If you look at a tube map of London there’s a massive hole in the middle that is Camberwell and Peckham. North of the river and central London is peppered with tube stations, and some areas miles away from the centre have tube stations too.
Camberwell and Peckham is unique in that we have been poorly served by public transport for years. We have a Camberwell Station Road that has no station! Trains don’t stop here anymore because they only serve commuters from the outer areas of London. Thanks to Ken Livingstone our bus services have improved and we also have overland trains. But there’s nothing like a tube station.
I’m glad that Transport for London has agreed to consult on bringing the tube to Camberwell and Peckham. They are looking at extending the Bakerloo line into South East London from its current end point at the Elephant and Castle. It’s long overdue and a positive sign that they are taking the issue seriously. We would not have a tube until 2030 but we need to plan now.
I strongly support extending the Bakerloo Line to Camberwell and Peckham on both routes proposed – via Camberwell and Peckham Rye and Old Kent Road. It would create jobs and support development and regeneration in the area, and improve transport connections between South and Central London helping to reduce local traffic congestion especially along Walworth Road and Old Kent Road.
Local people are campaigning for a tube. Residents, businesses and voluntary organisations want to see better access for people who live and work locally. Camberwell and Peckham is home to several nationally important institutions including Kings College Hospital, Camberwell College of Art and the Maudsley Hospital, which have thousands of staff, visitors and students passing through every day. The tube would relieve pressure on our slow, overcrowded buses and trains, and provide quicker, direct and less crowded journeys into central London.
Camberwell and Peckham in particular are growth areas attracting new residents and new housing. Fundamental to the regeneration of this part of London is having a new efficient transport system through the area and across the river to major transport hubs in the north of the city. When Londoners are benefitting from the investment in transport projects such as Thameslink, the underground upgrades and Crossrail, we must ensure that residents in Camberwell and Peckham also benefit from investment.
Please show your support for bringing the tube to come to Camberwell and Peckham by attending the rally on Saturday 29th November on Camberwell Green. The TfL consultation is at www.tfl.gov.uk/bakerloo-extension and is due to finish on December 9.