Action plan to improve road safety for children attending schools in Balham Post Reply

[Community Editor]

Wandsworth Council has unveiled a series of measures to improve road safety for residents and children who attend two schools in Balham.

The measures are designed to make it safer for children who walk and cycle to Chestnut Grove Academy and Hornsby House School.

Pupils attending both schools face difficult journeys along streets that are busy with traffic.

The proposed safety measures include: 
•    The removal of two mini-roundabouts on Chestnut Grove at the junctions with Boundaries Road and Endlesham Grove.
•    The installation of two new zebra crossings. One on Boundaries Road and a second near the entrance to Chestnut Grove Academy.
•    A raised table speed reduction measure at the junction of Chestnut Grove and Boundaries Road to provide a safer crossing point for pedestrians.
•    A time restricted ban on vehicles turning right from Chestnut Grove into Boundaries Road. Vehicles would be prevented from carrying out this manoeuvre between the hours of 7am to 9am and from 3pm to 6pm, Monday to Friday. This restriction would be enforced by the use of traffic cameras.
•    The introduction of a short one-way street with contraflow cycling on Boundaries Road from east to west between Balham Park Road and Rowfant Road. 

A report to councillors on the Transport Committee which met last week and approved the changes  concludes: “It is anticipated that the provision of two new raised zebra crossings accompanied by the necessary accompanying modal filters to reduce traffic volume at the suggested locations would have a beneficial effect in enhancing road safety and assisting pedestrians and cyclists. In particular, the safety of school children walking to and from school as well as, crossing the road to access local amenities will be greatly enhanced.”

Jenny Yates, Wandsworth’s Cabinet Member for Transport said: “This package of measures is designed to address the widely held community concerns in this part of Balham, especially among parents, around the hazards their children face on their journeys to and from school.

“The two new zebra crossings will make those journeys much safer, as will the additional steps being taken to reduce the number of vehicles on the approaches to both schools at the times pupils are arriving and departing each day.”

“These changes support the council’s Walking and Cycling Strategy, which includes a focus on making it safer for children to walk and cycle to school."

Looking ahead, council highways engineers will draw up detailed designs for these safety improvements while letters will be delivered to local residents outlining the changes and seeking their input into the statutory consultation that will follow. All feedback from that consultation will be carefully reviewed and changes to the scheme made where necessary.

[CyclingLondon2]

This is brilliant news and is going to make a huge difference.

Ironically although the no right turn and one way are big deals it's the zebra crossings which will be game changers.

hundreds of children cross those roads at rush hour and if they have right of way it'll effectively lock up those roads.

I think that's why they put the no right turn and one way bit in.

good work Wandsworth.

[readysteadycook]

These 2 schemes will cause chaos in Balham and need to be stopped. There are almost zero road injuries in Balham and the local residents are going to be massively disturbed. 

With one of the Labour councillors for Balham having children at Chestnut grove, there is an agenda here.

The residents near Finton house school stopped their School street and saw sense  (the last thing we need, is more fines). Those near Chestnut Grove and Hornsby must do the same.

[LilysMom]

The School street at Finton House was ridiculous and it did nothing to stop the traffic on busy Trinity Road which is the only real threat to student safety but did everything to inconvenience the local residents on the neighbouring roads . I don’t know the layout of this scheme so can’t comment specifically but I am not aware of any accident ever in the area for which it is being recommended . If it is as poorly planned as Finton’s plus the fact that the rabid pro cycling clowncillor acts only in her own interests of destroying car usage then I would imagine it’s another waste of money . Given that the council is borrowing an additional £300 million plus next year maybe they should stop with the pay rises , road schemes and focus on giving their residents value for money .

[Starr]

Agree with the Zebra Crossings but not the timed restrictions on cars. I just see it as causing more traffic for buses and cars in general and will make cycling more difficult. Some kids will not be using Boundaries Rd anyway so what point is it to take away traffic from there whe the majority of it comes from the high road , tube and train?

Maybe I'm wrong but I'm sceptical. Zebra crossings defintely are a very good idea


I personally don't drive that way and never have had to at those times but just my thoughts. It may encourage parents who drive to Hornsby House to walk so that's a good things but in spite of that this will cause more congestion elsewhere.

[angry bird]

"•    The introduction of a short one-way street with contraflow cycling on Boundaries Road from east to west between Balham Park Road and Rowfant Road"

How will the above work? Are they saying that a small section of the road will become a one way street? this seems madness? The other suggestions seem very sensible to me.

[Goldhawk]

The zebra crossings are much needed 
The timed restrictions on cars will be very confusing and probably not work well
As I understand it they need the restrictions due to the number of cars at peak times - there is something about the number of cars being too high for a zebra crossing to be suitable I think

The council could also pay for lollipop people to man the zebras which might be a better plan

[delsh]

Totally agree. The crossings are very badly needed and will make such a big difference to the safety of the many hundreds of children that have to cross those roads.

The other two measures I’m not sure are such a great idea but let’s see how they work out. With two schools in that area, it should be pedestrians that are the main consideration, not the affect on car drivers.

[Btwmum]

Unfortunately I drive that road every single day during school times.
Zebra crossing and taking away the roundabouts seems sensible. Banning the right turn from chestnut grove to boundaries will just create more congestion as every car will need to queue to the traffic light, which lasts a few minutes. I am not sure how this will help other than increasing the pollution for the kids of chestnut grove waiting to enter school.
Making a bit of boundaries road one way seems completely unrelated, the logic behind it escapes me.
What they should ban is loading/unloading in chestnut grove during school opening/closing times. Sometimes even parents stop in the middle of the street to het kids out of the car. But it is always full of lorries especially close to the traffic light. This causes loads of queue and drivers trying to overcome them while kids crossing the road at every point. A lollipop men would also help as secondary school kids might not really use the zebra crossing…

[Btwmum]

Unfortunately I drive that road every single day during school times.
Zebra crossing and taking away the roundabouts seems sensible. Banning the right turn from chestnut grove to boundaries will just create more congestion as every car will need to queue to the traffic light, which lasts a few minutes. I am not sure how this will help other than increasing the pollution for the kids of chestnut grove waiting to enter school.
Making a bit of boundaries road one way seems completely unrelated, the logic behind it escapes me.
What they should ban is loading/unloading in chestnut grove during school opening/closing times. Sometimes even parents stop in the middle of the street to het kids out of the car. But it is always full of lorries especially close to the traffic light. This causes loads of queue and drivers trying to overcome them while kids crossing the road at every point. A lollipop men would also help as secondary school kids might not really use the zebra crossing…

[Treadlighty]

Banning the right turn from chestnut grove to boundaries will just create more congestion as every car will need to queue to the traffic light, which lasts a few minutes. 

In excess of 500 vehicles per hour use Boundaries Road during school hours which is considered unsafe for a crossing. North bound vehicles will need to travel down Balham Park Road onto the A24.
 

[Treadlighty]

Given that the council is borrowing an additional £300 million plus next year maybe they should stop with the pay rises , road schemes and focus on giving their residents value for money .

This road safety scheme is funded from existing strategic budgets that were established from Community Infrastructure Level (CIL) receipts and therefore there is no impact to finances.
 

[Goldhawk]

So is the alternative option a traffic light controlled pedestrian crossing?

[Treadlighty]

There are almost zero road injuries in Balham

At least six (6) incidents were recorded in the last 3 years, the actual figure would be much higher considering most accidents are not reported.

[Goldhawk]

Very sadly there have been a few road deaths in Balham in recent years