London Assembly Member for Bexley and Bromley Thomas Turrell AM, Member of Parliament for Old Bexley and Sidcup, Louise French and ward councillors Cameron Smith and Kurtis Christoforides are calling for the Superloop to stop in Bexley Village, a call which is supported by Bexley Council.
The Conservative politicians have written to Seb Dance, the Deputy Mayor of London for Transport, to request the service stop at Bexley Village War Memorial to connect the village to the SL3 service.
The SL3 route begun operating last year and has been running through Bexley Village, without stopping, on a temporary basis since then. Transport for London (TfL) cannot operate on their preferred route between Sidcup and Bexleyheath, via Penhill Road due to required road works at the Arbuthnot Lane junction.
Thomas, Louie, Cameron and Kurtis are proposing that TfL make the temporary route the permanent one, and add an additional stop at Bexley Village War Memorial in both directions, offering significant benefits to the area’s local residents and businesses, and preventing further congestion on the already busy Penhill Road. Amending the route would also offer residents permanent access to the Elizabeth Line in Abbey Wood and provide a stop near Bexley station, which is a major transport hub, without causing any disruption or delay to the SL3 route.
Thomas Turrell AM said:
“Whilst we fully appreciate the Superloop can’t stop everywhere and offer an express service, it makes no sense for the service to continue to skip Bexley Village. There is clearly demand for extra capacity on the journey between Sidcup and Bexleyheath so rerouting the SL3 permanently and adding a stop in Bexley Village will meet this demand. The extra journey time for the stop will be minimal and will not stop this being an express service. There is no good reason for this not to be done”.
Amending the route and adding the additional stop is also supported by the Conservative administration at Bexley Council.
Councillor Richard Diment, the Councils Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said:
“Bexley Council fully supports this call for Superloop SL3 to have a stop in Bexley Village. It would be a win all round. Local residents would have better links to Bromley, Sidcup, Bexleyheath and most importantly to the Elizabeth Line at Abbey Wood. TfL would gain fare revenue from additional passenger. And given delays on the existing route preferred by TfL, no extra time would be taken in getting Superloop buses between Bexleyheath and Sidcup. This should be a no-brainer for TfL."
