Clapham High Street may well be a 'local high street', but it is also one of the main arterial routes out of London - i.e., the A24.  So unfortunately that will not happen until, not there's a fundamental change in modes of transport.

What would be good would be an underpass from, say, the bottom of Balham Hill and resurfacing at Stockwell or further...

Clapham High Street may well be a 'local high street', but it is also one of the main arterial routes out of London - i.e., the A24.  So unfortunately that will not happen until, not there's a fundamental change in modes of transport.

What would be good would be an underpass from, say, the bottom of Balham Hill and resurfacing at Stockwell or further...

Pedestrianise the old town by the sun and bus garage... and what about Venn street that will defo work cobbled street and great bars and cinema restaurants... makes sense to me..

They dont even clean the paths so very much much doubt they will bypass a scruffy south london town

I agree that the High Street cant be closed as its a main route out of town. Perhaps close Venn street to traffic and create the Piazza that was once promised to replace the old town bus stop. There will still need to be a route through the old town though. The high street does suffer from pollution due to the volume of traffic passing through either going to or coming from every direction. Not sure much can be done.

As per Clapham's scruffy south london town's status, yes there are scruffy bits like most parts of london and London is one giant scruffy city. The council does try its best to clean Clapham and the high street (regularly) but it would be more helpful if residents and visitors to Clapham bin their litter instead of dropping it on the streets.  

as per Clapham high street's legendary scruffiness - well this is a very north london drag and is closer in spirit to Camden Town or Kenitsh Town than to the increasingly engineered pretentiousness of Balham or Battersea. Somehow I don't think having a preponderance of exclusive upmarket shops aimed mainly at the ABC banking and yummy mummy clans of nappy valley will work on Clapham high Street which has a cosmpolitan, democratic and highly diverse population that includes brigades of druggies, alkies, beggars and outright loonies. It will not work here, Abbeville Road does the precious twee thing far better.

Incidentally its that cosmopolitan mix of people, wealth, poverty, inclusiveness, madness and scruffiness and an ability to transform itself into a cheesy and lively entertainment drag at night that makes Clapham High Street an interesting and loved paradox.

Funnily enough, with all the work that's currently being carried out to replace all the old Victorian waterpipes, you have sort of had your wish granted!  Venn Street has no through traffic, and part of the Pavement is closed for the same reason.

Net result?  Honking great traffic jams at Clapham Common.  The idea of an underpass under the whole area is growing on me...