A South London council has won funding from Transport for London (TfL) to investigate and improve safety at a key roundabout after facing criticism over a £250,000 scheme to make it 'pretty'.

Kingston Council revealed plans to revamp the roundabout, which was damaged by Storm Eunice in 2022, and its neighbouring pocket park earlier this year. 

The authority announced the winning design team in July, following a competition held in partnership with the London Festival of Architecture (LFA).

Judges ruled the winning scheme, named 'Unearthing New Malden', was the 'best solution to enhance the green space at the Fountain Roundabout, increase biodiversity and access to nature, and create an inclusive and attractive public space for the town centre'. Competition documents from the LFA said the anticipated budget for the scheme is around £250,000 plus VAT.

But spokesperson for Kingston Cycling Campaign claimed pedestrians take their life in their hands at the Fountain Roundabout, New Malden, and said works to improve its safety should be prioritised over a revamp of its appearance.

The council has now told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) it secured £96,000 from TfL earlier this year to investigate and improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists at the roundabout, along with issues with vehicles loading and unloading in New Malden High Street.

Jon Fray, from the cycling campaign, previously told the LDRS the roundabout is "very intimidating and very busy". He said drivers often speed around it as it is so big.

Mr Fray said: "You see people struggling to get across [the roundabout] and very, very often there are people driving tooting their horns because someone is doing something that they don't like. And, partly because the roundabout is so big, it allows people to drive fast."

He added: "On two arms of the roundabout there are no proper pedestrian crossings, so at the end of [New Malden] High Street you sort of take your life in your hands and hope that someone's going to stop for you.

"On the Kingston Road side… there's absolutely nothing at all, it's impossible for anyone with a buggy or wheelchair to get across there. what we're saying is they need to fix the physical side of stuff and then, by all means, make things look pretty afterwards."

Mr Fray said the council previously worked on a bid to TfL for funding to 'make the junction safer'.

'A Gateway to New Malden' competition winner. (Photo: Hayatsu Architects/Hortus Collection)

In September 2014, the council's policy and finance committee approved transport initiatives to be included in a 2015/16 funding bid to TfL.

The list, revealed in a council report, included potential works at the Fountain Roundabout. It said the Maldens and Coombe strategic working group was 'working on options to reduce congestion and collisions, particularly pedestrians and cycles, and introduce public realm alterations to the Fountain Roundabout area'.

Mr Fray said new pedestrian crossings should be installed at the roundabout and suggested it could be made smaller to free up space.

Regarding the implementation of measures to improve safety at the roundabout, he said: "We appreciate that it's more expensive to do that, but we think that whatever money there is should be going towards fixing the fundamental problem and not painting over the cracks."

A spokesperson for Kingston Council said it is "committed to supporting all active travel, including cycling, as a healthy, safe and enjoyable way to travel around the borough".

They said: "We are working closely with communities to complete and improve the Kingston to New Malden and Ewell Road cycle routes, to help ensure that travelling around our borough is a safe choice for all.

"Earlier this year, the council secured £96,000 from TfL specifically to investigate and improve pedestrian and cycle safety at the roundabout, alongside issues with vehicles loading and unloading in New Malden High Street. The council's highways and regeneration teams are working closely to ensure that the projects are coordinated and enable any future highways improvement works to take place."

Regarding the 'Unearthing New Malden' scheme, the spokesperson said: "Exciting public realm schemes like this one help us to bring life into our high streets. The project is currently at the concept stage and we look forward to continuing engagement with local residents, stakeholders and businesses to consider all aspects of design, including safety, to create a place that we can all enjoy. During the coming weeks, the scheme will be further developed and a road safety audit will be undertaken to ensure the safety of all users."