Pedestrian accident reduction scheme
November 2003 to mid 2005 and beyond?
Following months of misery with road works at Cobbs Corner, (the junction of Kirkdale, Westwood Hill and Sydenham Road) a meeting was held on 29 November between members of the Sydenham Society, representatives of Sydenham Traders, Jim Dowd MP, Lewisham's Deputy Mayor, Gavin Moore, the council's Executive Director of Regeneration, Pat Hayes and senior council officers from the Council's Transport and Traffic and Parking departments. Also present was Town Centre Manager, Julie Sutch and Sydenham councillor Marion Nisbet. Part of the agenda was to review the poor management of the Pedestrian Accident Reduction Scheme and its manifestations as a shoddy roundabout and poorly designed zebra crossing. A walk from the Naborhood Centre to Cobbs Corner and back on the opposite side of the road gave an opportunity for the shortcomings of this scheme to be drawn to the attention of those elected to represent local residents and council officers.
The Zebra crossing
Re-opened by the council on 26 November, despite loudly expressed local doubts, the council has suggested that an addition of anti-skid surface strips on either side of the crossing (coloured either red or beige) should help to improve the visibility, and a new traffic count will also take place to determine whether the crossing should be up-graded to Pelican status. At the last meeting between the Sydenham Society, Darien Goodwin and other senior Highways and Planning officials, on 29 January, the Council informed us that anti skid surfaces will be applied to the road surface to increase the visibility of the crossing - but this will not happen until late March, when the weather will be drier. There is a problem in installing a Pelican as bunching on the narrow bridge is likely to result.
Leftover from the Berlin Wall
It was interesting to hear the Deputy Mayor describe the roundabout as reminiscent of being leftover from the Berlin Wall! At long last criticism, long overdue, about this roundabout from within Lewisham Council! Not only is it unattractive, the council's signage had been attached to half a lamp post (surely even our aspiring green council taking recycling just a tad too far?) hanging flower baskets as a method of improving its appearance, a plan for "greening" the roundabout in order to improve its aesthetic appearance would be worked out and put to local residents for approval shortly.
The Council is currently seeking funding for some bold landmark artwork to "soften" the appearance of the roundabout; we were assured that there would be full consultation with the local community before any work is commissioned.
Who pays and who should be accountable?
One issue still to be addressed is the cost of this farrago of ineptitude. Are Council Tax payers being expected to foot the bill for this? If not who is picking up the tab?
Another issue is accountability. Is anyone within Lewisham Council prepared to accept responsibility for the waste of resources, the disruption to local residents and traders and the fact that what has been done will, in large part, have to be undone because of the unsuitability and poor quality of the design of the roundabout and the great danger to pedestrians posed by the zebra crossing?
New Year 2005
Following months of misery with road works at Cobbs Corner, (the junction of Kirkdale, Westwood Hill and Sydenham Road) a meeting was held on 29 November between members of the Sydenham Society, representatives of Sydenham Traders, Jim Dowd MP, Lewisham's Deputy Mayor, Gavin Moore, the council's Executive Director of Regeneration, Pat Hayes and senior council officers from the Council's Transport and Traffic and Parking departments. Also present was Town Centre Manager, Julie Sutch and Sydenham councillor Marion Nisbet. Part of the agenda was to review the poor management of the Pedestrian Accident Reduction Scheme and its manifestations as a shoddy roundabout and poorly designed zebra crossing. A walk from the Naborhood Centre to Cobbs Corner and back on the opposite side of the road gave an opportunity for the shortcomings of this scheme to be drawn to the attention of those elected to represent local residents and council officers.
The Zebra crossing
Re-opened by the council on 26 November, despite loudly expressed local doubts, the council has suggested that an addition of anti-skid surface strips on either side of the crossing (coloured either red or beige) should help to improve the visibility, and a new traffic count will also take place to determine whether the crossing should be up-graded to Pelican status. At the last meeting between the Sydenham Society, Darien Goodwin and other senior Highways and Planning officials, on 29 January, the Council informed us that anti skid surfaces will be applied to the road surface to increase the visibility of the crossing - but this will not happen until late March, when the weather will be drier. There is a problem in installing a Pelican as bunching on the narrow bridge is likely to result.
Leftover from the Berlin Wall
It was interesting to hear the Deputy Mayor describe the roundabout as reminiscent of being leftover from the Berlin Wall! At long last criticism, long overdue, about this roundabout from within Lewisham Council! Not only is it unattractive, the council's signage had been attached to half a lamp post (surely even our aspiring green council taking recycling just a tad too far?) hanging flower baskets as a method of improving its appearance, a plan for "greening" the roundabout in order to improve its aesthetic appearance would be worked out and put to local residents for approval shortly.
The Council is currently seeking funding for some bold landmark artwork to "soften" the appearance of the roundabout; we were assured that there would be full consultation with the local community before any work is commissioned.
Who pays and who should be accountable?
One issue still to be addressed is the cost of this farrago of ineptitude. Are Council Tax payers being expected to foot the bill for this? If not who is picking up the tab?
Another issue is accountability. Is anyone within Lewisham Council prepared to accept responsibility for the waste of resources, the disruption to local residents and traders and the fact that what has been done will, in large part, have to be undone because of the unsuitability and poor quality of the design of the roundabout and the great danger to pedestrians posed by the zebra crossing?
New Year 2005
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Sydenham Society
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