Has anyone succeeded in lobbying Wandsworth council to slow down traffic on their road? Post Reply

[mum_1980]

I need some advice please. It's about a blind corner which I live on on Clapham Common Northside. It's the corner of Sisters Avenue and Thirsk Road where drivers bomb down as a thoroughfare between Clapham Common and Lavender Hill.

Did anyone hear the massive thuds on Wednesday night at around midnight? A drunk driver with a posse of passengers, all drinking, screeched round the corner of Sisters Avenue and Thirsk Road, crashing into two cars before coming to a halt after neighbours ran out of their houses. The driver and passengers jumped out the car and ran away on foot towards Lavender Hill. The back seat of the car was full of bottles of booze. This was the last straw for us!

Although a police report was filed, it seems that if no-one has been injured then it is treated like any other auto accident. As in case closed and claim on your insurance. It's a miracle that no-one was hurt. The car was towed away, it wasn't registered to anyone and wasn't reported as stolen so the case runs cold.

It's the first time an incident of this magnitude has happened, but that blind bend in the road is super dangerous. Drunk drivers aside, drivers seem to bomb it down even though it is a 20mph road, there are constant stand offs where cars won't give way to each other, and the classic, instead of slowing down and cautiously going around the bend, drivers beep, beep their horns around the corner to alert other people they are coming so if they are going to crash, at least they are being noisy about it and disturb the residents at all times of the day and night! Not to mention those that bomb through with their music on full blast in the middle of the night!

Although this is the first time to my knowledge of a drunk driver screeching round damaging more than one car. It's not the first time, a car parked on that road has been smashed into by someone speeding around the bend. It's so bad that residents are worried about parking their cars on it, which makes it tricky as off street parking is limited around here.

I've been here for ten years and it was never like this. I am considering making a case to make the road one way, or install speed bumps or cameras. Has anyone on here been successful in doing this on their road and can you give me some tips as to how to frame my proposal to the council and who to contact? I will of course consult all my neighbours first to get them on board.

Any advice is most gratefully received.

[egc1973]

hi no idea but Theatre st  towards Lavender Hill is also getting very busy and at very fast speeds and they should control that, not only checking for parking permits and placing fines.

[SJ1979]

Yes, my husband definitely heard that crash and wondered what on earth had happened.  How awful - we live on Sisters Avenue and have done for more than 10 years also and agree it's such a dangerous fast road as it's nice and wide and people love to pick up speed along it up and down from the common end especially.  I often signal to drivers along there to slow down, especially when I'm out with the dogs and children.  Only yesterday we were walking back with the dogs and a car turned off Clapham Common Northside and picked up huge speed along the road, it was terrifying.  My husband thinks speed bumps won't work, that people will still continue to go as fast, and it'll be even worse at night as you will just hear the cars racing along them but it has been an issue for a long time and I agree something does need to be done.

[Sappelle]

We have had similar issues on neighbouring Sugden. Because that’s a long straight road people use it as a cut through. We get ridiculous stand offs where people refuse to back down to pass. Last year I had to call the police after an argument almost turned violent. We had someone crashing the car after using it as a getaway. We have also had numerous scratches on our cars from people clipping them at speed. There’s lots of beeping of horns etc and people speeding down there. One of our neighbours gathered a petition with signatures and submitted it to the council asking for either traffic calming measures or for the road to be made one way but no luck. I would imagine you’re likely to get the same response - the council don’t seem bothered even in the face of evidence

[wasateacher]

"it wasn't registered to anyone " - how is that possible?  Does that mean that it was stolen from a car showroom.  Surely, the police should be investigating why a car, presumably with UK number plates, can be unregistered.
 

[ronangel]

A cheap car can be bought at auction/from private seller for cash.The seller sends off to dvla their part of registration document saying sold but new owner does not register in their name,or in name rhat does not exist at any address.no insurance or road fund licence will be picked up by the police but the cost of the car maybe £500 against young persons insurance of £500+ a month payments! (If they have UK or any licence) plus road fund licence means cheaper to change car when things llke this happen,or parking tickets or tow away just leave it as happened this time and buy another one!
For problem: Get street made one way ( everybody in street contact council!)
Large reflective sign on wall on bend with arrow pointing which way to turn! Until sorted.
 

[bdacier1]

Hi everyone,

My wife and I moved into a lovely flat on Sisters Avenue near Lavender Hill this January. However, we were unpleasantly surprised to find that not only is the road used as a rat run during rush hour, but it’s also treated as a drag racing strip by many cars at night. This constant traffic, particularly the reckless speeding, makes our street incredibly unsafe.

Our side of Sisters Avenue, closer to Lavender Hill, sees a lot of traffic heading towards the A3 via Marjorie Grove. It's different from what others have mentioned, where the traffic flows from the A3 over Sisters Avenue and Thirsk Road towards Lavender Hill. Regardless, the speeds at which cars and vans travel through our part of the road are ridiculous. We often can't get out of our car after parking due to the stream of speeding vehicles.

More worrying is the danger we face while cycling or even crossing the road on foot. Drivers speed up and drive you of the road instead of slowing down, making it incredibly unsafe. And gesturing to drivers to slow down often results in profanities being hurled at us.

We want to start a family, but I can't imagine raising children on such a dangerous street. It's clear why we never see kids playing outside here.

I know a previous petition to the council didn't result in any action, but I'm hoping we can generate new momentum to force the council to act. We need a traffic calming solution for Sisters Avenue, Thirsk Road, and Marjorie Grove, possibly extending to Cedars Road. This is a residential area which is abused as a high-speed thoroughfare by non-residents.

The council's West Hill Traffic Management Scheme shows they implement measures like ANPR that don't impact residents. I believe a combination of ANPR, a one-way system, road humps (not just bumps or cushions), and possibly even road narrowing at the entrances could help. However, it seems only two roads have gotten road humps since mid-2020, which isn't promising.

As I've just been woken up again by a loud car testing its exhaust noise, I went on a search and I found this post! Luckily it seems we are not the only ones who think the traffic situation is not sustainable. So I’ll contact the council to see if there's a proper procedure to follow and report back here. I hope fellow residents will join us in making these roads safer and more enjoyable to live on!

[chorister]

As a suggestion keep a diary and may be recordings of when you are disturbed and then approach your local councillor - they hold regular surgeries.

[Needcoffeenow]

I agree: gathering data is a powerful tool. And you do need to start with your local councillors - find the one whose role most closely fits streets/traffic/safety. Research who is responsible for the implementation of traffic calming in your area. Are there children walking to school along the road or is there a school near? Is there a borough road safety officer? We had a similar issue with a dangerous road crossing and photographed cars driving through on red etc. We got there in the end. Hope you succeed!

[Lorhnial]

There’s a community drop in this weekend - a few people from my street (Marjorie Grove) are going to raise this exact point. I grew up here and I don’t remember it being like this - I now have an almost 3 old and I’m nervous about his safety. We’re hoping to go too but the more people that raise it the more seriously it will be taken.

https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/the-counc ... to-listen/

[Mememe]

bdacier1 wrote:
> Hi everyone,
>
> My wife and I moved into a lovely flat on Sisters Avenue near Lavender Hill
> this January. However, we were unpleasantly surprised to find that not only
> is the road used as a rat run during rush hour, but it’s also treated as a
> drag racing strip by many cars at night. This constant traffic,
> particularly the reckless speeding, makes our street incredibly unsafe.
>
> Our side of Sisters Avenue, closer to Lavender Hill, sees a lot of traffic
> heading towards the A3 via Marjorie Grove. It's different from what others
> have mentioned, where the traffic flows from the A3 over Sisters Avenue and
> Thirsk Road towards Lavender Hill. Regardless, the speeds at which cars and
> vans travel through our part of the road are ridiculous. We often can't get
> out of our car after parking due to the stream of speeding vehicles.
>
> More worrying is the danger we face while cycling or even crossing the road
> on foot. Drivers speed up and drive you of the road instead of slowing
> down, making it incredibly unsafe. And gesturing to drivers to slow down
> often results in profanities being hurled at us.
>
> We want to start a family, but I can't imagine raising children on such a
> dangerous street. It's clear why we never see kids playing outside here.
>
> I know a previous petition to the council didn't result in any action, but
> I'm hoping we can generate new momentum to force the council to act. We
> need a traffic calming solution for Sisters Avenue, Thirsk Road, and
> Marjorie Grove, possibly extending to Cedars Road. This is a residential
> area which is abused as a high-speed thoroughfare by non-residents.
>
> The council's West Hill Traffic Management Scheme shows they implement
> measures like ANPR that don't impact residents. I believe a combination of
> ANPR, a one-way system, road humps (not just bumps or cushions), and
> possibly even road narrowing at the entrances could help. However, it seems
> only two roads have gotten road humps since mid-2020, which isn't
> promising.
>
> As I've just been woken up again by a loud car testing its exhaust noise, I
> went on a search and I found this post! Luckily it seems we are not the
> only ones who think the traffic situation is not sustainable. So I’ll
> contact the council to see if there's a proper procedure to follow and
> report back here. I hope fellow residents will join us in making these
> roads safer and more enjoyable to live on!

Did you not notice what was wrong with the road before you moved in? If you wanted a road for children to play 9n wdnt a cul de sac or the countryside be more suitable than an obviously busy street. I get what others have said bt moving into an obviously busy neighbourhood then wanting to change it ....

[Countess Binface]

Definitely worth a try to get traffic calming arranged.

Children playing in the street, agree with above poster, totally unrealistic for this area.
We dont live in a village, which is also my bugbear with some driving small children in carts on main roads.

A group request will be useful re traffic as traffic speed affects everyone.

[dimelda]

Message:
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Hi everyone,

My wife and I moved into a lovely flat on Sisters Avenue near Lavender Hill this January. However, we were unpleasantly surprised to find that not only is the road used as a rat run during rush hour, but it’s also treated as a drag racing strip by many cars at night. This constant traffic, particularly the reckless speeding, makes our street incredibly unsafe.

Our side of Sisters Avenue, closer to Lavender Hill, sees a lot of traffic heading towards the A3 via Marjorie Grove. It's different from what others have mentioned, where the traffic flows from the A3 over Sisters Avenue and Thirsk Road towards Lavender Hill. Regardless, the speeds at which cars and vans travel through our part of the road are ridiculous. We often can't get out of our car after parking due to the stream of speeding vehicles.

More worrying is the danger we face while cycling or even crossing the road on foot. Drivers speed up and drive you of the road instead of slowing down, making it incredibly unsafe. And gesturing to drivers to slow down often results in profanities being hurled at us.

We want to start a family, but I can't imagine raising children on such a dangerous street. It's clear why we never see kids playing outside here.

I know a previous petition to the council didn't result in any action, but I'm hoping we can generate new momentum to force the council to act. We need a traffic calming solution for Sisters Avenue, Thirsk Road, and Marjorie Grove, possibly extending to Cedars Road. This is a residential area which is abused as a high-speed thoroughfare by non-residents.

The council's West Hill Traffic Management Scheme shows they implement measures like ANPR that don't impact residents. I believe a combination of ANPR, a one-way system, road humps (not just bumps or cushions), and possibly even road narrowing at the entrances could help. However, it seems only two roads have gotten road humps since mid-2020, which isn't promising.

As I've just been woken up again by a loud car testing its exhaust noise, I went on a search and I found this post! Luckily it seems we are not the only ones who think the traffic situation is not sustainable. So I’ll contact the council to see if there's a proper procedure to follow and report back here. I hope fellow residents will join us in making these roads safer and more enjoyable to live on!

 

[SuperGran]

Google Maps have directed me down Marjorie/Sisters before now and I guess other sat navs might too which is a bit of a problem.

[MysoreRoad]

We had a wonderful neighbour on Mysore Road (one over from Sisters' Avenue) who did lobby the council for this and was actually successful. I think it took her quite a while but it did really help -- Mysore Road is now no entry from Lavender Hill (and has been for 6 years) and no right turn from Elspeth, which cut down on the rat running. It's narrower than Sisters Avenue and we had had a few incidents where the police were called.

At the time the no entry restrictions went into place, the council did say it would monitor the surrounding roads to see if there was an increase in traffic. So they should have some data or be able to help. The restrictions went into place June 2018. I would imagine the bike lane and no left turn on Elspeth from Lavender Hill since late 2020 has also made things worse. Or possibly just all the Google Maps sending people that way!