A pathway linking Queen's Road railway station and Walthamstow Central looks set to go ahead (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

A pathway linking Queen's Road railway station and Walthamstow Central looks set to go ahead

5:11pm Thursday 16th July 2009 in

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A HIGH Court ruling could spell the end of a long-running dispute over an ‘essential’ transport link.

Oakmesh Ltd was granted planning permission to build the Exeter Road estate in 1996 on the condition a walkway was created between Queen’s Road station and Walthamstow Central.

But Family Mosaic Housing Association (FMHA), which manages properties on the site, has been trying to remove the obligation to construct the route.

Despite public calls for the easy access between the overground network, the Tube and buses, FMHA argued that the walkway would not serve a ‘useful purpose’.

But a High Court judge has now ruled in the council’s favour, saying the FMHA and Oakmesh Ltd must honour the agreement.

High street ward councillor James O'Rourke said: “This will be a fabulous opportunity for residents to travel on those lines and for the Barking and Gospel Oak line to have connections to the tube.

“All we need now if the Hall Farm Curve railway back in use.”

Walthamstow resident Bryn Jones said: "I think that this is an essential link not only to Queen’s road station but to the people of the Queen’s road area in providing better access to Walthamstow central station.

"This victory has been a long time coming and I now hope that the link can be constructed quickly." Permission to appeal against the decision was refused by the High Court, but this may not spell the end of the saga.

Cllr Terry Wheeler, Waltham Forest’s cabinet member for investment and enterprise, warned the defendant’s still have legal options open to them which could cause further delay.

He said: “We will of course be watching closely to see what happens next and hope that this matter is swiftly resolved so that the companies concerned can make good on their long-standing obligation to the council and the local community as soon as possible.”