Coulsdon residents vented their frustration at the slow progress of their town's regeneration to both Transport for London and Croydon Council.

They were voicing their concerns at a meeting of the Neighbourhood Partnership where TfL fielded questions about how the bypass had affected the town and the progress of the second phase of the area's regeneration.

However, when TfL revealed it would now be launching a second phase of consultation, the room of around 170 people, groaned and one woman said: "We are fed up with waiting. We have been telling you what we want for two years now. It is about time something was done."

Geoff Hunt, secretary for Coulsdon West Residents' Association, admitted his shock at the news. He said: "I am surprised by the amount of consultation necessary and I don't think a commercial organisation would act this way. It has to be faster moving."