A Kingston roundabout will not be removed as part of potential safety changes to a junction. Kingston Council has ruled out getting rid of the Fountain Roundabout, in New Malden, after backlash from residents and opposition councillors.

The council will only investigate turning the junction into a "Dutch-style roundabout", where pedestrians and cyclists have priority, or making minimal changes by adding zebra or parallel crossings to its western arm.

Officers will model the options and consult with residents later this year, before deciding whether to move ahead with either option.

The council is looking at making changes to the roundabout after receiving concerns about its safety due to its layout, vehicle speeds, inadequate protection for pedestrians and cyclists and poor visibility at entry and exit points.

It originally agreed to spend £100,000 on reviewing the junction in 2023 and proposed to install a zebra crossing, but officers later ruled this would not resolve the issues and appointed consultants to investigate it further.

There were 24 collisions at the junction between January 2020 and December 2024, which resulted in 25 casualties – including one fatality. The percentage of serious and fatal collisions in this period was 20 per cent, which was higher than the borough average of 17 per cent.

Officers had recommended the council move ahead with modelling options to turn the junction into a "Dutch-style" roundabout or scrap it entirely at the New and Old Malden neighbourhood committee on January 22.

But the committee agreed to withdraw the proposal to remove the roundabout, after fierce opposition from residents.

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A petition by Kingston Independent Residents Group (KIRG) had also called on the authority to axe this option, which was first put forward under its old Conservative administration.

The petition said most people opposed the proposal then as they do now because it would remove the right turn from Malden Road into Burlington Road, endanger its historic monument and offer no clear improvement for walking or cycling.