Sadiq Khan has been called on “not to vandalise Golders Green” as work on a bus station threatens an historical war memorial.

Plans from Transport for London for the re-development of Golders Green bus station see the Clock Tower war memorial, unveiled in 1923, moved from the junction of Finchley Road and North End.

Childs Hill councillors Peter Zinkin and Shimon Ryde expressed their opposition to the plans at a policy and resources committee meeting on February 23.

They asked their Conservative colleagues in Golders Green and Garden Suburb wards to make their case with residents to TfL and the mayor of London on the preservation of the town centre.

Cllr Zinkin said: “I call on TfL and the mayor of London not to vandalise the centre of Golders Green and to work with local councillors and their residents to rethink their plans.

“Any proposals put forward must be sympathetic to the existing town centre and the movement of the war memorial must be sensitive and respectful to the memory of those it honours.”

Cllr Ryde expressed concerns TfL’s current plans were driven by a “cash-pressed TfL” rather than design sympathetic to the historic town centre, and had the potential to cause traffic chaos.

With the war memorial set to be moved to make way for new roads which would increase traffic, he said the area “simply cannot cope with more buses and coaches”.

TfL expressed its interest in “sustainable development” which “improves the transport network, creates jobs and provides homes Londoners can afford”.

Commercial development director Graeme Craig said: “We are in very early discussions with Barnet Council to explore what could be delivered at Golders Green in a way entirely sympathetic to the historic character of the area.

“We look forward to working in partnership with Barnet Council and the local community as proposals emerge.”

Golders Green town centre’s shopping parades feature buildings in the late Victorian, English Renaissance, Art Nouveau and Baroque styles.

The mayor of London's office has been approached for comment.