It’s official, most people in Sutton DO want to see a tram extension.

If you live in the borough this may not come as much of a surprise.

But on April 25, TfL published a report showing 81 per cent of respondents support an extension of the London Trams network to the borough. 

Sutton is one of just six London boroughs without a tube link and the Sutton Link has been on the cards for more than 20 years.

Between October and January nearly 6,000 people responded to a consultation.

Options included a tram between Sutton to Wimbledon or routes which would use “bus rapid transit” where large buses would run in specially constructed lanes, separate from general traffic.

More than 80 per cent supported the tram extension compared to 40 per cent who supported the bus option. 

But the report shows that not everybody in Sutton would be on board with a tram coming to the borough.

Cycling UK strongly opposed the Sutton Link in principle describing the tram lines as ‘treacherous’ for cyclists when wet.

But Get Sutton Cycling suggested the Sutton Link is an opportunity to improve cycle safety and called for the provision of cycle paths, with physical protection on busy roads.

Then there’s the London Cancer Hub, a partnership between Sutton Council and the Institute of Cancer Research.

The multi-million pound cancer research centre will be built in Belmont, with the first phase expected to be complete by 2022.

About 7,000 permanent jobs would be created as well as 6,200 construction jobs, but the whole project will take 20 years to complete.

A second phase of the Sutton Link would see the Hub get a tram link.

Lib Dem London Assembly member, Caroline Pidgeon, supported the tram option as well as an eventual extension to the Hub.

And the Institute of Cancer Research said it strongly supported the Sutton Link in principle but did not express a preference between the three options as all could be extended to serve the facility.

It is now up to TfL to review feedback before a final decision is made on the next stages of the Sutton Link development later this year.

Deputy leader of Sutton Council, Councillor, Jayne McCoy, said: “We need new and modern means of transport to persuade people to travel into and around our borough in a sustainable way.

“The TfL consultation is important as it strengthens the case for significant transport infrastructure investment in our borough.”

She added that Sutton Council will continue to work with TfL, Merton Council and the Mayor of London on plans to improve transport links to the borough.

The option to see the Thameslink line from Wimbledon to Sutton turned into a tram line would cost about £300m. 

If plans and funding for the Sutton Link are approved by TfL, work could get underway as soon as 2022 with the first trams up and running in 2025.

TfL has committed £70 million to the scheme, with another £30 million split between Merton and Sutton councils.