As reported in the Sutton Guardian, hopes of extending the Tramlink to Sutton have been dealt a major blow by an announcement from Transport for London (TfL) that they were no longer earmarking funds to deliver the extension.
The only option currently available to deliver this project is through TfL's central Growth Fund, but we will now be competing with other projects with no guarantee of success.
Steve O’Connell, the Conservative Greater London Authority (GLA) member for Sutton and Croydon, said the commitment reversal is “slap in the face” for the borough’s commuters.
He said: “This is devastating news for commuters and a disgraceful reversal of the commitment made by Boris less than 12 months ago.
“From having guaranteed funding we will now be forced to join the queue and compete with dozens of other projects across London. It is a slap in the face for the people of Croydon and Sutton.
“Sutton is the only London borough to have no tube station, no Crossrail station, no London Overground station, no proposed Crossrail 2 station, and now the Mayor has all but killed off hopes of a tram network.
“I will not be giving up the fight for this important infrastructure and I intend to pursue the Mayor on this and get a full explanation for this extremely disappointing decision.”
Sutton Conservatives will continue to fight for this tram extension and we look forward to hearing that the Mayor has to say for himself.