Almost 2,000 East London residents are calling for a partial council tax rebate
Frustrated Havering residents are calling for compensation after Transport for London (TfL) further delayed the reopening of Gallows Corner. TfL was meant to reopen the busy A12 roundabout and flyover by the end of April, but over the weekend said this is no longer possible due to an issue connecting the water main which runs underneath the interchange.
A Change.org petition launched in March calling for the immediate reopening of Gallows Corner has reached almost 2,000 signatures. Petition starter Liz O’Grady is also calling for affected residents to get a partial council tax refund from September 2025 when the route was meant to reopen.
Ms O’Grady said the Havering community has “reached breaking point”, with a Ardleigh Green and surrounding roads especially impacted by congestion and potholes. In February the matter appeared to be coming to an end when TfL announced a clear roadmap for the reopening of Gallows Corner.
This included exactly when specific repairs were happening, along with the intention to complete all works by the end of April. The transport authority now says it will reopen as soon as possible, but has not provided a new date.
We are now approaching a full year since Gallows Corner was shut on June 23, 2025. Dave Thompson, who owns Rapid Mechanical Services situated a stone’s throw from the roundabout, was forced to shut his dream business in February due to financial problems caused by the closure.
“It’s been a sham from day one, really,” he told MyLondon “Since June it’s been poor – business has been going down. People don’t want to come into the area, and couriers are struggling to deliver parts – they used to come in every day and now it’s once a week.
“It’s been a farce. The bottom line is, we need some sort of compensation, and if it is coming, it’s too late, and it’s not going to be enough. We’ve gone down by 67 per cent. The business can’t sustain itself any longer so [on] Friday we’re actually shutting the doors.”
‘We are very sorry for the further disruption’
Scott Haxton , TfL’s Director of Capital Delivery, said: “All significant TfL works at Gallows Corner have now been completed and Essex and Suffolk Water (ESW) has also made progress with its complex and challenging work. During testing, ESW identified further work needed to ensure the water main is fully assured.
“We are working together with ESW to ensure this vital work can be done at pace and we are exploring whether a partial reopening may be possible in the meantime. We are very sorry for the further disruption this will cause to local residents and businesses, and we remain committed with ESW to confirm an opening date as soon as possible.”
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