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News and Comment July 2023

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5 July (Part 1) - Neglect is the norm

Abbey Road flood Road sign Wilton Road bannerIt is often said that Bexley Council doesn’t care about the North of the borough because no Conservative Councillor lives nearby (and neither do recent Labour leaders) but probably Southern residents see similar neglect.

The rain last night was especially heavy and while driving home circa 11 p.m. I had to go very slowly because I couldn’t see the edge of the road. The Abbey Road footpath was once again under water but it had receded by eight this morning.

Abbey Road has flooded during heavy downpours for as long as I can remember and first mentioned on BiB in 2011. It was another year before it made its photographic debut. FM Conway installed a drain in 2012 but it obviously didn’t have the desired effect.

The New Road Layout sign under the flyoveer was erected in 2007 when the cycle lane which at that time went down the middle of the road - yes really - was moved to a more conventional position. It first featured on BiB twelve years ago.

The faded Shops Open As Usual banner is a mere youngster. It was put up in 2016 in an attempt to alleviate the problems created for the Wilton Road shopkeepers during Crossrail construction. A bit late in the day for a project that began in 2013 but welcome at the time. There is an identical one on Knee Hill.

The shops never did recover from Crossrail. I heard Bexley Council told them they were “sitting on little goldmines” but a chat with the Chairman of the Traders’ Association last week told a different story. Commuters jump in a waiting car and go straight home. Gridlock permitting.

All photographs taken early this morning.

 

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