Greenwich residents forced to block traffic at junction where two people died

By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter

Residents in Greenwich claim they have to block traffic themselves at a busy junction due to drivers not stopping.

It comes after two people were hit by motorbikes at the crossing in October and January.

Kate Middleton, a resident of East Greenwich, said she has been complaining to Transport for London (TfL) and Greenwich council for morethan a year about the busy junction.

She said: “It’s gridlock most of the time. Particularly in the mornings from about four-ish, maybe earlier.”

The resident said that the traffic at the crossroads was part of a wider issue in the area. She said the crossing at the junction, in Trafalgar Road, was far too narrow to allow those with mobility issues to cross safely.

Ms Middleton added: “It’s crazy that we are not prioritised in the pecking order. We are right at the bottom as pedestrians, above people trying to use wheelchairs.”

Last Saturday, a pedestrian, believed to be in his 50s, was reportedly struck by a motorcycle in Woolwich Road, near where the road meets Blackwall Lane. The junction in East Greenwich also meets Vanbrugh Hill and Trafalgar Road.

Last January, a motorcyclist reportedly collided with a car in Trafalgar Road at the junction.

Walking through the area every day, Ms Middleton said she sees many more near misses each morning, due to people taking detours into the city.

The resident also said that drivers in the area were frequently aggressive to pedestrians trying to cross, including children.

She said: “What they do is they come down on the wrong side of the road and put their foot down, race round and then pull past the traffic into the pipeline to pour on to the pedestrian crossing.

“Lots of us suffer regular abuse from drivers, particularly women.”

Transport for London (TfL) was aproached for comment but said the council were better placed to give a comment.

A Greenwich council spokeswoman said: “We have worked closely with TfL to request that it makes improvements to the Vanbrugh Hill, Trafalgar Road and Blackwall Lane junction, as it controls the signals and is responsible for the design and build of the cycle route which passes through it.  

“Once the cycle route is complete and we have been able to gather reliable traffic data, we will assess if further action is needed to help make the junction safer for everyone.”

Pictured top: Kate Middleton, a resident of East Greenwich, shown in front of the busy junction (Picture: Joe Coughlan)