Dangerous crossing set for overhaul after ‘many accidents’

By Charlotte Lillywhite, Local Democracy Reporter

A council is proposing to overhaul a junction to improve safety after revealing at least five collisions have taken place there in recent years.

The junction of Mitcham Lane and Southcroft Road in Furzedown, Wandsworth has been criticised by residents as too many drivers speed or do not stop for pedestrians at the zebra crossing.

Wandsworth council proposes to replace the existing mini-roundabout with a traffic signal-controlled junction.

There would be new push button pedestrian crossings on each arm of the junction, along with advance stop lines for cyclists.

The changes would also require a ban on vehicles turning right from Fallsbrook Road into Mitcham Lane.

Nadim Iqbal, 54, has lived close to the junction for five years and said he was disturbed by noisy traffic as late as 11pm while trying to sleep.

The delivery driver said there had been many accidents at the busy junction and described the mini-roundabout as terrible.

Mr Iqbal raised concerns about drivers speeding while using the junction and failing to indicate, along with their ability to see the zebra crossing which sits very close to the mini-roundabout.

When it starts to get dark in the evenings, he said, drivers “can’t see or don’t want to stop, they can’t see the zebra crossing and it’s becoming very dangerous”.

He added: “The people don’t give indicators for going right or left, they’re coming, another driver is very confused and… mostly the people coming… are very fast.”

Mr Iqbal said most residents wanted traffic lights to be installed at the junction. About the council’s proposals, he said: “It’s a good thing because every day here with the traffic, the zebra crossing and also some accidents, not only is that normal but [there is also] a lot of difficulty with this roundabout.”

But he praised the traffic links in the neighbourhood and said it’s “easy to move anywhere in London, if you want to go to Central London, for example” due to the availability of bus services, along with Tooting Broadway and Tooting Bec Tube stations.

Mohammed Qasin, 33, also said he likes living in the area, which he described as friendly with nice people.

Mr Qasin works at Simply Beds in Mitcham Lane and said a car once mounted the pavement outside the shop, which is very close to the mini-roundabout, and added that he regularly sees accidents at the junction. He said he is very happy about the council’s proposals to change it.

He raised concerns about the safety of the junction’s current layout, with the number of elderly people and schoolchildren in the area.

He said: “School kids are coming to the zebra crossing. At the zebra crossing people don’t stop.”

The council’s proposals for the junction also include installing new replacement short-term parking and loading bays in Edencourt Road, Kettering Street and Fallsbrook Road, along with upgrading the pavement outside the shops on both sides of Mitcham Lane between Fallsbrook Road and Edencourt Road. The authority described the junction in its current form as “hazardous”.

Labour Wandsworth councillor Jenny Yates said: “This location has a chequered history of collisions in recent years and we want to do something about it. We’ve looked at this junction in detail and have come up with a set of measures we believe will make it a lot safer.”

Pictured top: Nadim Iqbal, 54, by the junction of Mitcham Lane and Southcroft Road in Furzedown (Picture: Charlotte Lillywhite)