Gallows Corner roundabout delays leave Havering residents without answers

Residents and businesses in Havering face continued disruption at Gallows Corner roundabout after Transport for London failed to provide answers about delays and costs. The junction, which connects the A12 and A127, has been partially closed since refurbishment began in June 2025. The original completion date of September 2025 was missed, and full reopening is now tied to water works by Essex and Suffolk Water, expected to finish by the end of August 2026.

FOI requests ignored, MP says

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Transport for London will resurface the junction once Essex & Suffolk Water hands back the site at the end of August

Hornchurch and Upminster MP Julia Lopez submitted 14 Freedom of Information requests to the Mayor of London’s office in July 2026. The requests sought details on funding, cost projections, timelines, and support for affected businesses. Public authorities are legally required to respond within 20 working days, but the Greater London Authority told Lopez it could not locate records relevant to her questions.

Lopez, a shadow cabinet minister, accused the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, of treating Havering residents with contempt. She said the lack of transparency raised serious questions about the decision to replace a major water main at the same time as the flyover refurbishment. Lopez told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that meetings with transport and water executives had revealed tensions over project management and rising costs.

Residents and businesses have endured more than a year of severe disruption and deserve to know why key decisions were taken on Gallows Corner, what they have cost and who is picking up the bill.

Julia Lopez, MP for Hornchurch and Upminster

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Lopez’s letter to Khan, seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, included questions about whether Transport for London had sought additional funding from the Department for Transport. She also asked about the extent of the mayor’s personal involvement in decisions about Gallows Corner. The GLA’s response stated only that it could not find records within the scope of the request.

Businesses report lost trade

Local businesses have reported a drop in customers due to diverted traffic. Some told the Romford Recorder that potential clients had stopped visiting altogether because of congestion on alternative routes. The delays have prompted calls for financial support, though no specific measures have been announced by Transport for London or the Mayor’s office.

Deputy Mayor for Transport Seb Dance wrote to Lopez in July 2026 apologising for the length of the works. He said Essex and Suffolk Water were expected to complete their repairs by the end of August 2026, after which Transport for London would confirm a full reopening date. Dance did not address Lopez’s specific questions about project management or costs.

What happens next

Essex and Suffolk Water have said their work at Gallows Corner will finish by 31 August 2026. Transport for London has not yet provided a confirmed date for full reopening. Lopez has written again to Khan demanding urgent answers and direct support for affected businesses. The Mayor’s office has not responded to requests for comment from the Local Democracy Reporting Service.