Barriers were ripped down ‘like the Berlin Wall’ in a historic ceremony on Tolworth Broadway today.

The event marked the start of the £3 million Greenway project.

Councillors and a Tolworth solicitor teamed up to bid goodbye to the first barrier.

Duncan Brown, partner at Chivers Eastern Brown on Ewell Road, volunteered to represent the businesses that pushed for the move.

He said: “I was there when the first barrier came down like the Berlin Wall. I am as happy as Larry. I have been pushing for this for 10 years.”

Councillors Rolson Davies, Vicky Harris, Sharon Hartley and Malcolm Self joined him at the ceremony.

Coun Davies said: “The message really is that it will regenerate the broadway.

"People are so sidetracked with the issue with the barrier but when you look at what is being done, we are putting crossings in and trees, all the pavements are going to be completely re-laid and all of that seems to be somehow being missed.

“We need to bring new types of businesses there, a new mix of bussineses so that we do not have so much reliance on fast food retailers.

"We are opening it up to a much wider range where local people can shop."

What do you think? Will the Greenway regenerate Tolworth? Leave a comment below or send a letter to: letters@surreycomet.co.uk.