Standing up for Sutton - Transport for London u-turns on plans for new bus lane

Transport for London (TfL) has announced a u-turn on their proposals to introduce a new bus lane in the borough following feedback from residents and Sutton Council.

The bus lane was planned for the southbound side of the A217 Oldfields Road - between Sutton Common Road and Kimpton Park Way.

Hundreds of Sutton residents expressed their unhappiness with TfL’s proposals in response to early engagement earlier this year and Sutton Council leaders made a formal objection in October 2024. 

The Council’s concerns were:

• the short length of the proposed bus lane would be unlikely to improve bus journey times
• the bus lane would be in the wrong place to improve bus journey times  
• the funding from the Mayor of London could be used in much better ways in other parts of Sutton to improve public transport

Transport for London has now written to the Leader of Sutton Council to confirm that it has listened to the borough’s concerns and has decided not to introduce the proposed bus lane in Oldfields Road. They have also offered to meet with Sutton’s leaders to discuss how the Council and TfL can work together to improve public transport across the borough.  

Councillor Barry Lewis, Leader of Sutton Council, said:
“When I was elected leader, I said I would stand up for Sutton and its residents. 

“This announcement from Transport for London shows how important it is to make Sutton’s case at the highest levels possible and how we can win for our borough.

“The strength of feeling from our residents was clear: the TfL proposals for a bus lane in Oldfields Road were the wrong answer, in the wrong place, at the wrong time. The Council supported this view and made its views known formally to TfL bosses.

“It’s great that Transport for London has listened to Sutton residents and councillors, and that we have seen off the proposed bus lane in Oldfields Road.”

ENDS