Westcombe News October 2020 LOCAL NEWS Continued from Page 1
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NEWS WFree to 3e800 hsomest, in lcibrarieos and msome shops b e October 2020 No. 8 Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno TRAFFIC CHAOS! M a r i ly n L it t le hen the Hills and Vales traffic reduc - residents including the shop owners on And where are we now…. •Do you expect it to change? If so, how Wtion scheme was first brought to our Royal Hill were very concerned about the The Hills and Vales traffic reduction and over what timescale? attention in late 2018 by Councillor effect it could have on their area. scheme was introduced on the 20th August •Were alternative routes identified? If so, Brighty, it was very unclear whether it The scheme was re-considered in late under an Experimental Traffic Order and how were they advertised to drivers, many would go ahead as some West Greenwich 2019 and throughout the intervening period our fears were realised! of whom start and finish their journeys out - the Westcombe Society had Most of the roads in Westcombe Park are side the borough? deep concerns about the effect now experiencing additional traffic as vehi - •Can you assure us that ongoing checks are this would have on the roads cles try to negotiate routes through our area proving that the number of vehicles within Westcombe Park as from the A2 to Greenwich Town Centre queuing is reducing and that acceptable drivers tried to negotiate routes and beyond. These new routes now culmi - alternative routes are being taken? to Greenwich and beyond. nate in queues of mostly stationary traffic We had hoped for answers from the We were denied inclusion in on Maze Hill. Vanbrugh Hill was also suf - Assistant Director of Transport at the the initial consultations despite fering queues until it was closed to through Council before the Westcombe News went the council admitting that there traffic due to the roadworks for the to press but to date we have had no would be a knock-on effect on Cycleway 4 at its junction with Trafalgar response. We had also hoped that his the ‘Hills’, Maze Hill and Road. Some roads are gridlocked and response would reassure our residents that Vanbrugh Hill in particular, journeys that used to take 10 minutes are the current, wholly unacceptable situation, which they would monitor. The now taking anything up to an hour and a was improving; that drivers were finding Council had a view then that half. alternative routes and that the current situa - most traffic would stay on the From Thursday 24th, access to Walnut tion would be short lived. We have not A2 to reach destinations Tree Road from Vanbrugh Hill, another received that reassurance! beyond Greenwich. We were route to reach Trafalgar Road, will be The scheme has been in place for five assured that our requests for closed to traffic via a modal filter. weeks and urgent action needs to be taken ongoing monitoring and possi - The Westcombe Society wrote to the to vastly improve the effects on ble curtailing of the scheme Council on the 18th September asking the Westcombe Park and particularly Maze and would be possible if the effects following questions: Vanbrugh Hills. were injurious to our area. •Is this situation, as you anticipated by the www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/ HUMBER ROAD modelling, done? westgreenwichtraffic Maze Hill Action Group COUNCIL HILLS AND VALES TRAFFIC REDUCTION SCHEME BACKFIRES ON MAZE HILL ince the introduction of the Hills and in just three days and numbers are growing couldn't receive my shopping delivery yes - backing and support of Cllr Geoff Brighty, SVales scheme in West Greenwich by the day. terday. I'm disabled and rely on my elderly Cllr Mariam Lolavar and Cllr Leo Fletcher. which coincided with the Mayor of It is clear from the feedback on the peti - parents to do my shopping for me. The Cllr Geoff Brighty, who opposed the London’s Streetspace programme, and The tion that there are serious concerns about traffic was so bad that they had to retreat scheme from the outset, tabled a member’s Avenue closure in the Park, there has been safety and pollution levels and that the back home." continued on page 3...... a significant and serious traffic increase on scheme is negatively impacting keywork - The Maze Hill action group is calling for Maze Hill and the Westcombe Park area. ers, school children and those most at risk. the immediate suspen - One local resident said that the streets in The scheme appears to also be further sion of the scheme in East Greenwich have been turned into “a disadvantaging people who rely on their West Greenwich, which car park of stationary, filth-chugging traffic cars such as people with disabilities, the is due to be trialled until for the duration of both rush hours”. elderly, carers and local tradespeople who February 2021. This In launching the West Greenwich traffic live or have to travel to work in the area. would allow a fairer dis - reduction scheme the Council failed to ade - The traffic congestion combined with limi - tribution of peak time quately consult or inform residents on the tations on bus usage makes it very difficult traffic throughout the East side of the Park. No communication for people to use public transport and area, which would ease or consideration of the wider strategic impossible for people who cannot walk or the localised pressure impact of the scheme for East Greenwich cycle. whilst a full review and was made. One signatory added; "The traffic situa - improved resident In just three weeks since the scheme has tion in East Greenwich is now untenable engagement takes place. been introduced Maze Hill residents have and dangerous, particularly for the number In an attempt to seen a huge increase in gridlocked traffic, of school children who walk up Maze Hill engage the Council on noise and air pollution driven by the every day to John Roan." and another said; an improved solution increased traffic volume. Residents are wit - “The traffic on Maze Hill has become with East Greenwich nessing some very frustrated and aggres - totally intolerable and this experimental residents, who have so sive driver behaviours, including damage 'scheme' needs to be reversed immediately. far been excluded from to parked cars and increased risk to pedes - The very long queues of traffic with the planning and imple - trians and cyclists. Cyclists and motorcy - engines running are an extreme health haz - mentation of the West clists are using the pavements to get down ard to residents, pedestrians and drivers," Greenwich scheme, the the hill in static traffic. In response to this, adding, "I'm all in favour of measures to action group have been the residents of Maze Hill have started an support cycling an walking, but these unin - allowed a question at action group. tended consequences are having a massive the Open Council meet - An online and print petition went live impact on air quality." ing on Wednesday 23rd last week attracting over 1,500 signatures A disabled resident commented; " I September with the full << Newsbriefs > > Bang! The Voice of Charlton Meanwhile, a selection of home intended to help pedestrians and Mayo in action on a BBC news Because of the coronavirus pan - Delighted to hear that Charlton resi - supporters were allowed back into cyclists, have been removed, fol - item, showing people round some demic, Lewisham Council has can - dent Chris Mason is making waves their stadium in the Valley on 19th lowing complaints that cyclists of the sights of London featuring celled this year’s firework display at the BBC, chairing the Any September – only to see Doncaster were being forced to cycle in nar - black history. Courtney became a on Blackheath. The Mayor of Questions programme – on occa - win by three goals to one Doncaster row streets too close to motor vehi - fully trained London Guide last London, Sadik Khan, has also sion from home, under lockdown. who were celebrating at the final cles for comfort – or safety. It all year. announced the cancelation of the Keep it up, Chris! whistle as they secured a 3-1 victo - goes to show that there are no easy New Year’s Eve fireworks in cen - ry at The Valley. answers when it comes to Men in Sheds tral London. The Addicks in Suspence Said one supporter: “Yes, it was a Greenwich Town Centre… The Men in Sheds project organised Businessman Paul Elliott’s appeal disappointing result. But it was Meanwhile, congestion continues by Bromley and Greenwich Age Reminder to be granted an injunction to block great to see the boys in action along Trafalgar Road, as new cycle UK in Eltham and Penge has Our timepieces will be ‘falling the sale of League One club again!” lanes – to be shared with buses – proved so popular that there are backwards’ on 25th October. British Charlton Athletic has, for now, been are being installed. plans to re-open the Woolwich cen - Summer ends at 2am..so an extra successful. A court case to deter - One way system a No-Go area? tre soon. Watch this space..... hour in bed for most of us. mine his claim on the club is to be Some barriers erected by the Signs of life held on 23rd November. Council in Greenwich Town centre, Great to see local resident Courtney COMMUNITY Westcombe News A WALK ON THE LEND AND TEND FAREWELL JUNE WATERY SIDE PUBLISHER June Ahmad ever was the recent Macmillan Cancer he Westcombe News has previous - 2nd June 1929 - 5th September 2020 The Westcombe Society Support fundraising walk more rele - ly highlighted the decline of front N T ur beloved and wonderful mum, June c/o 163 Westcombe Hill, SE3 7DP or vant than in this Covid crisis time.