Shoppers have complained about the overrunning Transport for London (TfL) roadworks at Hook Parade.

The work, which began in March, was supposed to finish in August.

Your Local Guardian:

The disruption has hit business on the parade, with butcher Steve McManus hanging on “by the skin of our teeth."

At last week’s south of the borough neighbourhood committee, TfL promised councillors that roadworks set to begin next spring in Malden Rushett will not go as slowly as at Hook.

What residents think:

Your Local Guardian:

Care home maintenance manager John Maccormack, 58, of Cricketers Close, said: "They have been a real upset recently, especially when they had the traffic lights because they were only letting two cars through at a time.

"Every time people were coming off the motorway, because it was blocked there, it blocked up this road completely.

"I’m sure it’ll probably be a positive step in the end but it’s been a little bit of an inconvenience for us."

Your Local Guardian:

Company director Chris French, 66, from Hook, said: "I didn’t think that they were necessary in the first place.

"They were completely unnecessary as far as I’m concerned, unless of course there’s information that I don’t know about as a local resident.

"I think it has inconvenienced me. It seems to me at first sight to be a waste of public money."

Your Local Guardian:

Alan Biswell, 73, from Hook, who is retired, said: "I am a bit concerned that there are no fences or barriers where people cross the road.

"I’m concerned that when mothers with young children are in the middle of the road and having to wait that the children might let go off their pram and step into the road with oncoming traffic."

Your Local Guardian:

Librarian Karina Edwards, 46, from Chessington, said: "It’s been a bit of pain whilst it’s been going on with the traffic, especially over summer because you’ve got Chessington World of Adventures and the garden centre, so it’s been backed up a lot.

"But I think it’s beginning to look really nice, with the new services and everything."

Your Local Guardian:

Maureen Barney, 73, Chessington, who is retired, said: "The pavements were in a disgusting state.

"It was dangerous to walk on them and looking at what they’ve done so far it really does look an improvement.

"It would have been nice to perhaps not had so much pretty stuff and concentrated on basic safety on the pavements."

Your Local Guardian:

Councillor Patricia Bamford, 58, who lives in Hook, said: "These works have overrun significantly and are huge inconveniences for residents and businesses who are going to be badly affected by it.

"It’s felt like we’ve been imprisoned in our own properties, not being able to get out because of all of the queues of traffic."

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