Just a reminder - whatever your opinion - that the consultation on Dr Johnson Ave and Elmbourne Rd closes at midnight tonight (Friday 15th).

Here's the link:
http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/DrJ

There has been a really really vocal negative campaign about these plans but I live locally and I think its a brilliant idea. We don't really want roads bisecting our commons (my personal view is that Clapham Common is ruined by them).

Of course, it may have an impact on traffic on neighbouring streets but this is London dudes! Did you really think there would be no traffic when you chose to live in your house? It is my firm belief that traffic has a way of sorting itself out anyway, once there is gridlock (and many campaigners claim that these roads are already gridlocked) it can't get any worse. Some people will leave at different times of the day, some will use different routes, some public transport and some will take the much greener approach of running/walking and cycling. You can cargo bike kids and they can cycle a fair way from a young age. This "not in my backyard" attitude is understandable but a bit of a shame that people can't see the wider benefits for a much larger group of people.

Anyway, this is a trial. Give it a go. If, in reality, its a nightmare then its reasonable to make representations about that but I think its a shame to totally close off this rare opportunity to make a common a more pleasant place to visit before even giving it a bash.

A poem for Papinian...

We Don’t Care!

What right do motorists have to drive down our road?
Let somebody else the carry the load,
We don’t care where you go, or who you annoy,
It’s our quiet streets, we wish to enjoy.

Cars using our roads are our beef,
When they're all gone, we’ll Heaver a sigh of relief,
Who cares about all the extra pollution?
Less cars in Elmbourne is our only solution.

We don’t care how inconvenienced you all are,
It won’t be us fuming inside of a car,
If to Furzedown schools you go as a mum,
When you can’t get back, that’s just tuff luck, chum.

You mention the names of all these other roads,
But what does it matter, we don’t live in those,
We asked our neighbours, if quieter roads they wanted to see,
And some said yes, ‘cos they’re selfish, like me.

This plan will happen; just you wait and see,
As we have influence, although a minority,
Some say cafés and toilets are a better idea,
So long as the traffic isn't round here.

In the evenings we’ll have so much fun
Watching the drivers lined up, one by one.
Queuing at Elmbourne and Tooting Bec Road
Backed up to Bedford Hill, they’ll all be slowed

When the tarmac on DJA has been removed,
You can watch flowers and butterflies while you don’t move,
People outside our area, don't think it is fair,
But as I said from the start, we just do not care.

Rather a mean post, Papinian. You have no idea about the circumstances behind catty29a's commute and making personal comments is just hurtful.
As a general comment, Furzedown is somewhat cut-off from surrounding areas, bar a few rat-runs. This is particularly true for public transport, unless you have hours to spare and can take the G1. So although closing DJA may be a great idea, it will significantly impact those who use the area regularly.

The problem is people like catty29a behaving anti-socially by ferrying their children by car between Furzedown and Balham every day. Why can her children not attend local schools in Furzedown rather than one two suburbs away? And we wonder why we have a child obesity problem in this country.

I had a look at the wansworth council website and their traffic information is based on 2009 data. I cannot see this being a realistic estimation taking into account that the traffic is increasing year on year. If you add to that a right turn ban on Elbounre road, I am struggling to see how it will be a benefit for the local community except perhaps those living in this particular road.

I am strongly questioning the merit of the pre consultation that was undertaken during the summer holiday last year where I anticipate most of the people affected where away.

I beleive we are extremely lucky to live in a borough that has plenty of outdoor space. Are we not pushing our luck to request a traffic reduction as well as more greenery space when this part of the borough is gaining more and more residents?

The only way to keep traffic from not getting worse is to vote against the closure of DJA. The Elmbourne Rd already got a lot more traffic when the right hand turn onto Balham High Street was banned from Tooting Bec Road.

Whether the vote is for or against the ban on the right hand turn, the fact is that Elmbourne is already congested and is only likely to get more congested with the closure.

The residents might be in a strong position to petition for traffic calming even if the right hand turn is turned down now. Volume and air congestion arguments support their cause.

So if you don't want to suffer worse traffic and keep your cut thrus, vote against the closure of DJA now.

This is the first I've heard of them making it a no right turn. What an awful idea! This is going to cause mass chaos on the surrounding roads.
I've lived on or around the Heaver estate (the grid of roads off Elmbourne) for 30 years and yes, Elmbourne road has always been a cut through and had queues at peak times, we deal with it.

I can only assume the residents who are for this are new(ish) to the road and would like a quieter street? They would have known it was a busy cut through when they bought there (and the price paid probably reflected this!)

I've done some googling and found that Wandsworth are still taking opinions so if anyone wants to add to this (it's pretty straight forward- just a few yes or no clicks) here is the link http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/info/20043 ... gh_traffic

I think there were quite a number in favour of closing Dr Johnson drive but then Wandsworth attempted to slip in the clause about no right turn from Tooting Bec road onto Elmbourne. There's been no proper consultation or testing on this part. There is no doubt that this will effectively cause massive traffic chaos on the already heavily conjested garrads road, tooting bec junction and Bedford Hill. As someone who lives in Furzedown but has children at school in Balham(and just too far for my youngest to walk/cycle), I'm absolutely dreading this - can't see how bus routes won't be affected either. Feels like we'll essentially be cut off. Maybe that's the plan?!

Could you explain how there would possibly be less traffic for people trying to access the Common when you close DJA? I would think that many of the streets around the Common will be negatively affected by more traffic, congestion and pollution. Logically, the traffic flow has to move somewhere, so people will take longer routes around and deal with more traffic when accessing the Common.

This will be compounded by DJA no longer being able to serve as an overflow car park, which will mean cars parked around the Common instead will further drive up congestion.

The DJA, which has been a road for 150 or so years, would be narrowed to 3 meters across so there is actually little green gained in return for creating a problem where there wasn't one.

You can vote in the consultation.

There is indeed a well organised lobby against the closure, but there are many residents who feel this would be a very good thing, uniting the Common and decreasing traffic for people trying to access it.

Anger at proposal to include ban on right turns to Elmbourne Road in closure of Dr Johnson Avenue scheme

Plans to prohibit right turns into Elmbourne Road in Tooting have been met with anger from residents who believe there will be a huge increase in traffic when it is coupled with the closure of Dr Johnson Avenue.






http://www.wandsworthguardian.co.uk/new ... turn__ban/