Residents to be consulted again on controversial bus lane (From Wimbledon Guardian)

Residents to be consulted again on proposed Mitcham Fair Green bus lane

2:13pm Thursday 14th March 2013 in News By Grace Wong, Reporter

Mitcham residents are to be consulted again over controversial plans for a bus lane through Fair Green.

Plans to increase footfall to Mitcham town centre by building a bus lane over the pedestrianised area has sparked a huge reaction.

Some residents were incensed when details emerged the cabinet member for environmental sustainability planned to progress with the idea despite opposition.

However following a consultation on the plans, 71 per cent of respondents said they would agree that "bringing buses into the Fair Green and London Road so they stop close to the shops” would improve Mitcham which has been criticised for being misleading despite officers asserting accompanyying documentation made their plans clear.   

A Merton Council overview and scrutiny panel on Thursday, March 7, councillors instead voted to begin another consultation on the plans.

A motion was accepted to involve Figge’s Marsh and Cricket Green councillors in drafting this document.

Tony Burton, trustee of Mitcham Cricket Green Community and Heritage, was disappointed with the outcome.

He said: “We have so far been presented with an all-or-nothing approach.

"Before any decision is made, we urge inclusion of at least one other option to the bus lane.

“It’s about working with the community for a more organic and grassroots approach. Not a top-down approach.

“Fair Green is central to this. It is the ace in Mitcham’s pack.”

Alternatives mentioned by Councillors Samantha George and Diane Neil Mills included reconsidering the placement of existing bus stops and removing the gyratory.

Coun Andrew Judge, cabinet member for environmental sustainability and regeneration said the plans were a concept and stressed that a final decision had not been made.

He said: “Safety issues would be paramount as they would be in any street scheme.

“I don’t think Fair Green is primarily a children’s playground.”