We have been clearly promised a full refurbishment of the subway repeatedly and over a number of years. Funding to do the job has been identified, including money obtained as part of the Berkeley Homes development under a Section 106 agreement. Work was expected to start in September.

Resurfacing of the subway including work to the steps has always been seen as an integral part of the job as has replacement of all of the lighting (which the Forest Hill Society was told would be done under a new Council PFI contract). Upgrading handrails to modern standards has been assumed to be part of the job if a refurbishment is being undertaken, even if the only ones that have been specified in Council Minutes are those at the Perry Vale end which are clearly rotting away. The project has been delayed for a very long time supposedly to allow plans to be drawn up and all the various elements involving Network Rail, Lewisham Council and contractors to be coordinated. As the shortcomings in the plans become evident, I feel sure that all the Councillors who have made public statements about the subway will be doing their best to ensure that what is delivered meets all reasonable public expectations. In my view, as a minimum these must include full resurfacing including a proper refurbishment of the steps, sorting out the drainage, cladding the tunnel section, replacing all the lighting, provision of handrails meeting modern standards and appropriate treatment to the areas covered by murals (whatever that may involve). I would hope we would end up with a subway comparable with those we would find in a refurbished Tube station or one of the new Overground stations.