Detailed comments from the Hackbridge.net survey - taken between July and October 2012 Comments Do you find it easy • I must admit that I usually drive through on my way to work and don't stop off/go to the local shops. to get around When travelling on public transport, I tend to walk up to Mitcham Junction instead of Hackbridge (slightly Hackbridge? more pleasant journey - across the green). • I am disabled and find parking in front of the shops always full. I have to go to Carshalton High Street as they have a car park for disabled. • Traffic needs to be slowed down along Hackbridge road also (especially the bit by the bridge over the River Wandle). • More needs to be done about bad parking by Hackbridge Primary School - perhaps a CCTV car present during school run times? • Because of fast flow of traffic along London Road it is more often than not difficult to exit Senga Road and others especially if turning right. • Crossing road near shops by foot and coming out of the station on a bicycle can both be tricky. • Transport links are great. • The bus services to and from Mitcham Junction are far too infrequent. • The level crossings at Hackbridge Corner can be a nightmare to cross. • You have to be very alert as cars don't always stop. I walk to and from the station every day so always use the crossings • Yes, but then there's not much to get around! Mostly walk to get to BR station or to local shops. • My only suggestion would be to restrict parking in front of the take-aways which blocks visibility completely from joining traffic. • London Rd is a nightmare to cross at the station; I tend to confine my shopping to 'my' side. There is not good permeability between different block of housing - eg BedZED and the 'flowers' estate. FOOTPATHS • Certain parts of London road could be widened to make walking a bit more pleasant, not nice being Improve the access inches from lorries/buses whizzing by. for all by widening the width of existing • Some additional seating should also be considered in order that people with walking difficulties could rest whilst out walking footpaths, replace existing uneven • Also, pedestrian/cycle access in and around the station and better crossings. paving with new attractive paving, • The weeds and rubbish on the new railway bridge are terrible. street furniture and introduce landscaping • This should be right down London Road and not just around Hackbridge Corner. • The high street is not aesthetically pleasing. Some of the footpaths are uneven, especially along our road. • Anything to improve the area would be a bonus. • To widen footpaths means making the already narrow roads more narrow or confiscating owners property. By all means tart up the location. • Some of the footpaths particularly going to the station are very narrow and are used by lots of people • I don't think the footpaths need widening but some landscaping would be good. • All uneven paving is an accident waiting to happen. • And where possible have a green barrier between the pavement and the road, e.g. the stretch between the shops and BedZED. • Depending on where and what the intentions are. • Looking at some of Suttons "improvements" I would be concerned at the waste of money on gimmicks that actually cause more problems than they solve. • It is not a given that the "improvements" are much needed in the area....spend wisely!! • Footpath from shops along to the station is too narrow. CYCLING • Don't think that I will ever feel confident driving on these busy roads, but improved routes may help. Improve existing cycle lanes across • Also fine young lads who cycle recklessly on the roads, drive illegally on quad-bikes on Bed Zed grounds Hackbridge to provide and ride on pavements blocking people's access. well sign-posted I'm not a regular cyclist but feel safety should be considered. If the pavements were wide enough I would network of cycling • prefer to have cycle lanes here rather than any busy road; not always possible I know. routes. • Cyclists do not use cycle paths normally. • May encourage better uptake of cycling safely • Prioritise and be more specific about proposals! • London Road is too narrow with lots of fast/heavy traffic. • There should be dedicated cycle lanes separate from footpaths. • There are some puzzling disjunctions in the network and cyclists do get lost.... the station and shops, etc should be signposted • Depends on where and what is meant by improve...why wasn't it done right 1st time? • Also making sure pedestrians and walkers are not in danger of cycle crossings. There needs to be suitable space for pedestrians and cyclists to travel. • Disagree with the comments regarding cycling. The speed limit is usually adhered to from what I can see due to the restrictive layout of the roads. Bad parking outside the shops causes traffic to slow at the pinch point which could be a problem to cyclists as a result of vehicles passing too close. • Cyclists deal with situations like that on a daily basis, not right but just the way it is. The crossings are adequate and I feel there are no issues for pedestrians. BUSES/TRAINS • I feel that the transport links are good at Hackbridge. Improve interchange between different • A bus service should also be considered to St George's Hospital given the planned closures at St Helier modes of transport. Hospital. Create a bus • We should extend the tramline to Hackbridge - it's much better there rather than at Mitcham Junction, interchange in which is a bit of a "no man's land". Hackbridge located near the train station • I feel the current interchanges are satisfactory. and Hackbridge Corner. • Would also be good to reintroduce s1 as an alternative to 151 • Is this really going to make a difference? • Definitely. It's very annoying to have to plump for one bus or another. Bus stops need more space - e.g. by the post office - and the 80 should be routed round HB if possible. If the buses can't converge at the station, a better crossing or underpass needs to connect the station to the stops (e.g. I can see the sense in having the interchange near the supermarket) • Anything that improves transport is a good idea but as long as it fits in without causing other issues such as restricted traffic movements due to too many busses arriving at one time. • Yes, would be good to have the bus stops co-incide with the station a little closer. • Additional transport links would assist development and investment in the area as well as providing opportunity for residents. LONDON ROAD • The traffic is always going slow. Most mornings there is a traffic jam. Implement traffic calming measures • Traffic lights near shops would be handy. from Hackbridge A must as crossing the road to the station is very dangerous with traffic speeding over the bridge at Station to the corner • Hackbridge Station of London Road and Longfield Avenue to • Possibly, but please, no more road humps! slow traffic to 20mph • But please no speed bumps - they are horrible for bus passengers etc. • 20mph will increase traffic emissions. Research has already shown that it causes more gasses to be released due to higher engine revs in lower gears. Are more cameras to be installed? Will there be flashing lights like the ones already introduced that do absolutely nothing to slow drivers down? • ASAP. Improve road and crossing safety and also introduce a village feel. HACKBRIDGE • The main road through Hackbridge is drab and needs a thorough overhaul. CORNER Make the public realm • No more take-aways. safer and more Although I don't quite see where there would be space to incorporate open spaces. attractive with • improved crossings; • Hackbridge Corner doesn't immediately spring to mind if I want to spend some contemplation time. new paving; street However, aesthetic improvements (easy to maintain greenery) would be worth considering. furniture; public art; bicycle parking and • Definitely new paving and open space would be good. new public open space(s) fronting the • Want to say yes but concerned about open spaces attracting undesirables hanging around, I walk my main road(s). dog along Mile Lane, loads of empty cans etc... • Spending money on making Hackbridge Corner safer is preferred than making it attractive • To have a central attractive area will make the community proud of the area • But I am not sure how it can be done as there is not really very much space. I would like to keep open space opposite Hackbridge Green if possible - or at least low rise building. • Yes, would be a huge benefit to the area and would increase the attraction of the area and subsequently house prices. HUB OF THE • It may make more sense for the Felnex development to become the centre of the neighbourhood. COMMUNITY Ensure the new • Not sure it would be feasible for it to be anywhere else. developments The facades of old and new developments could be improved so that Hackbridge looks less of a dump. support and reinforce • Hackbridge Corner as • This is very important. the centre and hub of the community. • We should keep the best of the shops - eg allow the supermarket to sell things we do not already have like homewares, but encourage independent florist/gardening shop and bakery etc. • Also need to ensure there is sufficient parking. Any proposed changes will not work if the cars from the developments overflow throughout Hackbridge.