Plans to overhaul a notorious one-way traffic system in South London have been scrapped.
Transport for London (TfL) confirmed it is not moving ahead with proposals to remove the congested one-way traffic system in Wandsworth town centre, which have been hanging in the balance since they were announced in 2014, due to high costs.
The scheme would have seen traffic diverted onto Armoury Way from Wandsworth High Street, which sits on the South Circular. The high street would have become two-way and restricted to buses, cyclists and local traffic only, slashing congestion in the town centre and providing more space for pedestrians and cyclists.
Work was originally due to begin in 2017 but was pushed back until 2021, before being delayed further due to the Covid-19 pandemic. TfL and Wandsworth Council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) in 2022 they were still working on submitting a business case to the Department for Transport (DfT) for funding needed for the project to go ahead.
But the authorities have now confirmed the plans have been scrapped altogether. They are instead investigating “viable options” to improve the town centre, including its streets, pavements, accessibility, transport and connections.
Helen Cansick, TfL’s Head of Healthy Streets Investment, told the LDRS: “After detailed discussions with the Department for Transport and Wandsworth Council we’ve decided not to go ahead with the original scheme due to the high construction costs and forecast increased travel times for buses and other road users on the major road network.
“We continue to work closely with Wandsworth Council on options to improve Wandsworth town centre, aiming to create a place that works for all residents, businesses and visitors. We’re working on proposals that will improve cycling and walking infrastructure, buses and safety in the local area and will share these in due course.”
The council is running an online consultation to gather people’s views on the town centre and what could be done to improve it. It will hold drop-in events in September and October to collect further feedback, with the dates to be announced in due course.
When the consultation launched in July, Labour councillor Jenny Yates, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “Wandsworth Town is a thriving town centre with a major road running through the middle. This does affect how people use the area, so we’d like to hear from residents and businesses about what would make this a better place to live and work. Together with TfL, we want to know how we can make it easier to move around the town centre so we can make improvements that work for everyone.”
Will Norman, London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, added: “Creating safer, more welcoming streets is at the heart of our mission to make London a healthier, more liveable city. We have a real opportunity to work together to transform Wandsworth town centre into a place where walking and cycling are easier and more enjoyable. I encourage everyone to get involved and help shape the future of their area.”
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