Congestion Bellenden Road

[Tractorlad]

Sorry if this has been discussed before but does anyone agree that there should be parking restrictions, at least on one side of Bellenden Road where the shops are. In the early evening especially, vehicles double parked cause traffic on this street to be at a standstill. Add the P13 into the mix and its chaos. A few weeks ago I saw two cars meet in the middle of the funnel of stationary traffic forcing one to yield and reverse. Flustered, they scraped a parked car before driving off. I'm sure local businesses may feel differently, but does anyone know is the council have ever proposed some kind of parking restriction or other traffic management solution for this problem?

[ratty]

It's been awful there for years!!

[Tractorlad]

I forgot to mention. Recently I've notice European coach tours parking on Bellenden Road and Lyndhurst Way. Friday 15th May about 3pm one was parked in the bus stop near the Victoria Inn dropping a crowd off to browse the shops. A strange destination considering what else London has to offer.

[katgod]

Coaches quite possibly linked to the large groups of European schoolchildren/exchange students often congregating outside Peckham Rye station in the mornings with their leaders to get the train into town.

Maybe they are staying locally?

[Tractorlad]

On this occasion it was a crowd of pensioners. Nevertheless, these vehicles are adding to the problem.

[Jeremy]

Tractorlad - yes totally agree that the road is too narrow and busy for double parking.

I'd make one side double yellow, and make the parking metres on the side streets free for the first 20 mins or so.

[richard tudor]

The problem is not the number of cars its the attitude of drivers who can see another car coming but still keep moving forward.

The road has not changed but the people have.

Me Me Me

[Jeremy]

richard tudor Wrote:

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> The problem is not the number of cars its the

> attitude of drivers who can see another car coming

> but still keep moving forward.

Well yes... there are certainly quite a few drivers who are just not interested on yielding to anyone and plough forwards regardless. I don't really drive all that often but when I do, that really really annoys me (much more so than volume of traffic). The standard of driving in Peckham is particularly poor.

[twinhunters]

Definitely need something done , horrendous :)

[richard tudor]

If its the new locals that find this horrendous perhaps they might embrace that old and tested method of walking to Bellenden Village, LOL, and the traffic effect will have mo meaning.

The amount of traffic that uses this road has not changed during my lifetime of living here. The street has always had parking on both sides.

[almost peckham]

There has always been a lot of traffic through Bellenden shops and sometimes it is a complete exhibition of selfish and/or stupid driving but it normally manages itself. It's only a hundred metres or so though and if you are ever caught in it only holds you up for a little while. A benefit of the congestion is it slows the traffic down making the pedestrian crossing a relatively safe one - this can only be a benefit given the heavy density of pedestrians around the shops, on the way the station etc.

[stevie23b]

'Bellenden Village' what a load of. Bunch of stressed out charlie heads more like.

[Beulah]

There are mexican standoffs there every day - it's quite amusing how angry some drivers get

Freeing up one side will just encourage more cars to use it as a cut through

Saw the coach the other day too - it was parked in a ridiculous place and because the door was on the "wrong side" for UK roads the passengers were spat out into the middle of the road...

[goosey-goosey]

I'm fairly sure a few years ago you could park down only one side of Bellenden Rd. The Council tried this for a while but soon reverted, presumably after pressure from shop owners.

[Jeremy]

stevie23b Wrote:

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> 'Bellenden Village' what a load of.

I agree. Quite clearly it is now called "The French Quarter".

[intexasatthe moment]

I disagree that there has been no increase in traffic in Bellenden Rd - most of London has become more congested over the years and Bellenden Rd is no exception .It's recent rise in popularity has added to that effect .

I remember reading a couple of years ago a "consultation " leaflet about changes to the one way system just beyond ( north ) that stretch so maybe the whole area needs looking at .

[Gubodge]

Don't change it! The stand offs always provide an entertaining diversion as I nip through on my bike. (See also anyone trying to get anywhere in a car in East Dulwich on a Tuesday morning.)

[DulwichFox]

The Bellenden Road area is in Peckham where parking restrictions are tighter than East Dulwich.

.. But people seem to be able to park where some parking restrictions would seem to be justified.

.. Bellenden Road is very congested and the ridiculous criss cross one way system just baffles me.

.. Southwark seems to impose restrictions on roads where parking would NOT cause a problem.

.. The motorist is an easy target to get revenue from.

DulwichFox

[toffeese15]

Leave it as it is. The local shops rely on people pulling over and popping in. You halve that option and with all the other parking restrictions around Bellenden Road, you're going to see businesses suffer.

The vast majority of people who drive through there are fine and appreciate that there needs to be a bit of give and take. Occasionally, you have to wait a minute or two until the road clears. Hardly a massive inconvenience.

[oimissus]

given that a primary school is due to open up in September right by the shops, I would guess that Southwark are taking a look at this anyway. Personally I've never found it too bad, and have stopped there to pop into the Payless on a number of occasions, but probably not at the busiest times.

[stevie23b]

Jeremy Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> richard tudor Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > The problem is not the number of cars its the

> > attitude of drivers who can see another car

> coming

> > but still keep moving forward.

>

> Well yes... there are certainly quite a few

> drivers who are just not interested on yielding to

> anyone and plough forwards regardless. I don't

> really drive all that often but when I do, that

> really really annoys me (much more so than volume

> of traffic). The standard of driving in Peckham is

> particularly poor.

The standards were set in Balubaland.

[dontpanic]

Put double yellows on one side and traffic will speed up!

As it is its relatively calm, easy to pull over and nip in a shop, easy to cross the road, and holds together without a busy road in the middle.

That's why it's got some nice shops and a happy atmosphere, mostly.

Any standoffs are amusements for the rest of us. I drive through loads and it's never really delayed me, except once when someone lost their nerve and refused to be coached through by bystanders.

Honestly, try driving down a Devon lane or God forbid, a small Italian hill town if you think that's narrow.

[intexasatthe moment]

I think dontpanic has it exactly - well said .

[first mate]

Yes, please don't give the council an open door to impose yet more parking restrictions. It really won't help long term.

[oimissus]

Devon lanes, yes! My god, even my brother-in-law who lives in deepest, darkest Cornwall thought they were weeny. Don't ever go if you're precious about your paintwork.