Cancer patient pensioner’s journey to doctor trebled in length because of Dulwich Low Traffic Neighbourhood

A pensioner with cancer’s regular journeys to her doctor now take three times as long because of road blocks for cars near her home.

Margaret says she feels trapped in a “ghetto” since a ban on cars through a junction that separates West Dulwich from East Dulwich was introduced in June 2020.

The 83-year old lymphoma sufferer lives in East Dulwich but relies on her car to get to her doctors in West Dulwich for blood tests and injections.

Since Southwark council introduced the motor vehicle ban last summer as part of a low traffic neighbourhood (LTN), Margaret has had to sit in standstill traffic on the South Circular to get back from her local GP.

She says she is one of hundreds of elderly people whose lives are being made hell by the low traffic neighbourhood that stops traffic from crossing from one side of Dulwich to the other.

Margaret said: “I feel as though I’m in a ghetto from which I can’t escape.

“It would take me less than a quarter of an hour [to reach the doctors] before. Now it can take longer than half an hour.

“And going back is the same because you aren’t allowed to enter the village from West Dulwich so you have to go up the South Circular and down another busy polluted road, Lordship Lane, that is carrying all the traffic.

“It has a psychological impact and a practical one. I’m a widow. I live alone and I’ve friends in Dulwich. To get to them it has become more difficult. I feel constrained.”

Southwark council announced the temporary closure of Dulwich Village junction from June 25, 2020 in response to government advice about social distancing.

The “experimental” traffic order was due to be in place for 18 months until December 29, 2021, during which time the council would decide whether to make the closure permanent.

On December 7, 2021, a group of elderly residents from Dulwich protested outside Southwark Council’s offices against making the road closure permanent.

But on December 24, the council announced that traffic restrictions in Dulwich will become permanent.

It says the LTNs have led to a 12 per cent decrease in traffic and a 60 per cent increase in cycling.

But Margaret says the car ban ignores people who have mobility issues.

She said: “I’m of Dutch extraction and cycling is in the blood you might say but I wouldn’t dream of cycling now at my age.”

“I’ve had arthritis all my life and I had hip replacements a long time ago and they’re now wearing out.

“I get breathless because of lymphoma. I’ve become dependent on my car in a way that I don’t wish to be really but it’s what helps me get about.

“They’re not paying attention to the harm to older people and people with disabilities. They did interviews on Zoom but not everybody has access to Zoom.

“It’s like they’re in the grip of a messanic zeal to encourage walking and cycling and they haven’t paid attention to people with protected characteristics at all.”

Cllr Catherine Rose, Southwark’s cabinet member for transport, parks and sport, said: “We have spent many months listening to people in the local community and collecting and monitoring data. The aim is to help make Dulwich more accessible for cycling and walking, making it a key part of a borough-wide network for active travel that is safer, cleaner and greener.

“During our 18 month trial we have seen people beginning to reclaim their streets and we have seen real benefits, with more to come as people choose to use cars less, and find alternative ways to get around. I am confident that our permanent measures will build on this and encourage wider benefits, moving forward.”