CYCLING campaigners for a crossing in Kenley were mystified and angry to see TfL put up a set of temporary traffic lights after the authority had said it would be "impossible" to put them up on the road.
The Croydon Cycling Campaign, run by Austen Cooper, was one of several groups that campaigned for a pedestrian crossing with traffic lights at the junction between the A22 Godstone Road and Hayes Lane.
However, after years of petitioning and a public consultation, TfL announced "that due to traffic speed and limited space because of the close proximity of the junction with Hayes Lane and the entrance to the Co-operative car park, neither a zebra crossing nor a signalised junction could be provided". They instead chose to create a pedestrian refuge in the middle of the road.
Although Kenley Needs A Crossing – a group made up of local residents and parents – was relieved to finally see an improvement, the area's cyclists were upset at what they saw as a dangerous compromise.
Then it transpired that while TfL carried out its roadworks, it put up temporary pedestrian traffic lights exactly where they said it would not be possible.
"It's absolutely ridiculous," said Mr Cooper. "We tried quite hard to get them (TfL) to listen – the new crossing will make it dangerous for cyclists by narrowing the road – but to no avail.
"This happens so often in London where TfL put in road changes even when they know it's dangerous. And then it takes a death to wake them up and do it properly. Well, we don't want that in Kenley."
Paul Williams, from Kenley, said TfL had even put up a sign saying 'Please take care of cyclists'.
"They have put this sign up because of the bollards there. But these are in exactly the same place as the permanent ones will be for the real crossing. So really, they are already admitting that the crossing will be dangerous for cyclists.
"All they had to do was wait a few more weeks and find a compromise – like a toucan crossing – which everyone was happy with. Even Croydon Council supported us with this so it is not like we are a small group campaigning for something others don't want. It's just symptomatic of TfL really."
Dana Skelley, director of roads at TfL, said: "Due to a number of technical and physical challenges at this location, we are unable to install a signal-controlled pedestrian crossing on the A22 Godstone Road.
"However, we have recently completed work to enhance the current facilities at the crossing point on Godstone Road, providing more space to pedestrians and bus passengers on the footway, as well as on the central island."
TfL also said it would "continue to monitor" the situation.