The leader of Bromley Council has doubled-down on the authority’s position towards a potential extension of the Bakerloo tube line, saying the city centre needs additional transport links and not a replacement.

Cllr Colin Smith’s comments came after Labour members asked if he ignored feedback from residents who supported an extension of the line.

In response, Cllr Smith said the council’s latest response to Transport for London’s consultation had echoed previous feedback the authority had given on the plans.

Under the proposal, which could be implemented in the 2030s and cost up to £3bn, the Underground service would run to Lewisham before taking over the existing Hayes line which connects the area to London Bridge.

Given many Bromley residents rely on the current Hayes line, the council has previously instead argued for additional capacity and connectivity for already existing services in Bromley town centre.

“We don’t want a replacement for Hayes line, we want additional functionality to Bromley city centre and Bromley south,” Cllr Smith told councillors at February’s full meeting of council. 

The statement came after Cllr Ian Dunn asked asked how the council responded to the most recent consultation, with Labour claiming the authority had ignored the opinions of locals in favour of the Bakerloo extension.

“We had this question the last time four years ago when this show rolled into town,” Cllr Smith responded. 

“I know what the residents of Hayes, West Wickham and Elmers End want. I’m a Hayes resident and I’ve actually asked real people in the real world, not based on half of a TfL consultation.”   

The latest consultation on the proposal was held by TfL at the end of 2019.

It follows feedback given in previous public consultations in 2014, which focused on a comprehensive analysis of the route options, and in 2017 which highlighted potential station and shaft locations.

TfL say that the results of the consultation will be published later this year.