Town hall not listening to our traffic demands

Residents are begging Lambeth council to implement immediate changes after plans were announced to make ‘The Cut’ temporary traffic order on Ufford Street and Green Street in Waterloo permanent.

The Experimental Traffic Management Order (ETMO) implemented by the council in April 2022 has created the ‘Waterloop’ which forces HGV’s and delivery trucks 24 hours a day, past the local children’s playground.

Lambeth Liberal Democrats, who are supporting the residents’ campaign, have asked the Council to deploy “a simple solution”.

The Lib Dems want a Local Access Only traffic filter at the junction of The Cut and Waterloo Road, and for the right turn from Bayliss Road into Waterloo Road to be re-established.

Councillor Donna Harris, Leader of the Lambeth Liberal Democrats, wrote to the Council after meeting with residents in August but has yet to receive a reply.

Police have been called out to help HGVs which have become stuck in the narrow residential streets, while ambulances have been called to attend to injured cyclists.

The Liberal Democrats said that taxpayers’ money and police resources are being wasted needlessly, and that there are clear grounds to reconsider the plans.

Chris French, Liberal Democrat Candidate for Lambeth and Southwark London Assembly Constituency, said: “We and residents have been ignored. It is the people who live on these roads who are affected most by this proposal, but most of the responses to the consultation appear to come from people who commute or pass through the area.

“We absolutely support traffic calming measures, but the proposal as given will aggravate the ongoing problem.”

Cllr Harris said: “The lack of empathy and communication are appalling.

“We have been asking Lambeth council to undertake an on-site visit with residents for months, but they’re not prepared to engage.

By Liberal Democrats

Picture: Pixabay/shilin wang