You can view the documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by clicking here

Documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by Andy Slaughter, Labour MP for Ealing, Acton & Shepherds Bush, reveal that London Underground were advised Shepherds Bush Central Line Station could remain open while all improvement works were carried out.

After stalling for five months, LU finally released the papers which contradict what both they and Tory-run Hammersmith & Fulham council told residents and shopkeepers in Shepherds Bush. LU closed the station in February giving only four weeks notice. The station remains closed and will not reopen until October.

Minutes of a high level meeting held on 19 December 2007 state: 'LU's earlier planned mitigation was to have the BGW [Below ground works - providing a lift, passageways and staircase] in service before the escalator works commenced. Provision of a high-capacity staircase as part of the BGW would have enabled the station to retain 2-way operation, provided the escalators were modernised sequentially (there have been engineering differences of opinion about the feasibility of this). Difficulties with the BGW mean this strategy may not be viable anyway.'

A further document reveals that Metronet - the contractor charged with replacing the escalators in 2012 - were clear they could do so without closure: 'It is Metronet's view that the escalators can be replaced whilst maintaining station operation (if BGW lift & stairs installed) and replacing escalators one at a time. However LUL ED do not believe this is feasible, leading to a station closure in 2012 to replace the escalators.'

But in letters to station users sent in January 2008 LU said: 'it is not possible to replace one escalator while the other is running.' And the decision not to proceed with the BGW was only partly revealed in response to the questions at the public meeting I called in January to oppose the closure. Then it was admitted the promise to provide a lift would probably not be kept, but nothing was said about the other cancelled works.'

Andy Slaughter comments: 'LU has been caught concealing the truth from their paying customers and people whose livelihood depends on the station staying open. There is already huge anger in Shepherds Bush at the way LU and the Tory council have rolled over and let Westfield do what they like to the area. Now it appears they had the option not to close but swept in under the carpet.'

Careful study of the more than 50 pages of released documents reveals how LU buckled under Westfield pressure. In November they were resisting even weekend closures and demanded Westfield produce plans to do the works with the station open - which they did. As late as 3 December 2007 LU was still holding out against closure - then on the 7 December they folded.

'When I raised the possibility of doing the works without closure, I was ridiculed by LU. They and the council spent thousands of public money telling lies to my constituents. The Tory council leader picketed the public meeting handing out leaflets from their Parliamentary candidate saying why the station had to close. When I tried to leaflet commuters, LU called the transport police who threatened to arrest me.'

Other facts revealed in the papers include:

• LU assumed passengers would be able to use the Overground station, even though they should have known by then it would not open until October 2008
• The closure was treated as an emergency because of the short notice and there were no plans to provide alternative bus services - these only materialised after Andy Slaughter met with Westfield's chief executive who agreed to fund additional buses to Notting Hill Gate
  
• LU senior staff doubted the Westfield plan was achievable
• LU said there was a weak business case for the closure