Recenty, Chuka joined local people to hand in the Bring the Tube to Streatham Petition to Number 10 Downing Street. In the above video, Chuka discusses the campaign outside Number 10.

Follow this link to read more about the campaign.

Recently, Chuka and local residents made the trip up to 10 Downing Street to hand in the Bring the Tube to Streatham Petition – which now has over 1,000 signatures – to the Prime Minister.

Chuka said: “The fact that we’ve already got well over a thousand signatures demonstrates the strength of backing local people have given to bringing the tube here.

“Although TfL has authority over London Underground, a project of this size would need the support and funding from central government, which is why we have submitted the petition to the Prime Minister.

“I urge those who have not yet done so to sign the petition so we can keep up the pressure on TfL and make our voices heard.

“This is a long term project – we need to make the case for Streatham now so that when there is more funding available for expanding the tube, we are at the front of the queue.”

If you have not done so already, sign the petition here.

Follow this link to find out more about the campaign.

This week Chuka Umunna, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Streatham, and local residents made the trip to Number 10 Downing Street and handed in the petition to Bring the Tube to Streatham, which now has over 1,000 signatures, to the Prime Minister.

Last Summer, it emerged that London Mayor Boris Johnson and Transport for London (TfL) were considering an extension of the Bakerloo Line to Bromley in Kent via Lewisham. In response to this, Chuka joined with local residents to launch the campaign for Streatham to also be considered as an option for the tube extension.

Following this, TfL is now considering a range of options for extending the line into South London, including one which would see it come to Streatham.

The Mayor’s Transport Strategy document, released in October 2010, highlighted the shortcomings of the transport system in South London and that the current situation is not good enough.

Chuka and local campaigners will also be handing the petition in to London Mayor Boris Johnson at City Hall.

Neelofar Khan, owner of Chilli Chutney restaurant who was one of the group who handed the petition in to Number 10, said:

“Both Londoners and visitors to London have always asked which tube station is the nearest to Chilli Chutney in Streatham. When told that it is not on the tube, they often decline to travel to the area.

“To drive further footfall to the area and help with regeneration, it is vital that Streatham is brought back on the map. Only by bringing the tube to Streatham will we be able to attract people and business, thus enhancing the economic prosperity of Streatham.”

Chuka Umunna said: “The fact that we’ve already got well over a thousand signatures demonstrates the strength of backing local people have given to bringing the tube here.

“Although TfL has authority over London Underground, a project of this size would need the support and funding from central government, which is why we have submitted the petition to the Prime Minister.

“I urge those who have not yet done so to sign the petition so we can keep up the pressure on TfL and make our voices heard.

“This is a long term project – we need to make the case for Streatham now so that when there is more funding available for expanding the tube, we are at the front of the queue.”

The online petition to Bring the Tube to Streatham can be signed at http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/bring-the-tube-to-streatham.html

When Boris Johnson was running for Mayor in 2008 he included a pledge in his Transport Manifesto that said he would halt “the proposed Tube ticket office closures”, and ensure “there is always a manned ticket office at every station”. During his campaign he signed a petition that condemned plans to close Tube ticket offices and drastically reduce the opening hours of many others.

However, recent proposals from Transport for London suggest that the permanent closure of eleven ticket offices is under consideration and dozens more could face drastically reduced opening hours. The proposals would affect tube stations including Brixton, Clapham South, Clapham Common and Balham and result in hundreds of jobs being axed.

Under the proposals, Clapham South station ticket office would see its opening times cut by 46 hours per week, while Clapham Common station’s ticket office would be open for 32 fewer hours each week.

While currently Clapham South’s ticket office closes at 9.30pm on Saturdays and Sundays, under the Mayor’s planned changes it would be without a ticket office after 3.45pm on Saturday and 4.00pm on Sundays.

The ticket offices at Balham and Clapham Common will close at 7.45pm from Monday to Friday and Clapham South’s at 7.15pm, also closing for most of the afternoon, between 1.30pm and 5.00pm on weekdays.

If you would like to register your disappointment with the current proposals then you can contact to Transport for London at enquire {at} tfl.gov(.)uk, we will post any consultations on the proposals as soon as they are available.

Chuka Ummuna, who is opposing the planned reduction in ticket office opening hours, commented:

“Thousands of people use our underground stations on a daily basis and they form a vital connection with central London.

“The Mayor’s drastic cuts to opening times would see our local tube stations without ticket offices for hours on end at peak times.

“As well as the loss of customer service for tube users, I am concerned about the impact the changes could have on the safety of stations, particularly late at night.”

Chuka Umunna, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Streatham, has put the case for extending the tube to Streatham in his submission to TfL’s transport strategy consultation and is calling on local residents to join him.

People who want to back the campaign to bring the London Underground to Streatham should ensure they submit their responses before the consultation closes on Tuesday 12th January.

In his submission he outlined the benefits a tube extension would bring for local residents and businesses and the fact that there have been many previous plans to bring the London Underground to the area, none of which have come to fruition.

The tube would improve the area’s connections with central London, making life easier for commuters or people returning home after a night out whilst local shops and businesses would benefit from a boost in the number of potential customers coming to the area.

Linking Streatham into the tube network would help also relieve congestion on Streatham High Road, as well as the busy Victoria and Northern lines.

The Mayor’s Transport Strategy, published in October, recognised the lack of tube connections in South London, describing the “paucity of the Underground network” in the area and the need for “better public transport connectivity between inner north and inner south London”.

In September, TfL (Transport for London) confirmed that it is currently looking into a range of options to extend the Bakerloo line into South London, one of which could see the line come to Streatham.
Mr Umunna said:

“A tube stop is Streatham would massively improve local transport whilst bringing many knock-on benefits to our area.

“Having talked to people on the doorstep, it is also something which local residents are clearly in favour of.

“It is important that we keep up the pressure on the Mayor and TfL and make the case for bringing the London Underground here.”

People can register their views with TfL at http://mts.tfl.gov.uk/Have-your-say.aspx and sign the Bring the Tube to Streatham Petition at http://www.gopetition.co.uk/petitions/bring-the-tube-to-streatham.html

The consultation process which followed the release of the Mayor’s Transport Strategy is closing next week.

People who want to put their views to the Mayor and back the campaign to bring the London Underground to Streatham should ensure they submit their responses before the consultation closes on Tuesday 12th January.

Responses can be made by filling in an online form or via email attachment.

To register your views, follow this link.

Chuka has made a submission to the consultation outlining the benefits a tube extension would bring for local residents and businesses, and the fact that many previous plans to bring the London Underground to the area have failed to come to fruition.

The Mayor’s Transport Strategy, which was published in October, confirmed that Transport for London (TfL) is looking into a range of options for extending the Bakerloo line into South London.

It also identified the current shortcomings of the transport system in South London, describing the “paucity of the Underground network in South London” and the need for “better public transport connectivity between inner north and inner south London”.

Sign the Bring the Tube to Streatham petition here.

To find out more about the campaign, follow this link

London Mayor Boris Johnson has announced a major consultation on the future of London transport, which includes the potential scheme to bring the London Underground to Streatham.

Following the publication of the Mayor’s Transport Strategy, Londoners are being asked to register their views.

This is an important opportunity to let the Mayor and Transport for London (TfL) know what a difference a tube extension to Streatham, currently under consideration, would make.

The Mayor’s Transport Strategy recognised the lack of transport connections in South London, describing the “paucity of the Underground network” in the area and the need for “better public transport connectivity between inner north and inner south London”.

It also confirms that TfL is looking into a number of options to extend the Bakerloo line southwards with the route currently being under development. The report pledges that the Bakerloo extension will serve “areas with poor transport accessibility”.

Despite these positive developments, we need to keep up pressure if we want a Streatham tube extension to become a reality.

The decision on where to build the tube extension will take into account the views of residents and you can take part in the consultation at http://www.london.gov.uk/shaping-london/ before it closes on January 12th 2010.

Registering views online only takes around 5 minutes and could help determine whether the Tube comes to Streatham or elsewhere.

If you haven’t yet signed the petition to bring the tube to Streatham, do so here.

London Mayor Boris Johnson has announced a major consultation on the future of London transport, including the potential scheme to bring the London Underground to Streatham.

Following the publication of the Mayor’s Transport Strategy, Londoners are being asked to register their views online. Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Streatham Chuka Umunna is urging people to use the opportunity to let the Mayor and Transport for London (TfL) know what a difference a tube extension to Streatham, currently under consideration, would make.

The Strategy Document notes the lack of transport connections in South London and describes the “paucity of the Underground network” in the area, as well as the need for “better public transport connectivity between inner north and inner south London”.

It also confirms that TfL is looking into a number of options to extend the Bakerloo line southwards with the route currently being under development. The report pledges that the Bakerloo extension will serve “areas with poor transport accessibility”, a category into which local people argue Streatham falls.

The decision on where to build the tube extension will take into account the views of residents and people can take part in the consultation at http://mts.tfl.gov.uk/Have-your-say.aspx before it closes on January 12th 2010. Registering views online only takes around 5 minutes and could help determine whether the Tube comes to Streatham or elsewhere.

Supporters of the campaign should also sign the petition to bring the tube to Streatham at: http://www.gopetition.co.uk/petitions/bring-the-tube-to-streatham.html

Chuka Umunna said:

“It is important that we take up this opportunity to send a strong message to TfL and the Mayor and let them know what a massive difference having the tube in Streatham would make.

“Our campaign is having an impact at the highest levels, and we must keep up the momentum if we want a Streatham tube extension to become a reality.

“I urge local residents to take part in the Mayor’s consultation as well as signing the petition.”

The campaign to Bring the Tube to Streatham was launched in July by Chuka Umunna and local people after TfL confirmed that it was considering extending the Bakerloo line to Bromley in Kent.

Chuka’s letter was published in the Streatham Guardian on 8 October 2009, in response to a letter which featured the previous week:

What a pity that instead of hopping on board residents’ campaign to bring the tube to Streatham, Cllr Jeremy Clyne chooses to pour cold water on the idea (“No sign of Tube stop”, Letters, 1 October 2009). He suggests we claim TfL has already made a commitment to bring the tube to Streatham – this is certainly not the case otherwise what would be the point of the
campaign.

TfL initially only considered extending the Bakerloo line to Bromley via
Lewisham; thanks to hundreds of people like S Kazi (“Keep up Tube Momentum”, Letters, 24 September 2009) joining our campaign, TfL – whom I met with last month – is now considering two other options for the extension including one to Streatham via Camberwell and Herne Hill. To help make this a reality w need thousands not hundreds of signatures so I’d encourage everyone to sign the petition at www.gopetition.com/petitions/bring-the-tube-to-streatham.html.

I have already joined forces with Cllr Clyne’s Lib Dem colleague, Vince
Cable MP, to campaign for a high pay commission and to argue against the Tories attack on our civil liberties. What a shame that Cllr Clyne refuses to follow his colleague’s example here to work across party lines with a Labour politician to improve things for local people.

Chuka Umunna
Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham

Transport for London has announced that it is now considering extending the Bakerloo line to Streatham, following a high-profile campaign to bring the London Underground to the area led by Labour parliamentary candidate Chuka Umunna.

This week Transport for London (TfL) confirmed that it is now considering three options for the southward extension of the Bakerloo line, where previously it was only considering one, to Bromley in Kent via Lewisham.

One of the options now on the table is an extension to Streatham via Camberwell and Herne Hill, with preliminary investigations being made. A third option of extending the line to Catford is also now under consideration.

Chuka Umunna, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Streatham, launched the campaign to bring the tube to Streatham with local residents in July, after TfL confirmed that it was considering plans to extend the Bakerloo line to Bromley and Hayes in Kent. He and local people argued that it was unfair for Streatham to be left out of the Bakerloo discussions.

London Mayor Boris Johnson was accused of political bias in neglecting the transport needs of inner London. A petition was launched demanding that TfL also consider an extension to Streatham.
The Bakerloo line is considered the best option for bringing the London Underground to Streatham because of the capacity constraints which exist on the Victoria and Northern lines. TfL expects any Bakerloo extension plans to come to fruition after 2025.

Commenting on TfL’s decision, Umunna said:

“I am delighted that TfL is now considering a tube extension to Streatham. It is testament to the depth of feeling here in Streatham and the fact that so many local residents have got behind our campaign.

“However, the battle for the tube has only just started – Streatham is an “option” and we need to turn this into a reality. So far we have hundreds of signatures – we need thousands so I’d encourage every resident to go online and sign the petition.

“It is important that we continue to make the case for Streatham as Transport for London begins its investigation. The more local people who get behind bringing the tube here, the more chance it has of becoming a reality.”