2 March (Part 2) - Crippling chicanery
I received this report from an ambulance driver; of the charity variety I
believe. I don’t know Crayford well and I’m unfamiliar with its roads
and humps and with so much material coming in I’ve had to research it via
Google Street View to save time. It’s easy to see why an ambulance driver would be
annoyed and his patient would be harbouring dark thoughts about Bexley council.
So here it is with only very minor editing…
“You have previously referred to various schemes involving humps, width
restrictions, chicanes etc. inflicted on residents by Bexley council. Have you
though covered the proliferation of these in the Crayford area?
Not so long ago I was regularly engaged on transporting a disabled person between
Bexleyheath and Crayford and was unable to find a sensible route avoiding Bexley
council’s deliberate obstructions. The vehicle would just about, with extreme
care, squeeze through a seven foot width restriction but it would only take a minor
misjudgment (as witnessed by the scrapes on the width posts) to cause major damage.
In any event the patient really did not appreciate being jolted about over humps
however slowly they were taken.
The quickest/most direct route was via Halcot Road (humps), Old Road
(width restriction and humps) and Iron Mill Lane (width restriction, humps and a
chicane). An alternative using more main roads involved queuing through two sets of
lights - Albion Road into Gravel Hill then right turn into Watling Street. (N.B.
These lights are carefully phased by Bexley council such that whatever the
traffic conditions it is never ever possible to get through both sets
at one go!) On reaching Crayford more queuing was necessary through two more
sets of lights on the Crayford one way system. (Again I cannot recall ever getting
through both sets of lights in one go.) Then there is still the width restriction
in Crayford Way to be negotiated (or sneak through the bus lane and hope nobody
is watching) then the humps and chicane and yet more humps in Maiden Lane.
Bexley Council were asked for a suggested route which did not have width
restrictions or humps but their response was that it was not their concern. So
now you know. They do not care how residents get around the borough - they are
only interested in making life as difficult as possible for motorists/residents.
Goodness only knows how Crayford residents arrange for large furniture removal
type vehicles to reach their homes when necessary.”
Sad to say I don’t suppose that story comes a surprise to anyone, but worth
repeating. A disabled resident in need of a bit of TLC (Tender Loving Care) gets
a taste of TLC (The lying Craske). I shall have my own story about how Bexley council doesn’t care about
the disabled coming up soon.