Malden Rushett - relief in sight?

After decades of frustration for motorists negotiating the infamous Malden Rushett cross-roads, it seems that the light at the end of the tunnel may be getting closer, with the decision of Kingston's "South of the Borough" Neighbourhood Committee to give approval in principle to going ahead with the plans for improvement proposed by Transport for London.

Crucially, these plans include widening Rushett Lane, the road from Epsom, giving a separate lane for traffic queueing to turn right. Currently this traffic blocks all the other streams, causing long tailbacks towards Epsom and lengthy delays, particularly in the morning rush-hour.

At one time Kingston, then Tory controlled, refused to consider improving the junction. Now under the Lib Dem administration planning decisions are delegated to Neighbourhood Committees and on 24 September the 9 Lib Dem councillors representing Chessington, Hook and Tolworth have given the go-ahead for drawing up detailed plans and making the necessary land purchases.

There has for some time been money allocated towards this scheme by Surrey County Council, to come from the developers of the West Park former hospital site. This is now running many years behind the schedule originally expected, but our Lib Dem colleagues in Kingston have agreed to a bold proposal to go ahead before the developers' money is actually available, in view of the urgency of solving the traffic problems. The developers will still be required to pay up in due course!

The scheme includes other road safety improvements, including pedestrian crossing facilities.