6 March - More dubious tinkering with the road system
Long Lane is getting the
Bellegrove Road treatment
in miniature; complete with pinch points and rearranged traffic island. Bexley
council call it a “traffic and pedestrian improvement scheme” but the locals who
asked that I should take a look cannot see why the money has to be spent.
The obvious change is that the zebra crossing and its central island have gone;
you can see the remnants of the road markings and a new crosing is being constructed
15 feet further along the road. What sort of caring council gets rid of one
pedestrian crossing before constructing the replacement?
The new beacons on their poles are there as is the tactile paving. How moving it
15 feet is ever worthwhile I do not know but it is now right on the corner of
Haslemere Road. The pavement has been built out so maybe there will not be a
replacement pedestrian refuge.
50 yards or so to the north of the crossing the pavement appears to be widened
(see photo gallery) and it remains to be seen if parking spaces will be reduced.
Local opinion, as relayed to me, is that it will do nothing to improve traffic flow.
As someone who only ever passes through on the way to Bexley or the A2 I reserve judgment
except that rarely is it possible to improve both traffic flow and pedestrian facilities
and Bexley council’s track record for screwing up every road project reigns supreme.
Speaking of the A2 and screw ups. Those of us in the north of the borough cannot
get to it at all via Long Lane and the route via Brampton Road requires a
torturous detour which is sometimes very congested. I appreciate it is all
utility related but does Bexley council not exercise any control whatever?