Town centre improvement work begins

The council's scheme aims to cut traffic jams, reduce accidents by up to a third and improve the environment for pedestrians and cyclists.

Work is expected to last until spring next year and residents are being advised to expect some delays when travelling through the town. Every effort will be made to keep disruption to a minimum and no work will take place over the Christmas and New Year break.

The first phase of work involves changes to the Lavender Hill/Falcon Lane junction which will enable traffic to bypass the main crossroads at the bottom of St. John's Hill.

The town centre will also be smartened up with high quality new paving, lampposts and other street fixtures.

Later phases of work will include further road layout changes, new cycle lanes, widening pavements, new pedestrian crossings and new trees.

Wandsworth's transport and planning spokesman Cllr Ravi Govindia said:

"This project will make the town centre a much more attractive and pedestrian friendly place. People driving through will also benefit from improved traffic flow and less queuing.

"Residents should be prepared for some inconvenience while the work takes place but the long-term benefits make this a very worth while investment. Creating a smarter and more pleasant environment will help Clapham Junction's shops, restaurants, café and bars to thrive and attract more businesses to the area."

The council's scheme was approved last year and is backed by Transport for London and the Clapham Junction Town Centre Partnership.

For more information on the scheme contact Sam Emmett: semmett@wandsworth.gov.uk  / (020) 8871 8209.

For more information on Clapham Junction visit www.wandsworth.gov.uk/towncentres