The votes are in: Tolworth Greenway has split the community right down the middle, as building for the multimillion pound project goes ahead.

A straw poll of 50 people, days before work begins, revealed half of the residents and traders asked opposed the scheme, concerned about danger and disruption. The other half were hopeful it would help businesses.

Kerri Chadwick, 42, from Chadwick and Co Hair and Beauty, said: “Anything to update the Broadway would be good, especially for the businesses, and to make it brighter and bring in more people.”

Saif Shariefi, 32, an IT consultant from PC Rescue Squad, said: “We are definitely worried about it. We will have six months of disruption and traffic chaos.

“I am going to meet the contractors and see what will happen, because 24 weeks is too much.”

Twickenham resident Geraint Williams, 40, who works in Tolworth, said it would improve the grim views of the road.

Karin Reed, 50, from Northcote Avenue, said: “How are they going to make the traffic flow? I am not convinced that people would really feel secure in the middle of the road.”

Preparatory work will begin on Monday, with building work due to start on March 18.