6 July (Part 2) - The answer to all ills is narrow lanes, mini-roundabouts and speed humps
Andrew
Bashford presented the Highway’s Services slide show
to the Places Scrutiny Committee on behalf of Graham Ward who despite what he
claims on his ‘Linked In’ profile is a Deputy Director at Bexley Council.
Mr. Bashford told the Committee that his department looked after 60 road bridges with the Harrow Manorway flyover being one of the
biggest and 31 footbridges. The slide show gives a more complete list. Highways
Services is also responsible for flood risk management.
The same department monitors road accidents to identify blackspots. There were 455 collisions resulting in injury last year, 560 casualties.
Highways Services looks after the A roads but currently Transport for London has
put funding on hold for two years. It is hoped that minor maintenance jobs will
be completed but nothing much beyond that. “Lots of roads are needing major repairs.”
“Major projects are reducing congestion, better facilities for cyclists and
trying to green the environment up.”
The latter was mainly drainage improvement schemes and this will include
“around 150 new trees for the Harrow Manorway corridor”.
The Gravel Hill regeneration is complete “bar a few signs and road markings”.
“We are currently working on the flyover outside Abbey Wood station, final
adjustments are being made to the bridge joints prior to resurfacing of the route round about 23rd July.”
“Felixstowe Road and Gayton Road is a big element of the [Crossrail] work and has had issues
about funding but we are planning on delivering in time for the Elizabeth line opening in December.”
“There will be more traffic calming measures such as mini-roundabouts and 20 m.p.h.
zones and road humps; whatever is necessary to improve the general environment.“
“There are lots of requests for yellow lines especially for parking on corners
and twice a year they are collated, considered, consulted and put to the Cabinet Member.”
Children are trained on road safety including selecting best routes and 32
schools have their own Junior Road Safety Officers to “deliver their road safety measures”.
Councillor Stefano Borella (Labour, Slade Green & Northend) had an interest in
the Abbey Wood CPZ post Crossrail. He urged that the situation be looked at. A
long time ago the Highways Department suggested doing nothing until the end of
2019 so that they could react to observed practice rather than speculation.
Whilst this may seem sensible local residents are already being hemmed in by
thoughtless parking and do not relish the idea of the problem not being solved
until 2020. Very often no large vehicle can access my own road because of the
temporary chicanes installed by commuters most mornings.
Councillor Slaughter (Conservative, Sidcup) was concerned about pot holes - aren’t we all?