A NEW push to persuade rail bosses to reopen Walthamstow's disused Lea Bridge station has been launched by Waltham Forest Council.

Leader Cllr Chris Robbins has announced plans to use 'section 106' community grants from the developers of the Westfield megamall in Stratford to come up with designs for a new-look transport hub at the site.

Campaigners have long argued for the reopening of the station, which closed in 1985, claiming a rail link with Stratford could help revitalise the area's economy and speed up journey times for commuters in the borough.

It comes after recommendations from a Network Rail report in July which called for the introduction of an every 15 minute service between Brimsdown, Tottenham Hale and Stratford - which would run through the derelict Lea Bridge station.

The Route Utilisation Strategy report is the same one which ruled out the reopening of the 'Hall Farm Curve' line between Chingford and Stratford - which used to extend to the now defunct site.

It makes no mention of reopening Lea Bridge, but the council is pinning its hopes on persuading transport bosses by offering to pay for the work needed out of the section 106 cash.

The grant is understood to be around £4million but it is available on the condition that it must be spent by 2013.

The project is part of a wider council strategy to encourage redevelopment and new housing in the area, which is located on the Walthamstow and Leyton border by Lea Bridge Road and Leyton Marshes.

The authority's new Local Development Framework report identifies Lea Bridge Station as one of seven “key” sites which could help provide “2,500 new homes, new jobs, improved public transport facilities, a better public realm and new social and community infrastructure” in the coming years.

In a statement, Cllr Robbins said: “Building a new station would make a huge difference to the area and give both the people of Leyton much better access to other parts of the city, and Londoners all the more reason to visit the borough.”

Peter Woodrow, chairman of the Chingford Line Users Association, said his group were “quietly optimistic” that the council's proposals could be successful.

He said: “We're fully supportive of it. It wouldn't upset the timetable and all the surrounding local authorities do not have a problem with it. It will be of real benefit to people in that area.

“Obviously we're still keen to see the reopening of the Hall Farm Curve but reopening Lea Bridge will not undermine that and we're hopeful Network Rail will be able to look at that option in their next report.”

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