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Hundreds of residents living in Kensington and Chelsea today protested over plans to extend Crossrail to their borough, which they claim could harm businesses and damage the area's identity.

Campaigners from the No Crossrail in Chelsea group marched from Sloane Square to Dovehouse Green as they called on transport bosses to re-think the proposals.

Protesters were seen holding banners which read "£1.2billion for a station no one wants" and "Why turn Chelsea into Clapham Junction?"

The group mantains that the Crossrail 2 extension to a new £1billion station in Chelsea on the site of the borough's old fire station would be costly and unnecessary.

The King’s Road station would be a stop in the tunnel linking New Southgate and Tottenham Hale in the north to Wimbledon in the south, but without it trains would pass straight through from Victoria to Clapham Junction.

More than 4000 people have signed a petition calling on the Mayor of London and Transport for London to change their plans for the project.

Television presenter Loyd Grossman and actress Cherie Lunghi are among those opposed to the extension near their west London homes.

If the plans are approved then work on the 10 year project would begin in 2020. Council chiefs have insisted the station would be "small and attractive".

More than 300 people turned out to protest against Crossrail in Chelsea. Thanks for your support! pic.twitter.com/hBtzvEuJJr — No Chelsea Crossrail (@nocrossrail2) October 3, 2015

A spokesman for No Crossrail in Chelsea said: "Such a station would seriously damage the streetscape of Chelsea, ruining the unique charm of the Kings Road and its independent businesses, creating yet another cloned High Street and a disruptive night time economy.

"It will also result in higher rents and higher business rates upon completion. Businesses will also see reduced takings during eight years of construction, with road closures forcing shoppers elsewhere.

“Residents question why the council supports this in the face of their opposition – they feel disenfranchised. 21 resident associations oppose the proposal, none have supported it.”