THE Labour party is calling for the Oyster Card to be extended to Harlow to benefit commuters and make London journeys easier and cheaper.

Leader of the party Chris Vince says many residents hae raised the issue with him and want to see the discount card benefit the town.

It comes after it was revealed Conservative councillors are pressing for a tube station to be built in Harlow and they are set to lobby for an extension of the Central line and London Transport Zones.

Harlow Council also said it will examine connectivity to Crossrail 2, which runs from Surrey to Hertfordshire and connects their stations to London, as well as improving current public transport links in and out of the town.

The Labour Party said extending the Oyster Card is a much better and more beneficial idea for the town.

A spokesman said: "The Oyster card system, which has provided lower cost and easier travel for many across the capital and even extend as far as Grays, so why not Harlow ask the local Labour Party.

Leader Chris Vince said: “Following the recent press release by the new Conservative administration about extending the underground to Harlow, something TfL have had no appetite in the past, many residents have contacted me, recognising that extending the Oyster card to Harlow would be a more realistic and quicker way to get the cost of commuting from Harlow down.

Over the past ten years under this Conservative led government Harlow commuters have been let down by ever increasing rail fares.

“Which is why Harlow Labour Party are asking TfL to work with Harlow Council to extend the Oyster Card to Harlow.

A Transport for London (TfL) spokesperson said: “Pay as you go with contactless and Oyster has helped transform public transport usage across London and the surrounding areas. Any decision to extend pay as you go to include stations in Harlow would need to be made by the Department for Transport or the relevant Train Operating Companies, rather than TfL. However, we would be happy to discuss this with them, should they wish to expand contactless ticketing to these services.”

Dan Swords, Harlow Council's Tory Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: “As I said weeks ago, we are exploring all options to improve connectivity to the town including extending the London Transport zones to Harlow with use of the Oyster Card. I made clear on a number of media outlets that my concern is the huge difference in price in travelling from Amersham to Liverpool Street compared with Harlow to Liverpool Street - a similar distance - because of the Oyster Card. That was the main issue I highlighted.

 

“Labour had 9 years in charge of Harlow Council and they never delivered an extension of the London Travel Zone and Oyster Card use. I am pleased the Labour group now support that position - even if they are late to the party - similar to their previously nationalised British Rail.

 

“As they continue to twist and turn in the wind playing political games about something I said weeks ago, supporting our position today, whilst failing to deliver it themselves for nine years, I will continue to work to deliver on people’s priorities and ut the cost of living.“