I'd be grateful for views and comments on the following e-mail which I've just received from Lewisham Council:

"Dear Councillors,

TfL's are proposing to reconstruct part of the A2 Blackheath Hill starting 16th February. During these works all the eastbound traffic on the A2 is to be diverted, for about 10 weeks, and we still have some issues with TfL's proposed diversions.

The general traffic diversion has been agreed via Lewisham Road, through Lewisham and down Lee High Road, through Lee Green and out onto the A20, thus minimising displaced traffic through Blackheath. Clearly local traffic will still use Belmont Hill and other local roads including Lewisham Hill, Wat Tyler Road and Hare and Billet Road but these will not be signed.

However, TfL buses are still proposing to use Lewisham Road, turning left into Lewisham Hill and Wat Tyler Road and right into Hare and Billet Road and on into Blackheath. We do not feel this is a suitable route for this amount of extra buses in addition to the local displaced traffic and the existing 380 bus already using this route. Our preferred diversion route would be the established bus route of Belmont Hill and Lee Terrace to get into Blackheath and then out to the A2.

There will be over 1300 diverted buses per week as well as the existing 1100 or so on the 380 route, making a total of just over 2500 buses per week using Lewisham Hill, Wat Tyler Road and Hare and Billet Road to reach Lewisham.

Should we continue to object to their proposed diversion route the issue will be referred to TfL's Network Management Group (NMG) to either agree or otherwise with our objection and apparently they have the power of veto in this issue. This process would probably result in a couple of weeks delay to the 15th Feb start.

We are keen to ensure that the political support is also with us as the last thing we would want is for local councillors or MP's to disagree with our stance once the works have started. My objections are purely practical in terms of route suitability and safety as well as a requirement to safeguard assets i.e. the existing carriageway and heath.

Clearly bus journeys may take longer in getting to Blackheath and out onto the A2 using our preferred route than using their preferred route and this issue is one that needs careful consideration.

I would be interested in your views on this before I confirm our objection to their route early next week."