challenged nitrogen dioxide. He was ch`llenged

on that. Kings say 3%. They say that about some roadside monitoring

about some roadside monitorhng stations which is not the same as

stations which is not the s`me as the overall impact of the measures

the overall impact of the mdasures we have put in. The questions will

keep coming into London meets EU air pollution targets, something says

Boris Johnson will be put ott of reach of Heathrow gets another

runway. Today, he warned th`t reach of Heathrow gets another

runway. Today, he warned that could lead to another congestion charge

zone around the airport. But whether it is by 2020, as Boris Dodds and

hopes, or 2030, as the government predicts, getting air pollution

under control can't come soon enough in Wembley.

Football now and Tottenham Hotspur face having to play all

their home matches away from White Hart Lane for a whole season.

A legal wrangle means they're "highly unlikely" to move into their

new 58,000 capacity stadium as scheduled in 2017.

The club may have to find an alternative venue.

The Olympic Stadium, Wembley and Stadium MK in Milton

'Gold' and 'True' ` arguably two of the biggest hits of the '80s, from

arguably one of the biggest British bands of the '80s, Spandau Ballet.

Today the London group were honoured for their work with a

Music Heritage Award, at the site of their first gig

Our entertainment correspondent Brenda Emmanus went to meet them.

Back together as a group, and back at the venue of their formative

years. Spandau Ballet were wrapped the former The Blitz Club, where

they were presented with a PRS for music Heritage award, a humbling

moment for a group of working`class London boys turned internathonal

London boys turned international stars. It is an honour, it really

years. How many people get a plaque years. How many people get a plaque

put outside a great building in London? `` it really is. It does not

happen often. We are five guys London? `` it really is. It does not

happen often. We are five gtys from happen often. We are five guys from

the Angel, Islington and I think it's fantastic.

Spandau Ballet perform their first live gig at The Blitz Club hn

Spandau Ballet perform their first live gig at The Blitz Club in 1979.

live gig at The Blitz Club hn 1 79. The band made such an impact they

were offered a record deal on the spot. That impact was to extend

globally. We were popular all over the world but it's wrong out of

little clubs, whether it was this one or another one in Sheffheld

little clubs, whether it was this one or another one in Sheffield and

Birmingham. We were just yotng one or another one in Sheffheld and

Birmingham. We were just young kids, Birmingham. We were just yotng kids,

trying to do something, invent trying to do something, invent

something new. That has a whsp in something new. That has a whsp in

the history of pop culture. Everyone at the club was a designer, writer

or film maker. We all had a million ideas and we talked about them

endlessly. We felt we were establishing a creative manhfesto

establishing a creative manifesto for the 1980s. New film charts the

band's rise to glory, and it's toll on their personal and professional

lives. The story of the film is on their personal and professional

lives. The story of the film is in to react, about relationships and

friendships. It is not just about this band and how money records we

did or didn't sell. It is about five blokes who naively found themselves

selling records all over thd blokes who naively found thdmselves

selling records all over the world selling records all over thd world

and having to deal with that. And then we sort of smashed each other

up. We tried to make friends again. The new Romantics produced songs

which were some of the most resident of the 1980s. The film is rdleased

at the end of the month, and with the Heritage award and a new album

in October, their new reunion is more than justified, and sees a

more than justified, and seds a happy ending for these mature pop

stars. It is still feeling warm.

Lovely for many. It is quite boring Lovely for many. It is quitd boring

for us to talk about but we should not complain about it because high

pressure is the driving force in the weather at the moment which means a

good deal of September sunshine on offer, and also warms. We started

today with a beautiful day, hardly a cloud in the sky but it's bdgins up

cloud in the sky but it's begins up in the middle of the day, blotting

the copybook at lunch time. It is fading as we speak. Tonight, we will

be chasing the cloud amounts around across the region. It means that

where we have clear skies, temperatures will start to fall

away. Under the cloud, it m`y stay away. Under the cloud, it m`y stay

up. To the north and west of London, lows of around six or 7 degrees, and

lows of around six or 7 degrees and perhaps in conurbations, ten or 11.

A bit of early`morning brightness if we are lucky but the difference

tomorrow is more of a breeze from a north`easterly direction whhch will

driving even more cloud. Fewer sunny spells but 18`21d, not bad as we

spells but 18`21d, not bad `s we head towards the middle of

September. And certainly good news for the Invictus Games because it

will stay dry for the next few days, a bit more sunshine on Frid`y and 20

a bit more sunshine on Friday and 20 degrees, 68 Fahrenheit. A f`ir

degrees, 68 Fahrenheit. A fair amount of cloud through the night

but on Friday, it should start to but on Friday, it should st`rt to

break up again and we could see some decent sunny spells coming through.

Temperatures will once again respond quite favourably, with highs of 22

degrees, 72 Fahrenheit, very nice degrees, 72 Fahrenheit, verx nice

indeed. But a bit on the breezy degrees, 72 Fahrenheit, very nice

indeed. But a bit on the brdezy side indeed. But a bit on the breezy side

towards exposed coasts. Tow`rds the towards exposed coasts. Towards the

weekend, we keep the dry thdme and weekend, we keep the dry thdme and

high`pressure stays with us, loudly than recently and it will ttrn

high`pressure stays with us, loudly than recently and it will turn a

little breezy. But all in all, it could be a lot worse that this time

of year. `` for this time. David Cameron has made

an impassioned plea to keep Scotland in the UK,

during a speech in Edinburgh. Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg have

also travelled to Scotland to campaign for a No vote in ndxt

week's independence referendum. Two hospital Accident and Emergency

units in London have closed today. Hammersmith and Central Middlesex

are being replaced by 24`hour urgent I will be back later

during the ten o'clock news, but for now from everyone

on the team have a lovely evening.