Transport for London's refusal to answer questions about the tram scheme will make the public consultation that starts next month worthless, says the anti-tram pressure group Save Ealing's Streets.

Over the last two years TfL has promised to answer questions about its plan to run a tram from Uxbridge to Shepherd's Bush. Yet SES says its questions about the details of the scheme have gone unanswered, and that this will make it difficult for local people to decide whether they want the tram.

"In the interests of trying to make this scheme work for the people of West London we have asked numerous questions," says Sue Deans of SES. "But we have no answers. The details of the scheme are unclear, and now local people are to be asked for their views on a scheme that is still poorly defined - even TfL doesn't know how it's going to work. This is farcical. How can anyone assess a scheme when you don't know how it will work?"

Important issues that remain unclear include:

* How will North/South links around the Uxbridge Road work? Many of these are already seriously congested.
* Where will diverted traffic go and how will it affect local streets when the Uxbridge Road capacity is cut to 500 vehicles an hour?
* How will the tram affect air quality and noise in streets around the Uxbridge Road?

TfL plans to close the Uxbridge Road at Acton and West Ealing, and to partially close it at Shepherd's Bush and Ealing Broadway to accommodate the tram. "TfL has been cavalier throughout this process," says Ms Deans. "All it has put in the public domain has been propaganda, saying how marvellous the tram will be. It is curiously unwilling to offer any facts."

SES is organising a public protest at Haven Green, Ealing Broadway, on Saturday July 3 from 10.30am. Following a march, soapbox orators will have the chance to tell TfL and Ealing Council why they believe the scheme is not acceptable for West London. The group has invited the Mayor Ken Livingstone, the project's manager Tim Jones and the Leader of Ealing Council, John Cudmore.

"This could be the last chance local people have to oppose the tram in public," says Ms Deans. "We want people to have all the information that is available about the tram before they fill in their consultation forms."

Save Ealing's Streets Web site