Wandsworth town centre could see significant changes to how people walk, cycle and travel by bus, as Transport for London (TfL) proposes a series of improvements to tackle long-standing transport problems in the area.
The proposals include new pedestrian crossings, widened bus waiting areas, extended bus lanes and dedicated cycle routes across key routes within and around Wandsworth High Street, East Hill and the town centre. TfL is consulting on the plans until November 6, after which it will decide whether to proceed.
The changes represent a shift in approach. TfL confirmed last year it had scrapped plans to remove the town centre’s congested one-way traffic system due to high costs. That scheme had been under consideration since 2014. Instead, the authority is now proposing what it calls “viable options” to improve the area without overhauling the entire system.
High Street improvements
Along Wandsworth High Street, TfL proposes adding two new pedestrian crossings and widening bus stop waiting areas outside the King’s Arms and Wandsworth Town Hall. The existing bus lane would be extended to Buckhold Road, while some parking bays in bus lanes and near bus stops would be removed, changed or relocated.
Advanced stop lines at signal-controlled junctions would give cyclists a head start before traffic lights change. At Buckhold Road, the waiting island, footway and pedestrian crossings would be widened, with a new northbound cycle lane and bus lane introduced near Southside Shopping Centre.
At Garratt Lane, similar widening would happen at the waiting island, footway and crossings. The northbound bus route would be separated into Ram Street.
East Hill, Swandon Way and beyond
East Hill and Huguenot Place would see some parking bays removed or relocated, bus lanes widened and a new eastbound cycle lane added. The pedestrian crossing over Geraldine Road would also be widened.
New bus lanes would be introduced along Swandon Way and Armoury Way, with traffic lanes narrowed and the pedestrian island and crossings at Old York Road widened.
Fairfield Street would receive a new bus lane, wider bus waiting areas, improved pavements and a new pedestrian crossing. The Fairfield Drive pedestrian crossing would be widened.
Along Ram Street and Wandsworth Plain, some parking bays would be removed or moved, and bus lanes widened.
What TfL says
According to TfL’s consultation page, the proposals aim to improve walking, cycling and bus journeys while “providing a stepping stone towards longer-term ambitions for the area and future improvements to the town centre transport network”.
“We are proposing improvements in different locations across these roads to address local transport and safety issues. Our proposals aim to improve bus passenger experience and access as well as bus journey time reliability,” the authority said.
“We also want to make it easier to walk and wheel in the town centre by widening and enhancing pedestrian crossings and waiting areas and provide targeted improvements for cycling connectivity across the town centre.”
Have your say
Residents and businesses in Wandsworth have until November 6 to respond to the consultation. TfL will review all feedback before deciding whether to move ahead with the proposals.
