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Southwark has now extended the deadline for responses to the consultation by another week to Sunday 22 February. Hard to see the point of creating a segregated cycle lane of just 250m on Peckham Rye East when cyclists then have to negotiate traffic on other roads for the rest of their journey. Moving the bus stops further up Peckham Rye West to a narrow part of the road means cyclists are put in more danger - trying to overtake stationary buses puts them in direct conflict with oncoming traffic and is already an accident spot. At the moment they can overtake safely at the lights where there is a bus lane. There are hardly any accidents reported on Peckham Rye East. The danger to cyclists outweighs any benefits, it's worse for all other road users, a waste of money and should be opposed. But great for Southwark Council for raking in fines. Here's the link again: https://engage.southwark.gov.uk/en-GB/projects/peckham-rye-gyratory-bus-improvements

Southwark Council yesterday released the revised scheme for traffic movements around Peckham Rye/East Dulwich Road which was heavily criticised when it first appeared. The consultation is open for less than 2 weeks, closing on 16 February so you need to be quick with your responses. It hasn't yet appeared on the 'Southwark Platform' so the Council is obviously hoping that it will go unnoticed so that the scheme can be forced through. The major areas of concern, i.e., the closure of the eastern branch of Peckham Rye to the junction with East Dulwich Road and the consequential rerouting of most traffic to the western branch remain. This will cause substantial tailbacks in all directions, in particular slowing the buses. The current scheme was designed to improve the buses through the western junction so this seems a retrograde step. The scheme pays lip service to improving cycling but in practice offers little benefit - with all traffic forced to use the western arm of Peckham Rye there will be more potential conflicts. The Nigel Road bus stop is to be moved to Rye Lane to secure the much criticised 'floating bus stop'. All of this is said to be costing £2m and will take another year to implement. Yet more contra flows, temporary traffic lights and massive disruption just when we have recovered from the delays caused by the gas works last year. And with more restrictions it will be a huge cash cow for the Council. Not that this is an objective of the scheme.... The link to the consultation is here: https://engage.southwark.gov.uk/en-GB/projects/peckham-rye-gyratory-bus-improvements The Council need to be mindful of the High Court judgement in 2025 which quashed the West Dulwich low traffic zone, where the consultation outcome was described as a 'masterclass in selective reporting'.

Yes, the Council's scheme for Peckham Rye station square is going ahead and is welcomed. However, the major project for the rebuilding of the station itself to provide improved accessibility has not received government funding and is being 'paused'. There seems little prospect of that scheme now going ahead in the current Parliament. This is regrettable as it is one of the busiest stations on the network outside central London.

As if the traffic chaos caused by the Council's road works in Grove Vale and Dulwich Village was not enough, be prepared for a summer of disruption due to the renewal of gas pipes affecting Lordship Lane, East Dulwich Road, Peckham Rye and associated streets. Nothing from the Council by way of mitigation, as usual no doubt extremely relaxed about the traffic congestion likely to ensue. We meanwhile will have to ensure endless delays as the buses are snarled up with temporary traffic lights taking ages to change on single phase sequences. All the more maddening when there is often no sense of urgency about completing the works. This comes courtesy of the Friends of Peckham Rye but needs to be circulated widely. I am contacting you regarding our project to upgrade the gas network in the roads around Peckham Rye. We need to replace the old pipe with new plastic pipe to ensure a continued safe and reliable gas supply. Our contractor, Forefront Utilities, will start this essential work on 6 May for approximately 16 weeks. Who are we? SGN own and operate the gas network in your area and provide your gas supply 24 hours a day, 365 day a year. What roads will be affected and when? Phase one Our engineers will start work on 6 May for approximately six weeks in Rye Lane between the junction with Peckham Rye to property number 206 Rye Lane. Temporary two-way traffic lights will be in place to ensure that road users are able to pass the work site safely. At the same time, we will also be working in Nigel Road the road will be closed at the junction with Peckham Rye. A signed diversion will be in place and access will be maintained for residents and businesses. Work will also start work in Peckham Rye for approximately 12 weeks. Our engineers will be working between the junctions of Rye Lane and East Dulwich Road. Temporary multi-way traffic lights will be in place to keep everyone safe. Phase two Our engineers will start work on 16 June for approximately ten weeks in East Dulwich Road between the junctions of Worlingham Road and Peckham Rye. We will need to install temporary multi-way lights for the duration of the work. Phase three From 28 July for approximately four weeks, we will be working in Lordship Lane, Spurling Road and Worlingham Road at their junctions with East Dulwich Road. Our work in Lordship Lane will take place from the junction with East Dulwich Road to the junction with Zenoria Street. Temporary multi-way lights will be installed for the duration of the work. The junction of Spurling Road and East Dulwich Road will be closed with a signed diversion in place. The junction of Worlingham Road and East Dulwich Road will also be closed with a signed diversion in place. How will this affect you? • If your property is within the road closure, access will be maintained. Please speak to our engineers about any special requirements you may have. • Please ensure that delivery drivers and visitors know about the road closure and traffic lights to allow them to factor in additional delivery time. • Please allow additional time for your journeys. • Please check with your local bus company to be aware of any delayed buses or suspended bus stops. At SGN we appreciate that work of this nature is disruptive and ensure that we will complete this work as quickly and safely as possible to minimise this disruption. We will update you on our progress at each phase of the work programme. Ongoing information on our project will be available on our website Sharon Dorrington (She/Her) Stakeholder and Community Engagement Manager Vice Chair @ SGN Race Equality Network M:+44 (0)7970123506 E: [email protected] SGN, St Lawrence House, Station Approach, Horley, Surrey, RH6 9HJ

The last consultation on the CPZ in East Dulwich was exemplary of its kind - clear options were set out with plans and open ended questions inviting reasoned responses. The Council took these seriously, and by and large the end result was felt to be satisfactory. It seems this time there are no counter arguments being allowed. A CPZ in my street is needed no more than it was the last time the consultation was done. The only rationale is that the Council wants to take the power to charge residents for parking come what may, and rack up the costs year by year. Apart from anything else, it is profoundly inequitable as those residents, mostly the ones living in larger houses who have a drive or a garage will be able to avoid it while the rest of us have to pay for something which will be of very little benefit.

If this is true, it is symptomatic of how relaxed Southwark seems to be about traffic gridlock caused by road works. Perhaps it's because it plays into their LTN agenda and it's likely to increase their revenue from drivers incurring fines trying to avoid it. But this will severely affect the users of four bus routes (185, 40, 176 and P13) who can't avoid it. When something similar was proposed years ago which would have affected Grove Vale, Harriet Harman intervened to organise a bridge over the works so that bus routes were not disrupted. This kind of solution is needed here to avoid such a lengthy gridlock.

Last I heard it was Mrs Sida-Murray's dental surgery going in there, moving from East Dulwich Road as her lease was ending. She is going to be sharing with the dentist from Dulwich Village who is moving her practice across the road.