Cross River Tram: Southwark Council reiterates support

"The tram is an extremely important initiative and will bring huge benefits south of the river," says Cllr Thomas. "This is our best chance in decades to get Southwark well and truly on the public transport map.

"Journey times into central London will be halved for some sections of the route – residents of the Aylesbury Estate will be able to get to Waterloo in 14 minutes.

"It is really important that we all get behind the Cross River Tram project. I hope that people will take this opportunity to give TfL their views and support."

The proposed Cross River Tram will link Camden Town in the north with Peckham and Brixton in the south, crossing the river via Waterloo Bridge.

Cllr Thomas's call for local residents to back the tram proposals coincides with an exhibition on the Aylesbury Estate in SE17 jointly organised by Transport for London and Southwark Council.

The exhibition, to be held at Thurlow Lodge Community Hall, Thurlow Street, between 3pm and 8pm on Thursday 12 April, will show how the Cross River Tram project will relate to the major regeneration schemes at the Elephant and Castle and on the Aylesbury Estate.

The Aylesbury Estate event is the first in a series of local exhibitions and events following a larger consultation exercise held between November 2006 and January 2007.

One of the key issues addressed by the last round of consultation was whether the Brixton branch should divide from the Peckham branch at Waterloo or Elephant and Castle.

The London Assembly's transport committee backed the Waterloo option in its formal submission to TfL.