The hole in the road in Katharine Street, which has seen 11 bus routes diverted this week
Councillor Mark Watson’s whimsy of closing a stretch of the High Street in the town centre has encountered an unforeseen complication since the weekend, as Thames Water has dug up the road on Katharine Street, close to the Town Hall, for a burst water main.
It has caused additional disruption to traffic in the town centre, especially to buses, with Transport for London having to divert 11 bus routes and temporarily shut down a couple of stops. Poorly sign-posted, the changes have caused understandable confusion for bus passengers, many of whom have been seen queuing, pointlessly, at a stop which is now closed.
Thames Water’s work, meanwhile, proceeds at a glacial pace, apparently representing the utility company’s preferred state of water. The closure could last until January 10, according to Croydon Council.
Ordinarily, buses would travel down Park Street. With the road dug up by the Town Hall, now most of the affected routes – which include the 60, 405, 407, 412, 466, 455 and 50 – seem to be diverted down the side of the Flyover, with a temporary stop outside Christopher Wren House.
The Mark Watson memorial bench, stopping buses using the High Street
TfL’s re-routing options in the Town Centre will have been easier had the random closure of the High Street between Park Street and Katharine Street not been imposed by the council, at the behest of soon-to-be-ex councillor Watson, at short-notice a couple of months ago.
But as one commuter, whose journey to work has been affected, said today, “What does it matter, at least we’ve got a nice new seat in a random place.”
- For less than the cost of one over-priced coffee each month, you can support the local journalism that brings you Inside Croydon, and get a range of benefits and exclusive offers. Click here to sign-up as a donor
- Inside Croydon Events: for the most comprehensive community events listings, updated daily
Inside Croydon is a member of the Independent Community News Network- Inside Croydon is the borough’s only independent news source, and still based in the heart of Croydon
- 1 MILLION PAGE VIEWS IN 2017 (January to September)
- If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, a residents’ or business association or a local event to publicise, please email us with full details at [email protected]
- More
