30 May (Part 1) - Knee Hill is shut…
…but no one knows why.
At 9.30 yesterday morning I was on my way to Petts Wood by car, with a large bag
of tools in the boot in case any anti-car nutter thinks the SL3 is a viable option,
heading in a westerly direction on Abbey Road and intending to turn left into
New Road. From a distance I signalled to a learner driver waiting at the bottom
of New Road to cross my path and ascend the hill. He didn’t move and when I
reached the junction the reason became clear. Five buses were trying to wiggle past
parked cars and negotiate the stupidly designed kinky junction.
When it was clear of buses I turned left in front of the learner who was
understandably very hesitant but within 100 yards or so encountered another SL3
descending the hill so I pulled into a parking space to give him a clear run.
However the bus flashed me to proceed and when I looked in the mirror I saw the
reason why. The road was blocked again with a queue behind me.
Usually when Bexley Council or a utility imposes traffic chaos on the area the
local Facebook page will give the reason why but not this time. An inquisitive
friend walked up Knee Hill to see what might be going on. Just after 2:30 p.m.
the answer was absolutely nothing. There was some fencing in need of repair
but no indication that any work was in progress.
Mr. Inquisitive phoned the Council but the Contact Centre said that the
Highways Department had not answered their phone all day so there was nothing
the lady could do to help.
By yesterday evening there was a rumour circulating locally that Knee Hill
might open this afternoon.
A couple of months ago I mentioned Knee Hill to the Councillor in charge at
Bexley Council and suggested that the existing kerb line could be eased out by
about 18 inches on both sides without impacting any tree. Every regular user
will have breathed in as he passes an off route bus short-cutting to the garage
and wondering if his wing mirror will survive or mounting the low kerb on one of the bends. Another
couple of feet would make Knee Hill a lot safer than it is.
The Councillor’s precise words were “It’s never going to happen” which was perhaps his way of
saying Councils are stupid and always will be.