Apology: This article originally reported that executive head of commissioning Brendon Hills had stepped aside from his position heading up the Heart of Hackbridge Project. This is not correct and has been amended.

The article also stated Mr Hills was being replaced at the head of the project by head of planning, transport and highways Sally Bloomfield.

We would like to make it clear that he is not being replaced and help on the project is in fact being offered by strategic director for environment and neighbourhoods Mary Morrissey, not Ms Bloomfield. We would like to apologise for any confusion caused.

 

Sutton Council's chief executive has taken action to address the "heightened concern" surrounding the Heart of Hackbridge project.

The council confirmed today that strategic director for environment and neighbourhoods Mary Morrissey has been asked to offer her support to head of commissioning Brendon Hills, who is leading the project, which has drawn strong criticism from certain sections of the community concerned about road safety.

The move came in the same week as a video of Mr Hills speaking about the project was posted on the Hackbridge Safety First Facebook group where he was recorded talking about the importance in projects such as these of having "a snazzy logo".

The video, LDN gov, High Street Conversations, has since been made private.

In it Mr Hills said coffee shops would have to "up their game" once more people came to the area, and that the council had to "bang heads with TFL and the police" in order to convince them it was safe to have such narrow roads at the junction.

He later said not everybody in the community saw "eye-to-eye" but that with enough convincing "most of the community will eventually end up following" the council approach.

A spokesperson for Sutton Council said the decision was part of "normal management practice given the heightened concern in the community".

The spokesman said: "The chief executive has asked the strategic director for environment and neighbourhoods to give some direction personally to the project.

"We have complete confidence in the staff that have worked on the project so far.”