Southwark to pressure TfL on RV1 bus, Canary Wharf-Rotherhithe bridge

In a motion, the assembly also called on the cabinet to campaign for better transport links in Southwark’s transport ‘not spots’ – where residents are more than 1km away from a station, which includes areas in Camberwell, Peckham and East Dulwich.

The RV1 bus and drawbridge plans were axed in June.

Other commitments include pressuring TfL to keep ticket offices open and extend the Santander Cycle scheme into the borough as well as step-free access in all Southwark stations and improvements to the congested Canada Water station.

Cllr Richard Livingston, the cabinet member for transport, said while TfL had seen its £700 million Government grant cut, residents were  “justified in wanting better” and there was “a lot more to do.”

Peckham Rye ward councillor, Victoria Mills, said there were transport issues in the south of the borough, with improvements to the Canada Water interchange desperately needed.

She also called for the 63 bus to be extended, and for the Overground line from Peckham Rye to Clapham Junction to stop at Brixton station.

“It is crucially important that people in my ward from Brockley, New Cross, and Honor Oak Park, who depend on that interchange [Canada Water] are better served.

“One of the ‘not spots’ clearly covers Peckham Rye ward and Dulwich ward. We need to be making sure that residents in that ‘not spot’ can access Honor Oak Park and make connections from there,” she said.

But Lib Dem opposition leader Cllr Anood Al-Samerai said the Labour councillors “share a lack of accountability” on the borough’s transport issues and said they should “take responsibility for what your colleagues are doing.”

“We have Labour councillors, a Labour assembly member and a Labour mayor.

“It is not easy living in Southwark, dealing with the infrastructure challenges we have,” she added.

Labour Cllr Kieron Williams said the Government needed to invest to help solve the transport issues.