THE long-awaited pedestrian subway between Walthamstow Central bus and Underground stations has been delayed for another two years.

Travellers were originally promised the subway in spring 2005 but the deadline was put back to last month.

Now the Guardian has learned construction company Birse Metro has only just been awarded the contract to do the work which it is not expected to be completed before 2007.

A Transport for London spokesman said the work would take two years to complete because there was a lot to be done.

Birse is installing a new communications system, fire system, CCTV network, electrics, and floor and ceiling. Two new lifts will provide disabled and pushchair access down to a new ticket hall on the bus station side of Selborne Road which will connect to the underpass.

An underground communications room also has to be moved to make way for the work and new, larger staff accommodation will form part of the project.

TfL said that when the bus station was built by contractors Jackson Civil Engineering on behalf of the council, the company was only contracted to construct the basic subway structure.

London Underground is responsible for carrying out the rest of the work.

But some residents are unhappy that it has taken so long to get things going.

Keith Foster, of Farnan Avenue, Walthamstow, said: "It's not good enough because the public hasn't been given all the information. Somebody's trying to suppress information by not making it known that the underpass couldn't be opened for another two years.

"Why couldn't they have done it at the same time, saving the issue of pedestrians still having to dodge in and out of the traffic at ground level?"

Walthamstow MP Neil Gerrard said that he had been told this month that the work would be completed by Easter next year and it was a long time to wait until 2007.

He added: "Clearly what happened was there was a problem with money.

"It should all have all been done at the same time."