A12 junction remains without crossing six years after fatal crash
Coroner's safety warning in 2020 has not led to a pedestrian crossing at Wick Lane.
Trust 60Craft 75Hype 20How this was reported ▾
The central claim is attributed to named individuals and bodies, with specific dates and documents cited.
How well corroborated and evidenced the reporting is. Higher is better.
The reporting clearly separates fact from comment, provides specific details, and explains the background and consequences.
Context, balance and separation of fact from comment. Higher is better.
The headline accurately reflects the content, and the language used is measured and proportionate.
How far presentation runs ahead of substance. Lower is better.
2 sources assessed · methodology
A junction over the A12 in east London remains without a pedestrian crossing more than six years after a coroner warned that further deaths could occur. Senior coroner Mary Hassell recommended a crossing at the Wick Lane junction in February 2020, following a fatal crash in 2019. Tower Hamlets Council and Transport for London (TfL) have been involved in discussions and planning for a crossing since at least 2015.
Coroner's Warning and Initial Plans
A316 Chertsey Road lanes closed after car and van crash
Emergency services attended the scene of the collision which blocked traffic on the busy South London road.
The senior coroner's recommendation came after a speeding driver killed a young man attempting to cross the A12 near Wick Lane shortly after 3am on New Year's Day 2019. Ms Hassell stated in her opinion that there was a risk of future fatalities unless action was taken. In March 2020, the then chief executive of Tower Hamlets Council, Will Tuckley, announced that the authority had developed plans for new pedestrian phases within the junction's traffic lights. These plans also included installing railings at the top of the A12 slip roads onto Wick Lane to prevent pedestrian access.
TfL responded in April 2020, stating it would prohibit pedestrians from the A12 and had met with the council, which was to design and construct a new pedestrian crossing. Despite the installation of railings, a signalised pedestrian crossing has not yet been put in place.
Funding Disputes and Ongoing Delays
M25 Crash Causes Major Tunnel Congestion
An incident on the M25 near West Thurrock led to significant traffic delays through tunnels.
Resident Adam Werlinger, who has been advocating for a safe crossing for approximately a decade, described the junction as dangerous. He noted that vehicles always have a green light, leaving no safe moment for pedestrians to cross as traffic approaches from multiple directions. Mr Werlinger also highlighted that new housing developments on Fish Island have increased pedestrian numbers attempting to use the junction. He stated that there have been several accidents, including those involving cyclists and pedestrians, and that the community desires safe crossing facilities.
Freedom of Information Act requests made by Mr Werlinger indicated that the council began designing a pedestrian crossing in 2015. However, emails from 2019 suggested that approval from TfL for new traffic signals had been significantly delayed due to the complexity of signal modelling and other construction projects. The council informed Mr Werlinger that TfL had cancelled funding for the design work in 2022, citing Covid-19.
TfL, however, disputed this, telling the Local Democracy Reporting Service that it did not withdraw funding. TfL stated that in 2020 and 2021, the council had used its annual Local Implementation Plan (LIP) funding for such work. TfL did not provide this funding in 2022 and 2023 due to a disagreement over the council's decision to remove low traffic neighbourhoods in Bethnal Green, which had been established using LIP funds. The council has now indicated it hopes to secure funding for the crossing from a developer involved in the regeneration of nearby Bow Goods Yard.
It feels a bit as if TfL and Tower Hamlets Council are pointing at each other. They all agreed a crossing was needed.
Adam Werlinger, resident
What Happens Next
Tower Hamlets Council is now seeking funding from a developer for the regeneration of Bow Goods Yard to finance the pedestrian crossing. The Local Democracy Reporting Service has contacted the council for further comment.
Questions this report answers
+Why is there no pedestrian crossing at the Wick Lane junction of the A12?
A pedestrian crossing has not been installed at the Wick Lane junction of the A12 because of ongoing delays in planning and funding. A senior coroner recommended the crossing in February 2020 following a fatal crash, but discussions between Tower Hamlets Council and TfL have been protracted.
+What caused the delays in installing the pedestrian crossing?
Delays have been attributed to complex signal modelling, other construction projects, and a dispute between Tower Hamlets Council and TfL over the use of Local Implementation Plan (LIP) funding. The council also stated that funding for design work was cancelled in 2022 due to Covid-19, a claim TfL disputes.
+What is the current plan to get a crossing installed?
Tower Hamlets Council now hopes to secure funding for the pedestrian crossing from a developer involved in the regeneration of the nearby Bow Goods Yard. This is the latest proposed route to finance the long-awaited safety measure.
WE FILE
No invented reporter. No hidden source trail.
The London Travel Desk assembled this report from the outlets listed below. Language-model drafting is reviewed under human editorial supervision, with scoring notes and corrections kept visible.
More Coverage in Roads & Driving
A316 Chertsey Road lanes closed after car and van crash
M25 Crash Causes Major Tunnel Congestion
M25 Traffic Disruption: Crash and Car Fire Cause Major Delays
