MORE than £600,000 worth of street improvements have been made in Wanstead to encourage people to swap cars for foot power.

Extra lighting, improved pavements and safer pedestrian crossings have all be introduced in the area around the High Street as part of the Key Route project which was funded jointly by Transport for London (TfL) and Redbridge Council.

TfL claims the scheme has already led to a big rise in the number of people using Christchurch Green as a short cut to the High Street after new lights were introduced to illuminate the entire site at night.

The move has been welcomed by residents living close to the Green, who complained for decades about the site's poor lighting - particularly in the areas around Christ Church and the children's play area - which many blamed for encouraging anti-social behaviour.

Extra lighting and pavement improvements have also been made to make walking between Snaresbrook and Wanstead Tube stations more pleasant.

The most eyecatching of these changes is the strip lighting installed underneath the bridge at Snaresbrook station.

Textured paving and dropped curbs have also been introduced to provide easier access to the High Street for disabled people.

The project is part of the Mayor of London's city-wide Transport Strategy.

Peter McBride, Head of Cycling, Walking and Accessibility, at TfL said: "Better and safer streets encourage people to walk and to walk more often.

"By supporting the improvements, Redbridge has made to Wanstead High Street we hope that many more people will be encouraged to walk to this busy and attractive shopping street. This will be good for the environment, good for the local economy and good for people too.

"Preliminary monitoring results show a 75 per cent increase in numbers of pedestrians using the Green as a walkway during the day time and a 122 per cent increase during the night due to increased security as a result of new lighting."

Scott Wilding of Redbridge Council said: "Through working together we have improved not only the public realm, but ensured a local High Street is accessible to all."