Kingston and Richmond have been ruled out of the £10billion Crossrail scheme by transport secretary Alistair Darling, writes David Rankin exclusively.

The Comet learned yesterday that Mr Darling told a local MP the extension of the east-west London rail link may go west towards Maidenhead, but will definitely not come here.

The scheme was seen as a major part of plans to take Kingston into the future as one of the top retail destinations in the country.

Kingston transport spokeswoman Councillor Patricia Bamford said: "This is a great disappointment for residents and businesses. It is a lack of vision and we now need to look at our integrated transport provision. We will continue to lobby the Government."

While the Government-commissioned Montague Report only went as far as saying the Kingston and Richmond link was the weakest part of the plans, Richmond Park MP Jenny Tonge spoke to Mr Darling moments after he addressed Parliament about Crossrail yesterday (Tuesday). He confirmed to her that Kingston and Richmond were no longer being considered.

Crossrail, a conglomerate of the Strategic Rail Authority, Transport for London and private businesses, has now been asked to come up with alternative proposals for the route.

Dr Tonge said: "It is good news for the people in Richmond whose properties would have been blighted by the scheme but bad news for people of Kingston in particular."