Bricklayers Arms subways to be filled in

TfL says that it carried out a survey last summer and found that the foot tunnels are only used 50-70 times a day between 7am and 7pm, with most pedestrians choosing to cross the road at ground level.

"A key factor in this is the design of the central island and subway network, which attracts crime and anti-social behaviour," says TfL in the introduction to its online consultation.

"The main scope of the work being proposed is to block up the subways and improve the crossings at street level."

TfL is inviting comments on the proposals, but work is already planned to start in mid-February.

"As part of our wider work to improve the capital's road network, we are currently consulting on a scheme which would see the subways at the Bricklayers Arms roundabout in Southwark filled in and the existing pedestrian crossings improved to make the area more pleasant and accessible for all," says Nigel Hardy, head of TfL's capital development team for roads.

"Subject to the outcome of this public engagement, work would begin in mid-February and be completed by summer 2013."

The scheme includes a new pedestrian crossing from the north-eastern corner of the traffic island, nearest Tower Bridge Road.

TfL also intends to remove the concrete wall which surrounds the central island and to install improved street lighting.

The consultation has been launched in the same week that the Mayor of London ruled out turning the Bricklayers Arms flyover into an elevated park similar to New York's High Line.

Three years ago Simon Hughes MP wrote to TfL calling for the Bricklayers Arms subways to be closed.

• At nearby Elephant & Castle Richard and Lyla Reynolds recently launched a Save our Subways campaign.