A grass roots campaign has emerged to protect Wandsworth Common from potentially damaging Crossrail 2 works.

Wandsworth Times:

If agreed the north-south rail scheme could come to Tooting Broadway and Clapham Junction and will cost up to £28bn. Construction could start in 2017.

However, park users and neighbours are worried two large work sites, to create ventilation and access shafts, could be opened up on the common.

One suggested site is near the Skylark café, on a children’s playground, and the other is on Trinity Fields, used by schools and clubs. Neighbours said they were not against Crossrail 2 but wanted developers to reconsider the route and use of heavy machinery for several years on the common.

Business owner Rhodri Harries, 44, lives near the common and said: "If you go round on a Saturday, the whole sports field is full of football players. It is a really busy part of the common.

Wandsworth Times:

"There are so many people who will be affected by it, so many young families."

Concerns have also been raised about the impact on wildlife.

Wandsworth Times:

Dan Watkins, Conservative parliamentary candidate in Tooting, recently held a public meeting to discuss the rail project.

He said: "I support Crossrail 2 coming to Tooting as it will boost our economy and cut travel times and congestion for our commuters.

"I'm very concerned though about the proposed access shafts on Wandsworth Common and Trinity Fields, which will have a negative impact on residents and sports clubs' use of these green spaces.

"I'm liaising intensively with the Crosstrail 2 team to get guarantees that in due course we will have direct conversations with them on proposals for alternative, less disruptive locations for the shafts."

The consultation closes on Wednesday, January 28. Visit consultations.tfl.gov.uk/crossrail/2 to find out more. To sign the group’s petition visit epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/73996.

Wandsworth Times: How the Crossrail 2 route will look