TfL accused of ‘sham consultation’ over Streatham High Street plan

Transport for London (TfL) has been accused of not listening to local residents after scheduling to begin controversial Streatham traffic works for less than 24 hours after it finished collecting feedback from residents.

The City Hall body told councillors it intended to start on-site preparations for the £650,000 project last Saturday, less than 24 hours after the latest round of consultation with residents ended.

TfL has since delayed beginning the works until today, after a last minute intervention from Liberal Democrat London Assembly member Hina Bokhari.

But local Liberal Democrat councillor Donna Harris has branded TfL’s most recent consultation a ‘sham’ and accused the organisation of ignoring residents.

She said: “The idea that delaying works by just a few days represents ‘listening’ is obviously absurd and an insult to everyone’s intelligence. People are becoming exhausted with consultations that seem to be worthless because the results are ignored.

“There are so many local problems on which £650,000 could be better spent but Transport for London just doesn’t take any notice of people, as they have proved with this latest sham of a consultation.”

TfL’s scheme would see a pedestrian crossing moved 50 yards south of its existing location on Streatham High Road and side street Gracefield Gardens closed to vehicles.

TfL has argued the planned changes are necessary to stop people crossing Streatham High Road to catch buses without using nearby pedestrian crossings. But Cllr Harris said TfL removed a central barrier from Streatham High Road over a decade ago to allow people to cross the road where they wanted.

She added: “Streatham is a town centre not a motorway.”

A 2022 report published by TfL following previous consultation on the proposals found that 80 per cent of people commenting opposed the planned changes, compared to just 15 per cent in favour and five per cent neutral.

The Exchange Surgery, a GP practice on Gracefield Gardens, told TfL in the same consultation that disabled patients would be disadvantaged by the scheme.

Hina Bokhari said: “It’s not too late for TfL to pause and stop what could be a serious and permanent mistake. The mayor has had to intervene before when wrong decisions were made and he will be urged to do it again here.”

A TfL spokesperson said: “We’re determined to reduce danger on roads across London and this scheme at A23 Gracefield Gardens has been carefully designed to tackle the high number of collisions here.

“A full public consultation into the scheme was carried out previously [in 2022] and a decision was taken to proceed with the scheme. Recently, we consulted on the traffic regulation orders needed to deliver the scheme, and all objections raised prior to the deadline for this have been fully considered and responded to.”

Pictured top: Liberal Democrat councillor Donna Harris (Picture: Cllr Donna Harris)