TfL U-turn means Hackney Wick station will open on West Ham match days

Controversial plans to close Hackney Wick station on West Ham match days have been scrapped after a U-turn from Transport for London.

Overground users will still be able to pass through the station but to prevent overcrowding football fans travelling to and from the club’s new home at the Olympic Stadium will be encouraged to use Stratford.

Just last month London Overground announced Hackney Wick would close because of its limited capacity, leading to complaints from locals.

London Assembly Member Andrew Boff then appealed to TfL Commissioner Mike Brown to reverse the decision and have a proper consultation at a public Assembly meeting last week.

Andrew Boff said: “The promise of the Olympic park was always to add to the local area – not shut it down, and closing stations for traffic management reasons is not fair to Hackney Wick’s residents and businesses.

“TfL have chosen a much more sensible solution to the overcrowding issue by encouraging people leaving the stadium to use the higher capacity Strafford Station.”