2,500 sign petition demanding reversal of Dulwich road closures
By Grainne Cuffe, Local Democracy Reporter
Southwark’s cabinet is set to consider a petition with nearly 2,500 local signatures asking that emergency road closures in Dulwich be reversed.
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, councils across London are bringing in a host of measures to help enable social distancing, encourage active travel and reduce motor vehicle use and air pollution.
Some of these measures include blocking access to through-traffic at junctions, and pedestrianising streets.
However, the measures are not without opposition, with petitions popping up all over the capital.
The petition set to go before cabinet on Tuesday looks to completely reverse “all closures and partial closures” in Dulwich Village and East Dulwich, including Melbourne Grove, Derwent Grove, Elsie Road, Tintagel Crescent, Carlton Avenue, Court Lane and to “cancel the future planned camera-enforced closures of Townley Road and Dulwich Village at certain hours of day”.
It added: “The council claims that these road closures are to aid a cleaner greener streets initiative with the aim of reducing air pollution and promoting other forms of transport.
“However, whilst the fortunate ‘few’ living on the newly closed streets are enjoying pollution-free air now, the ‘many’ living on the other streets taking the significant additional traffic burden are more polluted than ever and suffering vastly increased congestion at various different times of day.”
The author of the petition wrote there was “no sign of any let up” of now gridlocked roads, and warned the situation “will very likely get worse as more and more people got back to work and the remaining schools open”, while some bus services have reduced timetables.
According to the council report, a second petition in support of the road closures, with 29 signatures as of October 8, was also received.
Responding, the council’s strategic director of environment and leisure, said there was a “very real risk” of a car-led recovery as London comes out of lockdown.
Caroline Bruce said: “In order to avoid the detrimental impact this will have on air quality and the health of Southwark residents, the council needs to take measures to encourage people to make the change to walking and cycling instead of private motor vehicles wherever possible.”
She added that the road closures around Dulwich have been installed in response to resident and local councillor comments “over the last few years”.
Ms Bruce said “it is accepted” that traffic will initially be displaced into other roads, “but experience demonstrates that this often settles when drivers become accustomed to the changes and people begin to feel safer and more confident in walking and cycling to get to local destinations”.
She added that “a review of (the schemes’) effectiveness against the original objectives will be carried out as standard practice”.
Pictured top: Southwark council is to consider the petition signed by 2,500 people against the road closures
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What’s going on in Southwark? Why all these road closures?. It’s so chaotic . In fact, we can’t breath. A journey that will take 20 minutes previously will now take one hour or more in traffic due to these road closures. I don’t think this makes any sense. I can’t see how this reduces pollution. It will only reduce pollution for few in some areas but in general it would increase pollution. Using cars is a necessity and unavoidable for most of us and therefore, making us stay long in traffic will mean more pollution and waste of time for economic activities. I can’t see how those who took these decisions should be re-elected to represent us.
I totally agree with Johns comments
the local people got a letter of warning about the changes i live out of the area and had no idea i dont think the signs are that clear of whats going on the one i did was on the road after i had turned into it even if i had seen it i would have thought it was a bus lane along that road a bit ,most of us only have two eyes and its a bit late once you have turned into the road
where does the traffic go only on to another which repeats the problem there
this just seems to be a money making scheme for the council yes please i would like to sign a petition
I tried to get to pizza express in herne hill (Dulwich pizza express has no tables) I have been many of times to herne hill pizza express and it took no more then 6 minutes. Today I spent 42 minutes getting there down Croxted Road to get to the branch. How is that reducing pollution? The road closures has only diverted and increases pollution, only benefiting local residents living along the restricted road. NO I cannot cycle with 2 kids in the rain. Business are going be affected as traffic increases when lockdown restrictions lift.