Members of a community centre have "overwhelmingly" welcomed a proposal to extend a bus route following a 10 year campaign.

Transport for London (TfL) is consulting on changes to the S1 bus route which runs between Banstead and Mitcham via Sutton and St Helier.

As part of the plan buses would no longer run down London Road from Upper Green East to the Fair Green and Lower Green, but would instead run on an extended route from Upper Green East to Victoria Road via London Road terminating at Fairfield Close.

The changes would bring an extra 700 households within 400m of a bus stop and help close a long standing "hole" in public transport in one of the most deprived areas of the borough.

The frequency of buses would also increase from three to four per hour and from two to three per hour in the evenings and on Sundays.

Your Local Guardian: WIMB: Community group "overwhelmingly" support bus route extension

Map detailing the proposed extension to the S1 route, and roads which would no longer be served

The campaign to bring buses to the Colliers Wood and Lavender Fields area of Mitcham, led by residents and councillors including Councillor Edith Macauley, began more than 10 years ago with a consultation on changes finally launched by TfL late last month.

Last week the Positive Network, based at the Taylor Road Community Centre, hosted a public meeting on the plans which was attended by about 60 residents and local councillors.

The group host activities for the community including dance, cooking, advice and information sessions.

Grace Salmon, who runs the centre, said: "It’s going to make a difference to our centre because it is a bit of a trek to get here as there no buses.

"The nearest bus stop is Figges Marsh and it’s about half a mile away.

"If you are young and fit then you can get away with it but there are a lot of elderly people that live around this area and they would welcome it.

"Now the bus stop will be outside of Taylor Road which will make it much easier for people to get in and back out again to the main street."

Neil Malcolm, chairman of the Lavender Residents and Tenants Association, said: "Any children in the 11 to 18 age range need to get to secondary schools and there are none in the area.

"In the same area we have no church halls and our only community facilities are the Lavender pavilions and the children's centre in Steer's Mead.

"We have always been told if we want public facilities we can access them in other parts of the borough but if you don’t have any public transport there are an awful lot of people who can't do that."

The consultation will close on April 26 with any changes expected to come into force from November 30.

For more information visit consult.merton.gov.uk.

Do you support the S1 bus route being extended to Colliers Wood? Have your say below or email your thoughts to lmay@london.newsquest.co.uk.