Residents Voice Worries Over A316 Hazard

12.00.00pm GMT Mon 18th Jan 2010

This week residents and elected representatives - Vincent Cable MP and local councillors - met representatives of Transport for London, on site, to discuss the latter's proposals for a crossing on the A316, instead of the present underpass. The underpass has, in the past, been a source of assaults and anti-social behaviour (and one particularly horrific rape two years ago) and many people, women especially, are reluctant to use it.

Vincent Cable, MP, expressed disappointment with the proposed crossing which he said was "particularly unsafe, hidden from fast-moving west bound traffic, and too far from the Dene estate which currently has no easily accessible crossing point. TfL also want to close the tunnel and I see no reason why the option should not remain for those who are comfortable with it. The engineer seemed be very inflexible but he must listen to safety concerns".

"I am rather disappointed since it has taken years of pressure to get to the point where London government would do anything and, now we are there, there is a risk of an arrangement even less safe than the one we had".