The poor bollard on the corner of Adys Road and Nutbrook Street

[kford]

The definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

It's what came to mind when I noticed that for about the fifth time in six months the bollard on the corner of these streets has been replaced after being knocked over. There's a new one there tonight, nice and upright with a fresh lick of black paint, solid in its Tarmac base. But I guarantee that within a fortnight it'll be scuffed with Transit van-white paint and leaning precariously before finally being uprooted.

Can I suggest one of those bell-shaped cast iron blobs? Or - more radical - re-align the mouth of the junction to how the Victorians had it?

[KidHardy]

I raised this with James Barber recently and he received the below.

It's gone down at least twice more since this!

Dear Councillor Barber

Thank you for your initial email of 6 December concerning the bollards at the junction of Adys Road and Nutbrook Street. I apologise for the delay in a response but I am awaiting certain information to provide a comprehensive response to your query.

In the last five months, we have undertaken eight individual bollard repairs at this location at a cost of ?650. Prior to this there was only one repair in March 2012 at a cost of ?105.

I am currently awaiting a response from our Road Safety team as to when the junction safety scheme (raised table and build outs) was installed, and whether a Stage 4 Safety Audit was undertaken after the scheme had been in operation for a certain time to evaluate the effectiveness and any associated problems.

There are potential alternatives to the bollard replacement but I would wish to check on their applicability with the Road Safety team before undertaking any permanent changes. Obviously, removing the bollard and allowing vehicles to over-run the footway would increase the potential hazard to pedestrians. Providing a greater turning area for vehicles exiting Nutbrook Street by moving back the kerbline would presumably negate the effect of the safety scheme, and could only be achieved at a significant cost. A further option is the replacement of the full height bollard with a bell type bollard.

I will respond further with our intended solution to the problem once I have received a response as outlined above.

In the meantime, please don't hesitate to contact me if you should require any further information.

"

[Huggers]

how about a bollard motorists can actually see from the driving seat of their car?

[mikeb]

Think they used to get trams along this route in Victorian times, which would suggest it possible to design a junction that accommodates cars.

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/25171/pages/5543/page.pdf

[Mrs TP]

Something is needed as when the bollard is down cars turning left out of Nutbrook into Adys often mount the pavement here, particularly dangerous during school run time. Even worse is when cars turning right into Nutbrook from Adys actually cross the pavement in the same spot - pure useless driving and not bad design.

Another prob in this area and perhaps the cause of the bollard being knocked down so much is the large volume of articulated lorries sent through the area via sat-nav. I don't mind removal vans and delivery vans who have a genuine need to be in these side roads but not the big artics just passing through.

Redesign the corner or sink the bollard much deeper so it is stronger and the vehicle takes the hit not the bollard.

It is a comedy bollard at the moment with the locals all but running a book on when it will be down next.

[LJC56]

I can't see why one of the bell bollards couldn't be used. I agree that we need something different to the present bollard but certainly some form of bollard is needed.

[Mrs TP]

Well it's down again (Mon am) after being fixed again on Friday - I think that is the shortest it has ever lasted.

[kford]

Hilarious. Put the kerb back where it was, and it'll never happen again, people will stand on the old pavement, rather than a metre into the middle of Nutbrook Street and van drivers won't roar up Adys Road, seething after realising they've smashed the company truck up.

[Dopamine1979]

kford Wrote:

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> Hilarious. Put the kerb back where it was, and

> it'll never happen again, people will stand on the

> old pavement, rather than a metre into the middle

> of Nutbrook Street and van drivers won't roar up

> Adys Road, seething after realising they've

> smashed the company truck up.

I agree. I'm sure the kerb was further back a couple of years ago.

[intexasatthe moment]

Agree ,put the kerb back .

It's become a terrible junction with the build out .

[david_carnell]

And the bollard is down! Who had their money on yesterday? Come and claim your prize....it's lying in the street.

[Dopamine1979]

I wonder if they reuse them.

Or is there a room somewhere with a load of old bollards.

:)

[david_carnell]

Hurrah! The bollard is up again.

Roll up, roll up, place your bets. I reckon it'll be down by Sunday. I'm not convinced it's accidental anymore and that someone with a transit van, a tow bar and some chain isn't just yanking it over deliberately to make their life easier the rest of the time.

Otherwise, the drivers around here really need eye sight tests.

[kford]

It's probably one of FM Conway's transit vans

[fl0wer]

At the "crossroads" which narrows to just a bike lane between Upland and Friern - that bollard is down again too.

[PippaD]

I spoke to the guys who were reinstating the bollard this week. They also agree that it is a waste of time and money to constantly be replacing this.

They suggested that if we (residents of Nutbrook and Adys) get a petetion together and request a bell (like in lordship lane) rather than the post, it'll have more chance of staying put as it is sunk deeper in the ground and drivers can not ride over it without damaging their vehicles.

May try to get this together at weekend and start visiting neighbours!

What do other residents of these streets think?

[balanceforlife]

The Upland and Friern bollard is up and down more often than a pair of kangaroos in mating season.

[kford]

Down again on Monday, up on Tuesday and now down again, completely ripped out. Must be skip lorries or refuse trucks to do that.

[Huggers]

one day it will fall on a waiting pedestrian.

[david_carnell]

I think the trouble is that sat-navs direct you down Adys, Nutbrook and Maxted out onto Bellenden Rd and through to the High St towards Camberwell.

I've seen lorries get stuck at various points.

We either need width restrictors to block large vehicles or something to ease their progress to prevent these sort of accidents. Currently we seem between the two. I'd be in favour of the former by some distance.

[kford]

Or just put the road back to how it was

[PippaD]

Both bollards knocked down again, removed and holes filled in!!

Is this the end of the saga, we will have to wait and see!!!

[Mrs TP]

I think it was an articulated lorry. It was stuck for ages on corner of Maxted / Nutbrook, finally made it round the corner and my hubbie said 'that'll be the bollard down again' and sure enough it was when we walked passed an hour later. Can't be defo but a likely candidate. I feel sorry for the drivers - it is the sat nav taking them down roads that are too narrow.

[kford]

I followed a Peugeot estate that cut the existing corner and would've scraped the bollard, had it been there. It's just poor road design.

[Vick]

Sounds like bad driving

kford Wrote:

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> I followed a Peugeot estate that cut the existing

> corner and would've scraped the bollard, had it

> been there. It's just poor road design.