The press are onto the story. Barry Milton, a local resident of Bishopsthorpe Road is interviewed and pictured by the News Shopper.

We witnessed several incidents when cars coming up the hill had to brake sharply as they spotted the crossing at the last moment.

The News Shopper story is <here>

Improve this?

Or move it here?

Monday & Tuesday Lewisham installed extra lighting and a 'granny bonnet' to the northern beacon. The bonnet is presumably to stop the beacon being mistaken for a signal by trains passing directly below. The problem is that this beacon was the most visible to drivers coming up the hill (see picture at the top). These drivers are approaching from the right and the beacon is now partially obscured by its own post! The crossing remains closed.

Conways - Lewisham's contractor have now completed work on the south side. The right hand beacon had been partially obscured (see above) - well they have now moved the left hand beacon so it is completely invisible behind the red triangle island sign. No one checked the sightlines when moving the beacon. Perhaps Lewisham don't pay Conways to think about what they are doing. I think we can agree Conways are doing it brilliantly!

The picture also shows the problem of motorists being temporaily blinded by the elevated lights of traffic coming over the brow. Experienced drivers tend to look away or quickly close their eyes to enable fast recovery. Just at the point they should be looking for pedestrians crossing an invisible zebra warned by invisible beacons.

Another pedestrian runs for his life!

The crossing stays closed and with the withdrawal of the nearby trafic island - Lewisham have succeeded in making the area more dangerous. It would also appear they are pre-judging the outcome of the safety review by spending more of our money in changing stuff. You can see that the beacons have been swivelled around to make them more visible, which with the crossing closed just causes more confusion. You can also see that the island sign has disappeared from the lefthand lampost.

And this is where ithe road sign has gone. Can you see it? Twisted around so it, like the zebra crossing it is almost invisible! This would be funny if it wasn't that the highway engineers are endangering the public by continually failing to check what they do.

Looks like Lewisham are planning to re-open the hidden zebra crossing. Why? As you can see they have just put up red warning signs.

What do you mean - you can't see it? Why this is the best view any motorist coming down Westwood Hill will have of the warning sign - and it would be needed because you can't see the actual crossing can you?

Its on the lampost by the white van. There are five other signs on that same lamp post. There a lot of other signs around it too, and if there is a bus about - forget it. But miss the new sign and the crossing or pedestrian than who is to blame? The people who put up these signs but fail to notice the sign opposite (see above) is still not pointing in the right direction?

Friday 26th and Lewisham re-open the Zebra crossing with new signage (left). But has it passed its safety audit? Lewisham are not saying - yet!

Is this the end of a long story? Well Sydenham Town truly hopes our fears are not realised. Just be careful when you cross - and even more careful when you drive. Add your comments here....

<< Same lampost as above.
Notice the Free Parking sign has disappeared!

At approximately 10:45pm a 41 year old local man was hit by a black Fiat Punto. The victim sustained chest injuries and was taken to Kings College Hospital. It is believed the injuries are not life threatening. The full report is <here>

Lewisham are obliged to carry out a safety evaluation. In view of the widespread concern about this crossing they have given us permission to publish a copy. You can read it <here>

And comment here....