Safety is a key concern along the A232, with 63 collisions recorded between Sandilands and West Wickham over three years
Frequent crashes and slow-moving traffic on a busy South London red route have prompted Transport for London (TfL) to explore changes aimed at encouraging active travel. The A232, a key corridor linking Croydon and Bromley, has long struggled with congestion and delays, affecting both drivers and public transport users.
A total of 11 bus routes, including Superloop route SL5, operate along this red route, yet TfL says slower speeds have made these services less attractive to local people. The transport authority is now inviting 24 people to take part in an evening workshop in January to share their views on how to make the road safer and more reliable, offering each participant a £150 voucher for taking part.
The community discussion, as TfL describes it, will focus on the stretch of road linking Sandilands in Croydon with West Wickham in neighbouring Bromley. TfL wants to explore ways to improve bus journey times and make walking and cycling safer and easier.
Safety is a key concern for the transport operator, with 63 collisions recorded along this stretch in the 36 months to 31 December, 2024. Nine of these crashes resulted in serious injuries, highlighting the urgent need to improve conditions for everyone travelling in the area.
The project forms part of TfL’s wider goal for 80 per cent of journeys in London to be made by walking, cycling or public transport, and to reduce deaths and serious injuries on the roads to zero by 2041. Addiscombe West Labour councillor Sean Fitzsimons has welcomed the consultation, saying the A232 offers great potential for positive change.
“The presence of speed cameras shows that speeding is an issue that needs addressing,” he said, adding that “the width of the road means there is plenty of space to make improvements without reducing the volume of cars using it.”
Speaking as a cyclist, he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) the A232 does not feel safe, particularly in the evening or at night when speeding cars are common. He added that redesigning the road so that drivers keep to the speed limit “won’t reduce traffic flows but could create the potential for a separated cycle lane and a better environment for pedestrians and bus users.”
Cllr Fitzsimons said the road’s current layout, mainly single lanes with islands and speed cameras, could be rethought to benefit both pedestrians and drivers. “A rethink of how the road is designed could be a win-win for pedestrians and road users,” he said.
TfL says it is also keen to make the area greener and more welcoming, particularly for older and disabled people. Improving safety for women and girls by addressing issues in street design is another key part of the plan.
However, Councillor Nicholas Bennett, Bromley’s Executive Councillor for Transport, Highways and Road Safety, has criticised TfL’s intentions. He told the LDRS: “No doubt the intention of TfL, based on previous experience elsewhere in London, will be to install, at enormous cost to the taxpayer, 24-hour bus lanes, 20mph limits, and so-called ‘low traffic neighbourhoods’, along with other infrastructure which will slow all other road users to a crawl.
“Traffic speeds in central London are now slower than in horse-bus days. Bromley Council recognises that the private car is essential for many residents and that free-flowing roads are vital to the lifeblood of the economy, a fact that TfL and many London councils don’t seem to appreciate. On Bromley Council roads we do not have general 20mph limits, 24-hour bus lanes or other impediments to traffic.”
The Conservative former Mayor of Bromley added: “We have a sensible and effective policy of identifying accident blackspots and, where there is a common cause and solution, carrying out engineer-led remodelling. Recent examples include improvements on Southend Road and at the Chinese Roundabout in Beckenham.”
Interested residents can complete the ‘express interest’ form on TfL’s website to be considered for the workshop. Residents chosen for the workshop will receive an information pack in advance and will be asked to make local journeys to share real experiences.
TfL says it is keen to hear from a broad mix of people, including women, young people and those from ethnic minority communities, to ensure a wide range of views are represented.
Local people can also get involved through an online community pinboard map, where they can add comments and ideas about specific locations. Questions about the scheme can be submitted at any time during the engagement period.
TfL says feedback from the workshop and other engagement activities will directly shape its next steps for the A232 corridor. A spokesperson for TfL said: “Keeping everyone travelling in the capital safely and efficiently is our top priority and we want to hear from local people to help shape our plans at an early stage. This is not a consultation, but if proposals develop we may hold one in future.”
Receive the latest Croydon news, breaking updates, and features directly in your inbox. Sign up for our Croydon Central newsletter here.
