Increase in HGV in Melford Rd and Wood Vale

[dds29]

If you live in Melford Rd or Wood Vale (Southwark side) and are angry/frustrated/upset about the increase in HGV and other commercial traffic as well as cars that speed along both of these roads while taking a short cut to the S. Circular, then join myself (Melford Rd) and TA (Wood Vale) as we tackle tfl and Southwark Council for solutions.

Send me a pm, and if there is a good response we will organise a meeting (promises by ward councillor(s) to attend.)

[Applespider]

I?ve noticed increase in coaches and skip lorries as they thunder over the speed bumps so please let me know if you have a meeting. Although if I?m honest, I?m disturbed more by the LCY planes.

[dimples]

They are coming down Belvoir Road at speed too !

[Penguin68]

that speed along both of these roads while taking a short cut to the S. Circular

No - Melford is the only way to join Lordship Lane as it joins London Road (the South Circular) if you want to either turn right towards Goose Green or to enter Dulwich Common (the South Circular going towards Clapham). Other roads locally (Wood Vale, Underhill) are left turn only (towards Forest Hill), or no entry (Belvoir towards Lordship Lane). Vehicles may speed (bad!) but they have no alternative route. Belvoir is the logical turn if you want to travel towards Underhill off Lordship Lane, travelling either way. The effect of making many of our local roads one-way (or restricted turn) is to funnel traffic down certain routes. These are not 'short-cuts' but the only legal routes. Certainly work towards reducing speeds, but be aware that vehicles, of whatever size, have to travel down local roads to get to destinations locally. And routes are limited once turning and entry restrictions are in place. As they are.

[Les1967]

I agree Wood Vale seems to have hugely increased in traffic over the last six months - to the point that crossing the road at Langton Rise is dangerous at times with traffic swerving around speed bumps and parked cars.

[dds29]

I'll certainly let you know about the meeting AS, and thanks penguin68 for the info., that's very useful.

[bobbsy]

I think volume of traffic down these roads increased considerably after the Borough went to 20mph limit.

[ruffers]

I have a friend who uses the route South Circ, Honor Oak, Wood Vale to cut the corner as she sees it of the South Circular at Forest Hill heading west.

[malumbu]

I've lived in the area for yonks, will use this route when going to LL and the like, and cycle down Underhill most working days. It's a bit of a race track at times but not sure whether I have seen additional traffic. As a professional tree hugger I'm interested in reducing vehicular traffic or when it is a necessity that this is efficiently (and safely) used to cut air pollution and carbon. Congestion is the half way house of lack of government action in not wanting to demonise drivers and piecemeal and unjoined up planning from local authorities. So interested in the outcome of this. Similar issues in rat running, delivery vans and occasional HGVs cutting through the roads at the back of the Horniman and congestion around the schools.

Need to play devil's advocate as this thread could come across as NiMBYism so be prepared for that challenge.

My main interest is why driving standards are so appalling, why most drivers cannot manage traffic calming let alone stick to somewhere loosely around 20mph. Great for some solutions please! I've done some advanced driver training (not the police led stuff which is foot to the ground) and it's a shame that good (smooth) driving is not a thing we all need to aspire to. Funnily enough UBER seems to be setting good standards (most seem to be very smooth drivers).

[Penguin68]

One clear problem is that there is a lot of building work going on around here - builder's materials lorries are now very big, as of course are skip lorries. These add real pressure to roads, but they are, in the main, about genuine access, not cut-throughs. However, sat nav does choose 'straightest' routes often, which can start to include small roads (road width isn't part of the normal programming) so we do get some 'strangers' on small side roads because they are following directions, not because they are 'evil' rat-runners. Waze again (which is brilliant) is very good at finding the smallest roads to avoid jams.

[dds29]

I take your point and of course the building work has added to the recent increase-in Melford and Wood Vale; however that tends to be vans of assorted shapes and sizes and there are very few builder's lorries that actually call at premises in these roads.

The skip lorries use this as a route to the South Circular on a regular basis- they carry empty skips at top speed and do not stop.

[Siduhe]

The skip lorries are the ones I notice most because they speed over the speed bumps as it's the smoothest way for them to drive, but it's also the noisiest for nearby residents.

However, I do think that a fair amount of it comes from local developments and building projects (of which there have been many around Underhill/Melford/Wood Vale in the last year).

[Penguin68]

however that tends to be vans of assorted shapes and sizes and there are very few builder's lorries that actually call at premises in these roads. I meant builders' merchants' lorries. Sorry.

There were 2 big lorries (with integral cranes) delivering in my neck of Underhill this morning, most days there are 2 to 3. Plus all the actual vans etc. of the working builders.

[malumbu]

Simple solution is that the Bank of England raise interest rates, perhaps following Brexit,to a level where we start putting more money into financial products rather than housing. The collapse of the housing market post Brexit will have a mixed effect, cheaper property meaning more money to spend on improving, but also less value in investing in your property. And of course with the loss of overseas labour and expertise builders prices may escalate.

Although it may be that we switch our savings to dollars or Euros as the pound collapses.

Plenty to think about when we are dodging the vans and skip lorries in Underhill.

[woodland]

I would be interested in attending a meeting about traffic calming/speed tracking. The number of people who drive dangerously/on the wrong side of the road at speed to overtake needs to be looked at/monitored.