AN OPPOSITION councillor says council claims over safety at a notorious roundabout are “garbage”.

People living in South Woodford have been campaigning for better safety at Charlie Brown’s Roundabout for over 20 years, amid growing concerns children and elderly people are at risk crossing its “dangerous” roads.

But after Redbridge Council’s Labour administration claimed “months of hard work” has resulted in them securing a new pedestrian crossing for the roundabout, long-standing opposition councillors have slammed them as “garbage”.

The Labour group claim that after negotiations between Transport for London (TfL), council leader Jas Athwal, Roding councillor Lloyd Duddridge and Ilford North MP Wes Streeting, work will begin on a new toucan crossing for the roundabout in early 2018.

But Liberal Democrat Roding councillor Ian Bond says Labour’s claims are “old news” and something he and his colleague Gwyneth Deakins already achieved last year.

He said: “What Labour is claiming is ‘news’, we have actually known since 2015.

“We have been in this situation at least twice before, when TfL have had plans for the roundabout for two or three years’ time and then they drop them.

“This is a hugely important project that affects children, the elderly and hundreds of other residents.

“What we need to do now is put pressure on TfL to make sure they keep their promises.”

Speaking to the Guardian in December 2015, TfL road space management director Alan Bristow promised work would begin on “improved pedestrian facilities” at the roundabout in early 2018.

Cllr Deakins handed a petition to her colleague and chair of the London Assembly’s transport committee Caroline Pidgeon last month, putting pressure on TfL to deliver on its promises and avoid previous years' disappointments.

But despite her claims Labour is “taking credit” for a Lib Dem campaign, council leader Jas Athwal congratulated his colleague on his work on the project.

He said: “Our local Lloyd has lived in Woodford his whole life and he knew the status quo at Charlie Brown’s could not continue.

“He is a great champion for the north of the borough and it is great that in only a few short months as a Labour councillor, he has worked with TfL to try and get an optimal outcome for all.

“Politics is not about press releases, but working in the background for a better outcome for residents like we have – not just collecting signatures on petitions like we saw last week from Cllr Deakins and London Assembly member Keith Prince.”

Cllr Deakins slammed the council leader’s response, saying: “What they are saying is complete garbage – they have done nothing whatsoever to contribute to this campaign.

“The point is not whether Charlie Brown’s is in TfL’s programme for 2018, but whether changes actually happen.”