The Commissioner for Transport for London (TfL), Andy Lord, and senior officers at TfL have visited Havering to discuss the borough’s transport needs and aspirations.
Cllr Gillian Ford, Deputy Leader of the Council, and Cllr Barry Mugglestone, Cabinet Member for Environment - responsible for transport - chaired the meeting which took place at Havering Town Hall, Romford on Wednesday 29 October.
During the meeting the Commissioner updated the Council on TfL’s financial position and future funding agreements.
At the same time, the Council raised concerns about the disruption caused by the delayed works at Gallows Corner – and also pushed for further improvements to the wider transport network in Havering.
Key areas discussed were -
Gallows Corner
The Commissioner apologised on behalf of TfL to Havering and its residents for the delays to the Gallows Corner flyover project and for the continued disruption to residents’ lives, businesses and schools.
The Council pushed for details of a programme update and reopening date, but the Commissioner was unable to provide one at the meeting.
However, he did assure the Council that TfL would be in a position to issue a programme update next week, along with a firm timeline for completion and reopening of the junction.
The Council vowed to hold both TfL and Essex and Suffolk Water to account and to continue to push for an end to the disruption and swift reopening of the flyover and roundabout.
Superloop SL12 launch
The meeting discussed the proposed launch date for the new Superloop SL12 route from Rainham to Romford.
The Commissioner was unable to provide a firm date for roll-out – due to the procurement of vehicles, staff and upgraded infrastructure.
But the Council made clear that it would like for the service to be rolled out as soon as possible – and would work with TfL to provide full access to the local road network to help speed up the process.
The Council reaffirmed its support for this new, rapid, bus route. It's an improvement to transport provision in Havering and a small step towards delivering the overall improvements required.
The Council also raised questions about the lack of electric buses in Havering more widely, along with the need for further discussions about additional bus links from the north to south of the borough and better connections from certain wards to Queen’s and King George’s Hospitals.
Funding for other projects
The Council once again pushed the case for the Romford Ringroad Liveable Neighbourhoods scheme which would see a redesign of the road and the replacement of the unpopular subways for street level crossings.
The project was previously put on hold due to funding being withdrawn. The Commissioner promised to relook at this project and to explore funding options.
This was also the case for plans for the Beam Park Linear Park project.
The meeting also covered the proposals for the new Beam Park Station – which would be gamechanger for the area and unlock the full potential of future homes and business, along with possibilities of an extension to the Thames Clipper (Uber Boat) service to Rainham.
While not TfL owned projects – the Commissioner offered to support Havering with its lobbying with the Department for Transport and Uber, respectively.
Following the visit, Cllr Barry Mugglestone, said:
"It was great to host the Commissioner here at the Town Hall, and I thank Andy for making the trip to Havering to meet with us.
"We covered a wide range of topics and issues from Gallows Corner and Superloop to further improvements to our transport system and better, more sustainable in-borough connections.
"It was very disappointing there was still no update on a programme end date for Gallows Corner.
"We once again reiterated the impact of these delays and continued to push for a firm timeline for the reopening of the junction. We will wait eagerly for the promised update next week.
"While we appreciate the complexities of this project - given the strategic importance of Gallows Corner to the borough’s transport network, we will continue to hold all parties to account for their role in delivering this project efficiently and transparently.
"On other topics – we had healthy and meaningful discussions. I was happy to see that the Commissioner was keen to hear about the transport needs and aspirations of Havering and its residents.
"While there were no promises made in terms of future projects and funding – this visit served as a useful springboard for further conversations with TfL and will lead to a much more productive and collaborative relationship with TfL going forward.
"Whether it be Gallows Corner, new Superloop routes, step-free access for Hornchurch station or the much needed improvements to transport services across Havering – we will continue to lobby and fight on behalf of residents to ensure Havering is not forgotten and stays firmly on the TfL map."