TRAMS could run to and from New Addington through the night to avoid the estate known as "little Siberia" being cut off if the cold snap intensifies this winter.
Heavy snow in the winters of 2011/12 and 2012/13 meant the area was, at times, inaccessible by car, as the one, main road – Lodge Lane – going to and from the estate was gridlocked.
Now, as the weather turns colder at the start of 2015, Transport for London (TfL) is being asked to take action to reconsider a previous policy of running trams for 24-hours, to keep a link open between New Addington and the rest of Croydon.
Fieldway councillor Simon Hall says he is approaching Transport for London (TfL) through the public transport liaison committee – a joint council/TfL committee – asking it to reconsider a decision made three years ago to stop running empty trams through the night to ensure the lines did not freeze.
He told the Advertiser: "New Addington is known as Little Siberia because it is generally two degrees colder up here than in the centre of Croydon.
"Because there is only one road in and out it is absolutely critical that in terms of preventative gritting and clearing any ice and
snow that New Addington is seen as a priority."
On the tram idea, he added: "A couple of years ago TfL decided it was no longer worth the money to keep doing that. The tram is a lifeline for people living in the area and we don't want that happening again."
Gritting lorries were out in force during the week across the borough, as night-time temperatures dipped below freezing. The council has more than 4,000 tonnes of salt ready to deal with any further deterioration in the weather.
Councillor Kathy Bee, the council's cabinet member for transport and environment, said: "We have the grit in place and we can bring in more if it needed.
"New Addington has had problems during bad winters in the past and I have had discussions with officers to reassure myself it will be accessible this year."
