29 June (Part 2) - Senseless councils. Lawless supermarkets
Harrow Manorway is the main North South thoroughfare from most of the
borough of Bexley into Thamesmead, some would say it is the only North South
access route. It is busy now and by the time Sainsbury’s opens next month and
Crossrail three years hence it will be an awful lot busier. So what has Bexley
council done to help handle the traffic?
It, aided and abetted by Greenwich council, has made some reductions to the road
width at various points from where it crosses the railway line through to Yarnton Way,
introduced a roundabout which for larger vehicles and most small ones is
quite
impossible to negotiate without changing lanes and permitted
bus stops opposite
pedestrian refuges adjacent to that roundabout and on both sides of it.
Now, in accordance with the published plan, a second light controlled pedestrian
crossing has been installed. Traffic congestion can only get worse.
It is not even a well positioned crossing. No one is going to cross left to
right (as shown in Photos 1 and 2 below) and then turn right again because that
route leads only to the subway that goes back under the road.
And anyone approaching from the background area of those photographs is likely
to cross the road nearer the roundabout using the aforesaid pedestrian refuge
because that will be a shorter route into the supermarket.
A small subject change now to the notice that has appeared in Sainsbury’s doorway. It looks as though the
company’s new store is trying to corner the Sunday
trade. It plans to keep open until 10 p.m. Local branches of Lidl,
Morrisons and Asda all shut at 4 p.m.
Many will find that useful I am sure but unfortunately it is against the law.
Maybe this branch of Sainsbury’s will be classed as a rail terminal branch for which there are exemptions. Click image above to see, or
visit the relevant government website.
All photos : 28th June 2015.