Plans to move a pedestrian crossing in South London for £650k spark debate over safety and spending priorities
Streatham: There’s quite a stir going on about a plan to shift a pedestrian crossing just 50 yards down the road. The council says it’ll cost a whopping £650,000!
Transport for London (TfL) wants to move the crossing on Streatham High Road to make things safer for pedestrians. They’re looking to shift it from near Woodbourne Avenue to closer to Gracefield Gardens.
They argue that this change will help reduce accidents, especially since there have been 21 collisions in the last three years at that junction.
But not everyone is on board. Some locals think the new spot won’t actually make things safer. They’re worried that the new “staggered” crossing will push people away from bus stops, making them take risks to catch their bus.
And let’s not forget the price tag. £650k could go a long way toward other local improvements, like better bike lanes.
Local councillor Donna Harris, who leads the opposition Lib Dem group, pointed out that TfL mentioned this cost back in 2022, and with inflation, it’s likely gone up.
She’s also concerned that the new crossing will lead pedestrians in the wrong direction, away from where they need to go. Plus, she feels TfL isn’t paying enough attention to the worries of the nearby GP surgery and residents about traffic issues.
Harris argues that TfL is trying to fix a problem they created themselves when they removed barriers on the high street years ago. She believes that was a mistake, as it turned the area into a busy road rather than a community space.
TfL, on the other hand, insists they’ve listened to feedback and that the plan is designed to tackle the high number of accidents. They say they’ve consulted the public and considered all objections before moving forward.
