Livingstone rejects tram protest vote

Ken Livingstone has vowed to press ahead with a tram scheme despite the opposition of more than half of west Londoners in a recent survey.

His Transport for London agency today published the results of its consultation into the £400million West London Tram, which would run from Uxbridge to Shepherd's Bush. It found 59per cent of people opposed the tram, with 30 per cent in favour. Campaigners fear drivers would divert through residential streets if trams started running the length of Uxbridge Road. The Mayor immediately dismissed the survey results - which attracted 17,000 responses - as " unscientific" and unrepresentative.

He said a separate opinion poll, also carried out by TfL, found that of 815 people questioned, 54 per cent backed the tram, with 18per cent against. Mr Livingstone said the latest consultation was "skewed" - far more likely to attract people opposed to the scheme. He said: "The decision to proceed is not really a referendum. At the end of the day, you have to take a decision that is in the interests of transport in west London."

TfL has now promised to discuss the issues raised with residents and businesses before it decides this autumn whether to seek formal powers to build the tramway.

If it proceeds, there would be a public inquiry next year.