Croydon Council’s ongoing borough-wide regeneration, 20mph limit expansion and focus on improving local air quality are all set to benefit from a £7.6m Transport for London (TfL) investment.
The TfL money will go towards several of Croydon’s major transport infrastructure schemes across the borough in 2017/18, from road safety to better cycle access.
One of the projects that will benefit is the council’s ongoing regeneration of South Norwood, which will receive £750,000 towards improved pedestrian access, tree planting, better pavements, and new outdoor seating for shoppers and businesses in Station Road and Portland Road.
The council will also receive £300,000 towards designing its plans for a third area of the borough to get a permanent 20mph limit in all streets except major through roads. Last year the council divided the borough into five sectors and began a consultation on road safety and speed restrictions. The first 20mph limit area went live in the north of the borough last week, and a final decision is expected on Area 2 this winter.
The £70,000 allocated by TfL for air quality improvement measures will go towards the council employing an extra member of staff and contractors to develop and monitor a borough-wide plan to limit pollution from lorries, including during the construction of the Westfield / Hammerson shopping centre.
Other Croydon Council projects that will benefit from the TfL money include:
• £465,000 towards road safety measures, from new speed signs to children’s education campaigns
• £460,000 for walking and cycling measures, including better pedestrian crossings and bike training for children
• £200,000 on a new network of walking and cycling routes through parks
• £150,000 for improved bus stop accessibility, including ramps and tactile paving
The TfL money, which comes from its Local Implementation Plan fund, includes over £2.7m towards better road, pedestrian and cycle access across the borough, plus £3.4m to upgrade bridges, and £1.4m to fix main roads. The £3.4m bridge funding includes a £3m replacement bridges project with TfL in Blackhorse Lane and £120,000 to replace a wall in Grange Road. The TfL money will have to be matched by council contributions.
“This funding for improved transport infrastructure is crucial to maintaining our borough’s growing reputation as a great place to live, work and invest, not just in Croydon itself but also in our district centres.
“I’m especially pleased that it allows us to upgrade not just local roads but also the infrastructure needed so more people can lead greener and healthier lives by walking and cycling more.”
Councillor Stuart King, cabinet member for transport and environment
The funding allocation will be discussed at a meeting of the council’s cabinet next Monday.
