Tulse Hill news, chitter chatter and gossip

[gaijingirl]

As I understand it, they sent out surveys and this 'zone' didn't vote for it. The only reason why I can think of is that there's a fee to pay for a permit which can be as high as £350 per year.

Yes that's what I read too - after the first round of consultation.

 

[nick]

This.
I voted against it (would be happy with a one hour restriction during weekdays, but was suspicious they would make it 8.30 to 6.30 and then keep on pushing up resident costs)

However, since all areas around have now got CPZ, it will increase commuter parking density in the free areas. If / when asked again I would now vote for CPZ.

Still - we all make mistakes

 

[ViolentPanda]

This.
I voted against it (would be happy with a one hour restriction during weekdays, but was suspicious they would make it 8.30 to 6.30 and then keep on pushing up resident costs)

However, since all areas around have now got CPZ, it will increase commuter parking density in the free areas. If / when asked again I would now vote for CPZ.

Still - we all make mistakes

CPZs are having a definite knock-on effect onto council estates - Lambeth's parking enforcement on estates is a bad joke - and the current free-for-all (no parking enforcement on estates until at least September) has meant predatory parking by commuters, and residents not being able to park on their own estate. Even when we've contacted "Garages & Parking" at Lambeth, we just get 'it's more than my job's worth to send a team of 'parking control officers' to your estate".

 

[Crispy]

Yep. My road is officially part of an estate and so didn't become part of the CPZ. Now it's double parked every day.

 

[Smick]

I though that the estates are patrolled with tickets given out regularly.

My kids‘ childminder, at the estate beside the windmill, was always very paranoid that I’d get caught when picking them up.

Yep. My road is officially part of an estate and so didn't become part of the CPZ. Now it's double parked every day.

 

[sparkybird]

that estate is managed by a Tenants and Residents Organisation, so they might be a bit more on it than Lambeth. On some Lambeth estates I've worked on, customers just tell me to park up - no one ever gets ticketed.

 

[editor]

Cheap deals at the Railway! The Railway Tavern in Tulse Hill extends its 50% off food offer through Sept 2020

 

[Cat Fan]

I have seen a lot of people ignoring the low traffic neighbourhood restrictions on Hillside road. More than half I would say.

 

[Smick]

I have seen a lot of people ignoring the low traffic neighbourhood restrictions on Hillside road. More than half I would say.

Yeah, I noticed two cars following the bus straight through. But I’ve also seen cars stop, paralysed by confusion.

There’s a warning sign for cameras, but I’m not sure if that just means that the council will have a car with a camera some times.

One issue Is that when you drive onto Hillside, there’s no way to get back without a three point turn.

They need to make the roundabout at the end of Downton open to all so you can drive up there and double back.

 

[T & P]

I have used Christchurch Rd westbound every day to go to work for more than twenty years, at the tail end of the morning rush (9.30- 9.45 am). Up until now there’d be days when there were no traffic queues at all leading to the Brixton Hill junction, some days when there’d be a small queue from the Roupell Rd junction to the traffic lights, and a small percentage of times when the queue would be longer and reach the Hillside turning, or even the TH one-way system.

Since the imposition of this LTN, long traffic queues have been a constant. Every single day. Undoubtedly here to stay. Not great news for the school, nursing home, and the many housing estates that line the road, but hey, the good affluent people of the Leigham Court Estate conservation area now have an even more desirable and exclusive neighbourhood to enjoy.

I am not much of a fan of LTNs because I firmly believe most of them cause more problems to the wider area than they solve. But at least I can sympathise with supporters of certain ones where a single narrow road has been traditionally used as a shortcut by many vehicles. Railton Road for instance.

The Hillside LTN area however covers a massive area comprising a maze of countless streets, and many different outlets leading to Streatham Hill. Traffic has always been sparse as the load is shared by the many streets available, not to mention the often very wide streets that allow plenty of space for two-way traffic and bicycles to share space safely. Precisely the opposite to the Railton Road situation in every respect.

That area was already one of the quietest and safest for cyclists around. Banning non-resident traffic is as an unnecessary and middle class NIMBY-driven move as they come, and far more people will suffer from its consequences than will gain any benefits. Other than even higher house price values of course.

 

[Smick]

I have used Christchurch Rd westbound every day to go to work for more than twenty years, at the tail end of the morning rush (9.30- 9.45 am). Up until now there’d be days when there were no traffic queues at all leading to the Brixton Hill junction, some days when there’d be a small queue from the Roupell Rd junction to the traffic lights, and a small percentage of times when the queue would be longer and reach the Hillside turning, or even the TH one-way system.

Since the imposition of this LTN, long traffic queues have been a constant. Every single day. Undoubtedly here to stay. Not great news for the school, nursing home, and the many housing estates that line the road, but hey, the good affluent people of the Leigham Court Estate conservation area now have an even more desirable and exclusive neighbourhood to enjoy.

I am not much of a fan of LTNs because I firmly believe most of them cause more problems to the wider area than they solve. But at least I can sympathise with supporters of certain ones where a single narrow road has been traditionally used as a shortcut by many vehicles. Railton Road for instance.

The Hillside LTN area however covers a massive area comprising a maze of countless streets, and many different outlets leading to Streatham Hill. Traffic has always been sparse as the load is shared by the many streets available, not to mention the often very wide streets that allow plenty of space for two-way traffic and bicycles to share space safely. Precisely the opposite to the Railton Road situation in every respect.

That area was already one of the quietest and safest for cyclists around. Banning non-resident traffic is as an unnecessary and middle class NIMBY-driven move as they come, and far more people will suffer from its consequences than will gain any benefits. Other than even higher house price values of course.

Don’t forget that schools are only just reopening and many people are still working from home. Traffic will get worse.
To be fair, I often drive westwards, some times as early as 6 and I’d always take a look at google maps. Any sign of delay on the SCR and I’d drive Hillside, Downton, Streatham Hill, Tierney Road. Which is probably taking the piss.

 

[sparkybird]

Don’t forget that schools are only just reopening and many people are still working from home. Traffic will get worse.
To be fair, I often drive westwards, some times as early as 6 and I’d always take a look at google maps. Any sign of delay on the SCR and I’d drive Hillside, Downton, Streatham Hill, Tierney Road. Which is probably taking the piss.

I don't think you're taking the piss, just doing what we would all do when Google maps tells us there's an alternative. And this is the problem. Human nature is such that no one changes behaviour unless they are forced to. Hence the real need for measures to address the issues of traffic in small residential streets.

 

[nagapie]

Will I be able to turn onto Palace Road from Hillside?

 

[nick]

Will I be able to turn onto Palace Road from Hillside?

yes

 

[Gramsci]

I don't think you're taking the piss, just doing what we would all do when Google maps tells us there's an alternative. And this is the problem. Human nature is such that no one changes behaviour unless they are forced to. Hence the real need for measures to address the issues of traffic in small residential streets.

Previous posts have been about people going to work. Individualising to much traffic down to problem with (as you see it) human nature is just wrong. A lot of people use roads to get to work in morning or get home. Not because of their supposed human nature. Or they love driving.

To much of support for LTNs is based on a individualistic view of how society works.

Perhaps how work is structured should be looked at. Why do people need to get on the treadmill and go to work in morning?

 

[sparkybird]

Hi Gramsci
I absolutely agree with you that a shift in working patterns would massively help the situation and even better if people could work near where they live rather than everyone having to go to the centre of London. Of course with WFH this has happened to some extent, but with the knock on effect of businesses in the centre suffering and I've definitely seen a big rise in local traffic. My thoughts on this are that people working from home might pop out at lunchtime on the car (impossible if you're in an office in Canary Wharf) or people are furloughed so have more time/go for a drive, especially in the nice weather.
So maybe it's not so simple?
Of course people will still need to use cars (I use one for my work, but I still hate driving), the point I was trying to make is that the shortcuts through narrow streets unsuitable for heavy traffic will continue to be taken by drivers until we are forced not too.

 

[T & P]

Of course people will still need to use cars (I use one for my work, but I still hate driving), the point I was trying to make is that the shortcuts through narrow streets unsuitable for heavy traffic will continue to be taken by drivers until we are forced not too.

The thing sparkybird is that the Hillside LTN area has neither narrow streets nor heavy traffic. Not by a very long shot; some of the roads here are wider than many major through roads, and there is nowhere near anything that could be described as heavy traffic in the area at any time.

It is the complete opposite situation of Railton Road, and it absolutely reeks of local resident NIMBYism at the expense neighbouring areas.

 

[nick]

A thought on T&Ps point "the Hillside LTN area has neither narrow streets nor heavy traffic." If the traffic is light then presumably the LTN is only one of many contributors to the heavy traffic on Sth Circular?

I'm still undecided on the streatham hill LTN - but having cycled on the sth circular this morning at 08.30 and at 9.30 saw that traffic was backed up from tulse hill to brixton Hill traffic lights at both times (although TBF all of london up to and from Barbican was pretty messed up due in part, I guess, to numerous roadworks )

I guess the intention is that eventually the traffic will be self correcting: Side roads will be quieter but main arterial routes will become a nightmare until eventually those that can use alternative travel modes will transition to them, resulting in a gentle improvement in conditions to essential motorised traffic. An ad absurdam alternative would be to raze the houses and schools etc along the sth circular and convert it into a 3 lane dual carriageway like Streatham High St or the North Circular, so that people would not want to use the rat runs. I don't think that would be a very good idea.


FWIW I used to have the privilege of living on Holmewood Gardens (corner of St circular and Brix Hill). At the turn of the century that was turned into a "liveable neighbourhood" which involved blocking off the relevant rat run & traffic calming (with: raised tables, planters on the road, cobbles, removal of road lines etc). I found it to be of great benefit to those living in the vicinity (mix of home owners, renters, council tenants) - and I bet no one who needs/ wants to drive now remembers or bemoans the loss of that particular rat run - whilst the benefits to residents continue.


Also FWIW - one problem with the LTN is that it will now be much harder for me to drive to Kennedy's to get family fish and chips (can't have them getting cold if I walk or cycle). Very annoying to me, but I guess my loss is a greater gain to society

 

[Cat Fan]

As a frequent pedestrian I have not noticed a huge difference in traffic. Maybe a little bit less on Hillside road.

I think the road layout already discouraged rat running to an extent. Sat navs wouldn't direct people through Hillside to get from Tulse Hill to Streatham, so I don't think it was necessarily a problem.

I'm not against it, but it seems less warranted than some of the other schemes around Lambeth.

Either way people seem to have realised there are no cameras, so 9/10 are just driving through and ignoring the signs.

 

[Petcha]

Is it bad that I've just observed a guy on an e-scooter speeding down the pavement on Palace Road, on his phone, crash straight into the back of a parked van? And I just had a little snigger?

I'm a bad person.

 

[nick]

Photos or it didn't happen (and I hope it did)

 

[Petcha]

Photos or it didn't happen (and I hope it did)

No, it did happen. I had ringside seats though my window. He fucked up his leg I think, but got back on and carried on, albeit at about half the speed. The van looks pretty nonplussed. No damage.

 

[nick]

I envy you

 

[Nanker Phelge]

I saw a delivery van driving up the pavement on Christchurch. So busy looking for door numbers he hit the bus stop half way up the hill.

I just walked by shaking my head.

About a month ago. Red and black square logo on Van I think.

 

[Nanker Phelge]

A bit of the shelter fell off.

 

[Petcha]

These scooter guys regard Palace Road as a bit of a joyride. It has occurred to me in the past to just give a little nudge to one as they fly past. They go twice the speed of most cars. Tons of kids on this street too.

 

[Smick]

Waze is now directing me up Leigham Avenue, Leigham Court Road, Rosedene, Stockfield, Leigham Vale to get to Tulse Hill from Streatham.

I wonder if people living there are noticing more traffic than normal. gaijingirl ?

We’ll get a Rosedene LTN soon.

I did think I had the ABC LTN beaten by going Hitherfield, Lyndhurst, Barcombe but theres a barrier across Faygate only allowing me to go down a little bit of Amesbury before having to turn back.

 

[ViolentPanda]

I though that the estates are patrolled with tickets given out regularly.

My kids‘ childminder, at the estate beside the windmill, was always very paranoid that I’d get caught when picking them up.

Blenheim Gardens is a tenant-managed estate, so doesn't use Lambeth's so-called "parking control" contractors. Your paranoia probably served you well!

 

[ViolentPanda]

that estate is managed by a Tenants and Residents Organisation, so they might be a bit more on it than Lambeth. On some Lambeth estates I've worked on, customers just tell me to park up - no one ever gets ticketed.

Sadly, Lambeth's contractor is shit. we saw them about once a month - if that - on our estate.

 

[Crispy]

I think the issue is that our road has (AFAIK) been entirely BTL'd so while the houses are all private the road is not a genuine public road, but stuck in bureaucratic limbo (as Sparrow found out when she tried to get someone to get rid of the dead fox in the middle of it)

EDIT: She used a spade and a wheelie bin in the end