Campaigners call on TfL to extend consultation period on Streatham scheme

Campaigners are calling on Transport for London (TfL) to extend its consultation period on a controversial scheme five years after plans were first announced.

The three-week consultation, which will close on Good Friday, relates to the A23 Healthy Streets Scheme in Streatham.

The project will see new pedestrian crossings, a protected cycling route, improvements to bus lanes and closing off some side-road junctions, to improve the experience for walking, cycling and public transport on the A23 corridor.

Neil Salt, 60, who has lived off Leigham Court Road, Streatham, chairs the transport group within Streatham Action, which is calling for the consultation to be extended to six weeks.

He said: “The current three-week statutory consultation period is too short, particularly given the fact that it is running over the Easter holiday period.

“Many residents, business owners and indeed TfL staff members are on holiday over this period.”

TfL held its initial consultation more than five years ago, in March 2020, on its proposals to remodel the Streatham Hill section of the A23.

Since then, the rail network has gone back to the drawing board to amend proposals but residents are yet to see the final plans.

On March 28, TfL announced that construction work would begin this summer, and would be undertaken in five main stages to be completed by spring 2027.

Streatham Action are calling for TfL to meet with the community to explain the final plans before the consultation closes.

Mr Salt said: “The fact that the only prior consultation on this scheme took place five years ago and that the scheme has many different aspects to its design are key reasons for requesting this extension.

“Many stakeholders have arrived in Streatham within the last five years, meaning they have not had the chance to hear from TfL about the scheme.”

Streatham Action says that the scheme will have a “significant impact” on Streatham’s residents and businesses, yet residents are unaware of how the changes are set to affect journeys and journey times for all modes of transport in the area.

Campaigners have written to TfL’s head of projects and programmes, requesting the full details about the scheme and calling for a public meeting to discuss concerns of Streatham residents and businesses.

Mr Salt said: “This public meeting will give TfL the opportunity to explain to the whole Streatham community as to what the scheme entails and how it will affect journeys.

“This will in turn help Streatham residents and businesses to respond to the statutory consultation in a far more informed way than is currently possible.”

Healthy Streets Scheme responds to TfL collision analysis for the area which shows that 72 collisions took place in the 36-month period up to October 31, 2024, resulting in injuries to 75 people.

Julie Lewington, TfL’s Head of Projects and Programmes, said: “Our plans to transform A23 Streatham Hill for everyone who lives in, works in and visits the area will make it easier and safer for people to travel and enable more people to walk and cycle.”

TfL has been approached for comment.

Pictured top: Computer-generated image of the completed scheme in Streatham Hill (Picture: TfL)