31 Jul 2021

After 5 years of ongoing talks with the Council, no material changes have been made to improve the traffic volume on our roads and the associated risks; we have been assured of both short-term mitigations and longer term projects to alleviate traffic flow across the broader area. Neither have materialised.

As a consequence of the inaction, we have maintained a log of accidents and near misses which tells the story of the inevitable fatality that will surely come. Residents are suffering from interminable traffic, morning, noon and night, with all the associated noise and pollution you would expect.

Our roads have not always been like this. the problem was a direct consequence of the decision made by the Council five years ago to create road closures in Addiscombe West, and in so doing deposited traffic onto our roads, creating a 'sacrifice zone' by creating cut-throughs and rat runs using our roads, between Lower Addiscombe and Addiscombe Roads.

The Council, our MP and Officers have been diligent in maintaining communication with us but in the absence of any tangible action, it increasingly feels as though we are being 'managed'. The Council has finally admitted (as documented) that the changes to Addiscombe West were a mistake, but that to rectify them would, apparently, now be impossible without Transport for London - TfL agreement. Indeed, we are now caught in a Catch 22 scenario. The Council has no money without TfL involvement. So, what is to be done? We are told that a broader scheme is possible, but that 'it is not a priority' from the Officer leading the case.

In the meantime, accidents happen, and residents are unable to enjoy living in their homes.