Thousands of campaigners have signed a petition demanding for a new Bakerloo line station to be built in an “expensive but deprived” section of South London.
The campaigners want the £3.1billion extension to Lewisham to have a new station at the Bricklayers Arms roundabout between Elephant and Castle and Old Kent Road.
Transport for London (TfL) is currently planning two stations on Old Kent Road, a stop at New Cross Gate and another in Lewisham.
Chair of the Tower Bridge Road Alliance and owner of the Tower Tandoori restaurant, Suhel Ahmed, said the area needs a transport hub, following years of campaigning.
Speaking to the Standard, he said: “We have become a deprived area. People don't really venture here unless they have to so we never get any passing trade.
"A Tube station would benefit everyone including bars, pubs and small businesses. There's so much opportunity if there was a transport hub here.
"These roads have never seen the kind of development and social improvement that you see in all the other parts of London which are just a stone's throw away."
Mr Ahmed’s family has owned the restaurant for decades and argues although the rents in the area are similar to those of areas that are fully developed, it lacks a transport hub.
Former Lib Dem MP Simon Hughes is among leaders who have backed the proposal for the new station.
Mr Hughes: "Residents local to the Bricklayers Arms roundabout have long suffered from overcrowded and overstretched bus routes. Liberal Democrats want to ensure that all residents reap the benefits of the new Bakerloo line extension bringing with it fast and efficient transport links to Central London.
"We will continue to fight residents' corner in demanding an additional station be built at the Bricklayers Arms roundabout."
TfL hopes the Bakerloo line extension; due for completion by 2030 will lead to development of at least 25,000 new homes to the boroughs of Southward and Lewisham.
It will operate a service every two to three minutes between Lewisham and central London.