Transport for London have announced they will now consider building a station at Bricklayers' Arms, as part of the project to extend the Bakerloo Line. While other stations, such as between New Cross Gate and Lewisham, were definitely ruled out, Bricklayers' Arms was explicitly highlighted as a seriously considered option.
Until recently, this seemed unlikely, with the local Labour MP Neil Coyle dismissing the idea of a tube station as an "unviable land-grab". However, the Tower Bridge Road Alliance and Southwark Liberal Democrats led the campaign for the station, with almost 3000 petition signatures gathered between them submitted to TfL in the public consultation.
Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat Member on the London Assembly, said:
“In the last two years TfL has gone from making up excuses to oppose a Tube station at Bricklayers' Arms to agreeing to properly examine the case for a station.
“The campaign for a much needed Tube station at Bricklayers' Arms is far from over, but this is an important milestone.”
Cllr Damian O’Brien, Southwark Liberal Democrats' Transport spokesperson welcomed the development, but stressed the campaign will go on.
“We are very pleased that TfL have acknowledged there is strong local support for a Bakerloo line extension station at the Bricklayers; Arms and we welcome their positive comments in the latest report. Southwark Liberal Democrats have worked closely with local residents, and business groups to highlight the need for a station at Bricklayers' and we will continue to do so. We thank everyone for their efforts but we still have a long way to go.”