A plea has been made for traffic lights to be included in planned improvements to accident blackspot Gallows Corner.

Roger Evans, Conservative Deputy Mayor of London and Havering at the London Assembly, urged the commissioner of Transport for London, Mike Brown, to install traffic lights at the five-arm roundabout in Romford.

The former Havering councillor said: “I had the great opportunity to raise it at our annual question time this week.

“Obviously as the commissioner, he doesn’t know the detail of every project but he assured me he will go and find out why they

weren’t included in the original plans.

“A few years ago, they installed traffic lights on every junction on the Gants Hill roundabout.

“If they can install them there, which is a much tighter spot, then I think they should look at why they think they can’t do it at Gallows Corner.”

Following a 36-month analysis TfL revealed its plan for the junction last week. It has been widely condemned by politicians and the public for not going far enough with Romford MP Andrew Rosindell describing it as “a waste of time”.

The MP, who has campaigned for improvements to the roundabout for 12 years, expressed disappointment that a plan to replace the flyover with an underpass was not included.

In an interview with radio station Time 107.5 FM, Nigel Hardy, head of project sponsorship at TfL, denied the plans were a cheap fix, amid criticism that the flyover, built as a temporary measure, would remain.

He said: “Absolutely no, it’s not a cheap fix.”

“We need to ensure that we continue to make improvements as and when we can. There’s absolutely no point in sitting back, and doing nothing at Gallows Corner, whilst we think about what future changes may occur.”

The current proposals will lead to disappointment from residents if they go ahead, added Mr Evans.

He said: “The problem, from my point of view, is that people are disappointed.

“I would rather they didn’t do it.

“The danger is that residents will have their expectations raised but face the same problems.”

A consultation event will be held at The Liberty, Romford, on Friday February 26 from 9am to 6pm.