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The Pedestrian Accident Reduction Scheme - from 8
November 2003 to the middle of 2005 and beyond?
Following months of
misery with roadworks at Cobbs Corner, in Sydenham Road and Kirkdale, a meeting
was held last Monday 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.
The agenda was to review the poor management of the
Pedestrian Accident Reduction Scheme (a misnomer if there ever was one) 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 and other
local problems to be drawn to the attention of those elected to represent local
residents and council officers.
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The Zebra crossing -
is it safe?
This was without doubt
the most serious matter in need of urgent resolution. Re-opened by the council
on 26 November, despite loudly expressed local doubts, council representatives
have decided that an addition of an anti-skid surface strips on either side of
the crossing (either coloured red or beige) should help to improve the
visibilty of this pedestrian crossing. It is hoped that the red-tape can be cut
and the anti-skid surface will be installed without delay.
<click here for the full zebra
story> |
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Cobbs Corner Roundabout
Iit was interesting to hear the Deputy Mayor, who said
he had heard about the roundabout but had yet to see it, describe it as
reminiscent as being a leftover from the Berlin Wall! Oh, yes, yes, yes - 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?) Dismissing the idea of 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. Sydenham residents will need to
see what is on offer as an amelioration to this flawed scheme before any
decisions are made as to how to improve this poor design.
<click here for
the full cobbs corner story>
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?
Pat Trembath
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