Oscar-winning director Sir Alan Parker commits to opposing Crossrail 2 in Chelsea

Oscar-winning film director Sir Alan Parker today became the latest celebrity to try to stop proposals to build a new station in Chelsea as part of the proposed Crossrail 2 link.

The maker of hits including The Commitments and Bugsy Malone claimed the plan would ruin the character of King’s Road. He joins other high-profile opponents of the station including Loyd Grossman, Cherie Lunghi, Felicity Kendal and Trevor Eve.

Sir Alan, 71, said: “Crossrail in King’s Road is a mindless idea that will destroy Chelsea’s unique character. It’s not sensible, not needed and not wanted.” The station would be on the tunnel section of the £25 billion link from New Southgate and Tottenham Hale in the north to Wimbledon in the south. Its proposed location is the site of a former fire station near Dovehouse Street.

But campaigners claim historic properties would be threatened, including the home of Winnie the Pooh creator AA Milne. Residents also fear their “village” conservation area will be inundated with thousands more people, and that congestion from lorries during building will choke roads for years.

Chris Lenon, chairman of No Crossrail in Chelsea, said: “It will be a travesty if some of Chelsea’s most famous buildings are damaged by the unnecessary and unwanted diversion of Crossrail 2.” Mr Grossman added: “It’s not a question of preserving things in aspic, it’s a question of valuing things that add to the quality of people’s lives.”