Lambeth Council has put road safety schemes for Streatham on hold for at least two years, leading to claims it is being left behind other areas of the borough.

In papers passed by Lambeth Council’s Cabinet on June 27, the Council adopted a “Neighbourhood Enhancement Programme”, which sees the authority concentrate its efforts on only small patches of the borough at a time.

No Streatham wards have been chosen for the schemes, which bring together plans for 20mph zones, cycle parking, cycle training, car clubs, tree planting and road maintenance.

Areas were chosen according to the number of “personal injury collisions” they suffer, but also by whether links could be made “with existing programmes already being developed… and within close proximity”.

Liberal Democrat Councillor for Streatham Wells, Alex Davies, spoke up in opposition to the proposals at the cabinet meeting, saying Streatham residents were being let down.

He said: “The Council is leaving Streatham behind again.

“It’s all very well to say that everything should be done at once, but if it only happens in a few areas in and around Brixton, people here will rightly feel neglected.

“Since one of the criteria for choosing the areas for new transport schemes seems to be whether there are already improvement programmes going on, the council is perpetuating a situation in which those who haven’t been helped so far, never will be.

“Lambeth should look carefully at what other authorities have done to successfully reduce accidents across their boroughs by introducing 20mph limits in all side streets where residents want them.”

Councillor Nigel Haselden, cabinet member for transport, said: "This is an innovative approach that in time we plan to roll out across the borough, but we are starting in areas where there is most need, based on accident statistics and where there is existing work already planned.

"It’s certainly not the case that Streatham and the south of the borough is being overlooked - over the past two or three years the area has seen a high level of investment, including 20mph zones for Streatham Common and Streatham Hill, major improvements to Streatham Common station, local safety projects in Valley Road, Greyhound Lane and Leigham Court Road and a cycle scheme in Garrads Road.

"There is also a major public realm improvement scheme planned for Babington Road and Mitcham Lane in 2012/13 and the popular streetscape improvements near the Odeon will be continued northwards along Streatham High Road."