Planned changes to the cycling provision along Tooting Bec Road have been put on hold.

Following a consultation period in 2017, Transport for London decided to implement the scheme which would have seen a number of changes to the road. However, a recent statement from TfL has confirmed the scheme has been paused.

The works were set to happen along Tooting Bec Road, between the southern end of Dr Johnson Avenue and the northern end of Riggindale Road.

The proposed changes had been designed to improve the cycling provision in the area, while also trying to benefit pedestrians. They were part of Sadiq Khan's 'Healthy Streets' plan to try and encourage more Londoners to walk and cycle to make our streets healthier.

Within the statement, TfL says that the pandemic had caused the works to stop, as well as many of the investment programmes. It says that while some of the investment programmes have resumed, more funds are needed before the works can continue.

A Labour councillor for the Bedford ward, Clare Fraser, told Nub News that she is disappointed with the decision and will remain in contact with TfL.

Transport For London statement

Within a post on the consultation section of its website, TfL confirmed that it will be needing further funding before work can begin again.

It says: "Following our consultation on the proposed changes, we decided to proceed with implementing the scheme in 2019/2020. Since then however, the coronavirus pandemic required that we pause work on the Tooting Bec Road project, along with the majority of our investment programmes, to enable us to work with boroughs on delivering an emergency response to help London's communities cope with the effects of the coronavirus.

"Within the vicinity of Tooting Bec Road, and through this same emergency work, we have temporarily upgraded Cycle Superhighway 7.

"While we have restarted some of the investment projects we had developed before the pandemic, we will need further funding before we could start work to build the Tooting Bec Road scheme. For this reason, it's necessary for us to put delivery of the Tooting Bec Road scheme on hold for the time being. We will prioritise any future cycle projects within the wider context of our current funding and resource constraints, and we will let you know more about the Tooting Bec Road scheme as soon as we have further news."

Clare Fraser comments

Tooting Nub News spoke to Clare Fraser about the situation, who says this situation is a result of a "lack of support" from the central government.

She said: "I'm disappointed in today's announcement from TfL but understand that this is owing to a lack of support from central government.

"I will remain in contact with TfL on this subject and hope that the Tooting Bec Road scheme can be considered in the near future."

The proposed changes

There were a number of changes set to happen on the road, from more plastic wands separating cyclists and motor vehicles, a new toucan crossing and a widen footway.

Here are the proposed changes, as per the TfL website:

- We would install new 1.9-metre on-carriageway semi segregated cycle lanes in both directions of Tooting Bec Road, between Dr Johnson Avenue and Aldrington Road. Cyclists would be lightly separated from motor traffic by plastic wands as seen below.

- We would install a dropped kerb at the western end of the shared-use footway to allow vehicles to access Tooting Bec Lido car park and cyclists to move comfortably between the carriageway and the shared-use footway.

- The existing signalised pedestrian crossing on the western arm at the junction of Tooting Bec Road and Aldrington Road would be converted into a toucan crossing, allowing it to be used by cyclists.

- We would shorten the on-carriageway bus stop cages in four locations on Tooting Bec Road. An assessment of the markings found that the length was generous and could be shortened whilst continuing to cater for the bus demand.

- We would install an Advanced Stop Line on the eastbound arm of the junction of Tooting Bec Road and Dr Johnson Avenue, allowing westbound cyclists to wait ahead of stationary general traffic.

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