City Hall has failed to respond to a series of queries and Freedom of Information (FOI) requests about the further delay to the Gallows Corner roundabout in Romford fully reopening, senior Conservative politicians have claimed.

According to My London, Shadow Cabinet Minister Julia Lopez, who is the MP for Hornchurch and Upminster, filed a series of requests last month to the Mayor’s office around funding, cost projections, timelines and support for businesses affected by the continued closure.

Public authorities are required to respond to FOI requests within 20 working days, and inform the applicant if this is not possible, however, Ms Lopez, who has heavily criticised both Sir Sadiq Khan and Transport for London over the handling of the Gallows Corner closure, alleged no contact has been made.

She maintains that delays have had a significant impact on local businesses. In many cases, the traffic build-up on alternative routes prompted potential clients and customers to not bother using their services at all, some said.

Ms Lopez said:

“Residents and businesses have endured more than a year of severe disruption and deserve to know why key decisions were taken on Gallows Corner, what they have cost and who is picking up the bill.

“The Mayor has sole political responsibility for TfL. He has neither answered nor even acknowledged a Freedom of Information request concerning a major infrastructure project and the use of substantial amounts of public money.

“This comes at a time when TfL’s debts are spiralling on his watch and Londoners in every part of the capital are crying out for TfL investment.”

(Picture: TfL)