Bellenden’s Road School Gate proposal

[Huggers]

Local SE15 residents have received a letter asking for comments on Southwark's proposal to make most of Bellenden Road and Maxted Road school streets from 7.45am-9am weekdays; in my (local) opinion, effectively cutting off passing trade for the Crossroads caff and two independent grocers, ( one of which has an early morning queue for coffee and pastries) not to mention the other businesses currently struggling under soaring  rents. 
Also poss turning adjoining local residential streets into rush hour rat runs as they flow towards an increasingly congested Rye Lane. 
consultation available on their website. Code attached if you are interested in having a look. 

[malumbu]

If this reduces the likelihood of people, particularly children, being killed and seriously injured, then surely it is a good thing.  Depends on how society values our health and wellbeing, convenience (for some) of getting from A to B in their car, and the impact on local businesses.  I'm not sure how many parents drive their kids to the local schools and if this is brought in how many will ditch that method of school run.

The proposals do not affect me so I feel no need to respond. 

[Huggers]

It seems to be a calm junction with two zebra crossings immediately outside school on both roads, (school on a corner) halting traffic on  plus dedicated lollipop persons. Bellenden road itself - (the restriction is intended for the whole road up until the one way system) is a not a cut through but a well used route to north and central London as well as Camberwell.

parents are already restricted by morning residents parking up to a point. 

Edited October 24 by Huggers

[spider69]

What happens to those dependent on using the P13.

Newbys seem to be determined to really turn estate agents Bellenden Village into their dream Bellenden Village.

No matter what real locals say they will go ahead.

Those that have lived here all our lives get fed up with all these changes that are not needed.

 

 

[alex_b]

The proposed Bellenden Rd signs show bus only rather than no traffic, presumably to allow the P13 to continue as is. 
 

The driving at that corner in the mornings is frequently shocking with lots of cars and HGVs trying to manoeuvre through fairly narrow streets with parked cars. 
 

My worry is that without physical barriers inattentive drivers will continue to ignore the signs like they do on Adys Rd with the St John’s school street. 

[Penguin68]

5 minutes ago, alex_b said:

My worry is that without physical barriers inattentive drivers will continue to ignore the signs like they do on Adys Rd with the St John’s school street. 

Precisely the intent for revenue generation, I'm guessing. Particularly as it's a popular route.

[alice]

Don’t most Southwark schools have school streets now?

[march46]

1 minute ago, alice said:

Don’t most Southwark schools have school streets now?

Indeed, and Southwark is accelerating the delivery of those that don’t.
 

This link is a useful read which explains more. Interesting to see a quote from a headteacher which has a School Street - “As a headteacher, I have seen first-hand the positive impact that School Streets has had on our community.  The reduction in traffic at the school gates has made the area calmer, safer and more welcoming for our children and their families.  Children are able to come to school with greater confidence and parents often tell me how much more reassured they feel at drop-off and pick-up times.  This initiative is helping us to build not just a safer school environment, but a stronger sense of community too.”

https://www.southwark.gov.uk/news/2025/council-rolls-out-school-streets-across-borough

[alex_b]

11 hours ago, Penguin68 said:

Precisely the intent for revenue generation, I'm guessing. Particularly as it's a popular route.

I don’t think so. One of the earlier school streets had barriers that could be retracted but the school struggled to have enough staff on duty to bring them in and out to let legitimate traffic through. Camera enforcement is fine in theory, but so many drivers are so inattentive that they breeze right through them.
What would your proposal be to improve road safety outside the school while guarding against accusations of hidden revenue generation?

Edited October 25 by alex_b

[malumbu]

Why do people feel sorry for those that drive on school streets and get caught?  If they don't see the signage then more fool them.  Why do some of you resort to "this is all about revenue generation"?

[spider69]

Thought as you did not live here you would not comment

[PeckhamNicola]

The signage is really poor, it's just not that visible amongst everything else you're looking out for as you're driving along, especially if you're just turning a corner onto a school street. Obviously you're going to be looking around at street level for any hazards you couldn't see before you turned the corner, not upwards at a sign. If you already KNOW it's a school street well and good, but if not it's easy to be caught out. Even police have said that to me.

[Pugwash]

St Anthony's school will have a school street in a few weeks time - the cameras have already been installed. It also covers Friern Road as well as Etherow Street.

[Earl Aelfheah]

People shouldn't be inattentive when driving a car, van or HGV past a school (or any other time). 

As for the suggestion that it's only 'new residents' that want the streets outside schools to be safe for children - I'd remind you that it used to be the norm - before we allowed more and more, faster, bigger cars to slowly take over and then dominate our public spaces, stripping kids of much of their independence.

Edited October 28 by Earl Aelfheah

[Rockets]

On 26/10/2025 at 17:49, Pugwash said:

St Anthony's school will have a school street in a few weeks time - the cameras have already been installed. It also covers Friern Road as well as Etherow Street.

I presume they will still be allowing buses to use the street when it is in operation?

[Friernlocal]

On 26/10/2025 at 17:49, Pugwash said:

St Anthony's school will have a school street in a few weeks time - the cameras have already been installed. It also covers Friern Road as well as Etherow Street.

I've just walked up Friern towards Lordship Lane and turned down Etherow. I couldn't see the cameras you mentioned. Where exactly are they please? I don't want to make a mistake accessing Friern during the active periods.

Also I've looked at the council section on school streets and buses aren't affected by these schemes.

[malumbu]

On 25/10/2025 at 23:06, spider69 said:

Thought as you did not live here you would not comment

Not responding to the consultation but I will give my views on the discussion

I live fairly close to Goodrich and it is good to see their school street in operation.  They are also very supportive of the school run being done on foot and bike, as I expect are other schools in the area.

[Penguin68]

4 hours ago, Earl Aelfheah said:

People shouldn't be inattentive when driving a car, van or HGV past a school

Which is why people are staring at the roads pavements and missing signs placed high up, in small type and often slightly obscured by trees etc. Their (and indeed my) attention is on people on the roads and pavements. Would you have it otherwise?

[malumbu]

You are making excuses again. If you are not aware of coming up to a school you shouldn't be driving.  You'd certainly fail your driving test.  Ditto for not being aware of signage. I don't understand why you think drivers rights come first over children's safety.

You should be going slow enough around schools to see the signage.  Even if it means you have to stop.  

[Rockets]

20 minutes ago, malumbu said:

Ditto for not being aware of signage. I don't understand why you think drivers rights come first over children's safety.

Let's be honest being aware of signage and seeing signage are two very different things and there are plenty of good local examples where the council has placed signage in places where drivers would not necessarily see it - the entrance to Burbage Road at the apex of the junction with Dulwich Village and the pathetic signage "alerting" drivers to a CPZ on Calton - which I hasten to add in the latter case the council admitted were not fit for purpose and changed after complaints. 

23 minutes ago, malumbu said:

Even if it means you have to stop.  

If you're having to stop to read road traffic signage then the signage is not fit for purpose.

[Pugwash]

Not sure where the cameras are- an Etherow Street resident informed me last week that they were up - perhaps she meant that the wiring etc were in place. Car owning residents of the street have to pay for  parking permits to be able to park their cars during the 'school street hours'

[Rockets]

I notice cameras have also gone up in front of Goodrich School at the junction of Uplands pointing towards Dunstans. Are they planning on there as well?

 

41 minutes ago, Pugwash said:

Car owning residents of the street have to pay for  parking permits to be able to park their cars during the 'school street hours'

Of course they do....cos it's all about the revenue.....does that enable them to drive through the street during school street operation hours I presume?

[Penguin68]

2 hours ago, malumbu said:

You are making excuses again. If you are not aware of coming up to a school you shouldn't be driving

Read what I wrote, it's concentrating on all the people around a school which means that slightly obscured and difficult to read signage goes unnoticed. Because we are focusing on people and not on road signs. And because we are very experienced at doing that when driving past or near schools, which until very recently didn't carry huge fines for driving near them. 

[malumbu]

You should be able to watch the road and look out for signage.  As I posted earlier.  If you can't should you be driving?

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

I live on a school street.  While it is true, one has to apply for a permit, there is no charge for it.