- Mention in new Business Plan supports Mayor’s 2020 commitment
- Follows summer consultation where 84 per cent of respondents backed the Sutton extension
Sutton’s efforts to secure a Tramlink extension from Wimbledon to Sutton Town Centre have reached another milestone.
The Mayor of London’s 2020 vision has previously said that ‘with TfL funding settlement secured we will extend the tram network to Sutton, Crystal Palace and across to Wimbledon.’
Now, Transport for London’s new Business Plan has recognised ‘the potential for an extension to the tramlink’ subject to ‘business case and affordability’.
TfL’s Business Plan, which sets out what will be delivered to support the Mayor’s Transport Strategy until 2020/21, will be considered by the TfL Board today.
The proposed Tramlink extension is predicted to bring major economic and social benefits for south London. They include unlocking growth and boosting business; creating more than 10,000 long term jobs and 2,000 temporary construction jobs; improving access to education, retail and leisure facilities; much needed growth to our transport capacity; and reducing car usage and increasing visitors to our commercial districts.
Cllr Colin Hall Deputy Leader of Sutton Council, said:
“We welcome the commitment in Transport for London’s new Business Plan to undertake further works on the business case for a tramlink extension. This will help deliver the extension to Sutton set out in the Mayor of London’s 2020 vision.
“The tram will unlock growth and business opportunities, create thousands of long term jobs and enable Sutton to be better connected as part of London’s transport infrastructure.
“The extension to Sutton Town Centre is backed by overwhelming public and cross party support. We need to continue to work together to make it happen.”
Isabel Dedring, Deputy Mayor for Transport, said:
“The Mayor’s team and TfL have been working hard with relevant boroughs, including Sutton and Merton, to develop plans for possible tram extensions. This work is continuing, including looking to build a funding package that would make the scheme viable. The Mayor has confirmed in the TfL business plan that TfL could contribute to an extension of the tram network subject to a viable business case and sufficient third-party funding, including from the relevant boroughs.”
As part of the process, Transport for London (TfL) had asked Sutton and Merton Council to gauge public opinion on a tram extension.
Over the summer, the councils ran a joint public consultation which attracted a high response rate with 10,048 people taking part. Out of those, 84 per cent (out of 9,846 responses to the question) said they either strongly supported or supported the proposal to extend the Tramlink from Wimbledon to Sutton town centre via Morden.
The high number of supporters was almost identical in both boroughs. In Sutton, 83 per cent of people either supported or strongly supported the Tramlink extension. In Merton, that figure was 84 per cent.
The overwhelming public support is matched by cross party support at all levels of government representing the two boroughs. They include both council leaders, both leaders of the council opposition parties, all four MPs and the two assembly members.
Other notable results to questions in the consultation were that 80 per cent of responses (1056) said at least one member of the household would use the tram.
The consultation results were sent to Transport for London along with a letter of support for the extension signed by:
- Sutton Council Leader Cllr Ruth Dombey
- Merton Council Leader Cllr Stephen Alambritis
- Sutton Council Leader of the Opposition Cllr Tim Crowley
- Merton Council Leader of the Opposition Cllr Oonagh Moulton
- Steve O’Connell, London Assembley Member for Croydon and Sutton
- Richard Tracey, London Assembly Member for Merton and Wandsworth
- Paul Burstow MP for Sutton and Cheam
- Tom Brake MP for Carshalton and Wallington
- Siobhain McDonagh MP for Mitcham and Morden
- Stephen Hammond MP for Wimbledon
Notes to Editors
- To see the Transport for London Business Plan visit:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/cdn/