Havering Petition Calling on TfL to be Held Accountable for Delays At Gallows Corner Signed by Nearly 2K Residents.

Havering Council has branded the continued delays in reopening Gallows Corner “extremely disappointing” and a “farce”, writes Sebastian Mann local democracy reporter.

Transport for London (TfL) says it will not meet the 30th April reopening date as Essex & Suffolk Water has more work to do on the water mains.

Work began on replacing the ageing flyover and repairing the busy roundabout last March. It was initially meant to reopen in September but progress was marred by similar delays.

Scott Haxton, TfL’s director of capital delivery, said last week that “all significant TfL works” had been completed but Essex and Suffolk Water (ESW) had “identified further work needed to ensure the water main is fully assured”.

Though TfL is “very sorry” to residents facing continued commuter chaos, Havering’s chief executive Andrew Blake-Herbert said: “Considering the closure was only supposed to last a few months, it has now become a bit of a farce.

“It’s clear that Essex and Suffolk Water grossly underestimated the time their works would take and failed to factor in adequate time for testing the new water pipes, and it’s Havering residents and businesses who continue to pay the price for their failure.

“It is imperative that Transport for London and Essex and Suffolk Water complete their works as quickly as possible and finally get Gallows Corner moving again.”

In his statement, Haxton added: “We are very sorry for the further disruption this will cause to local residents and businesses, and we remain committed with ESW to confirm an opening date as soon as possible.”

More than 1,900 residents have signed a petition calling on TfL to be held accountable for the lack of progress – an increase of 300 since Friday (24th April).

They are also demanding “immediate traffic management improvements” and “urgent road repairs,” including potholes, and “enhanced safety measures” near schools and residential roads.

The organisers of the petition, launched in late March, said residents “no longer had confidence in TfL’s assurances” and have “reached a breaking point”.

“This situation is distressing, unsafe, and unsustainable,” they wrote. “Without immediate action, there is a real risk of a serious accident.

“We call on the Mayor of London and TfL to act now and restore trust with the residents of Havering.”

Petitioners are also seeking financial compensation, including a partial council tax refund for each month from September 2025.

Senior Havering councillors previously said they too want payback for the additional wear on roads used for diversions.

TfL says it will assess the evidence submitted.

Essex & Suffolk Water did not respond to a request for comment.

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