One road in Bexley so bad carers ‘miss visits’ because of traffic

By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter

A road has been described as being so congested that home carers are missing their visits to vulnerable residents.

Bexley council has received plans to build a two-storey block of six flats in Erith, with residents citing concerns the project would adversely affect traffic along the road.

The proposal includes knocking down a three-bedroom house in Colyers Lane, which was originally a school house and became a residential home in 2008.

Planning documents from EK Architects, on behalf of the applicant, said the building is currently in a poor state of repair.

The development would reportedly add a car park with seven spaces and room for 11 bikes, alongside a communal garden.

Council documents said a petition opposing the plans had received 116 signatures.

Concerns were raised about existing traffic issues in Colyers Lane, with neighbours claiming there had been a number of previous collisions and that the house’s driveway was often blocked by parents visiting the neighbouring school.

Objections were summarised in documents as: “Emergency services are often stuck in traffic in Colyers Lane. Residents’ carers sometimes miss visits due to traffic and lack of parking in Colyers Lane.”

Council officers noted the worries from residents in their report and felt the plans were unlikely to have a significant impact on the local road network.

They added that if the proposal was approved, a condition would be added requiring a management plan for the home’s demolition and construction of the flats to minimise disruption to neighbours.

The management plan must be approved by Bexley council before works begin and must include a strategy for parking on the site and the routes used by construction vehicles.

Planning documents said the size and height of the development had been reduced to reflect comments made by residents.

The plans to build the new set of flats in Colyers Lane will be discussed at a planning committee meeting for Bexley council on Thursday when a decision is expected to be made.

Pictured top: Colyers Lane in Erith, which objectors feared would experience worse traffic if the plans were to be approved (Picture: Joe Coughlan)