Anger as future of DLR extension to Thamesmead in doubt

By Lachlan Leeming, Local Democracy Reporter

Political figures in South-east London have expressed fury over the possibility of the Docklands Light Railway extension to Thamesmead being axed.

One councillor said residents “have not had the same opportunities as other Londoners” due to decades of poor transport links in the area.

Cllr Sizwe James, Greenwich council’s transport, environment and sustainability cabinet member, also accused the Government of playing “political football” with Transport for London’s (TfL) finances, and called for “concrete actions” to ensure the future of the extension.

“As a Thamesmead councillor, I know first-hand just how vital the DLR extension will be in regenerating the community I represent,” he said.

“For too long, Thamesmead has been cut off, and my residents have not had the same opportunities as other Londoners.”

The comments come after TfL warned last month it faced “very difficult choices” over which of its development projects could be completed.

Cancelling the DLR extension to Thamesmead would ensure the area remains one of London’s most poorly-connected in regards to public transport.

While it has been mooted for the past decade, firm plans to extend the DLR from Gallions Reach were finally put out for public consultation by TfL late last year.

It was part of a “high-growth”, major regeneration plan which would see more than 15,000 new homes developed across the Thamesmead and Abbey Wood area.

It would have provided a major facelift for Thamesmead, which has received comparatively little investment since the 1960s when the former marshland experienced a boom in social housing construction in a bid to address a post-war homes shortage.

Bexley council’s Conservative leader, Teresa O’Neill, whose authority boundary sits to the east of Thamesmead, was ambiguous when asked of the council’s stance on the issue.

“Covid-19 has had an immeasurable impact on services up and down the country. The way people travel and use public transport has changed and no one knows when we may return to the previous level of use,” she said.

“We will all learn from this difficult period and we will continue to lobby to make sure our residents and businesses have the best possible transport infrastructure to help build a better Bexley.”

Pictured top: Cllr Sizwe James