Sign the petition to get Babington Road repaved

Following a request from local residents we have launched a petition to get Babington Road repaved.  

It is in a shocking state, and despite requests over the last few years the council have not included it in the Highways Improvement Programme.

Babington Road is used by many residents to get to Streatham Common station, to the youth centre (Streatham Youth and Community Trust) on Conyers Road and to Streatham High Road.  But at present it is a hazard for many older and vulnerable residents as well as very difficult for wheelchair users and those with prams or buggies.

Sign the petition here

Getting the pavement fixed on Tooting Bec Gardens

Before Christmas a number of local people asked if we could do something about the pavement at the top end of Tooting Bec Gardens, particularly opposite St Leonard's church and outside the Church of the English Martyrs.

The paving stones there have cracked up to such an extent that they are sticking up out of the pavement and people are tripping over them. Some also sink several inches into the ground when you tread on them. TfL have longer-term plans to repair the pavement on Tooting Bec Gardens, but the area in question needs sorting out urgently as it is dangerous for pedestrians and getting steadily worse every week.

We therefore got in touch with Transport for London via Green London Assembly member Darren Johnson (as this is Red Route the local council/ councillors are not responsible) and a site visit was made. Given the urgency of the situation TfL promised that they would make the necessary repairs by 31st December. However this has not happened and so we are chasing up once again.

[Update 10/01/13. Two sections of paving stones have now been replaced:

(For other work we have done to sort out Tooting Bec Gardens see here)

Getting the pavement fixed on De Montfort Road

We have been contacted by a resident on de Montfort Road about a section of paving which the council is refusing to fix, towards the southern end on the other side of the road to number 21.

We have been told that at least one older person has tripped at this point and it is easy to see why. Many of the stones are very uneaven and some are sticking up. The Council guidelines state that a paving stone has to be at least 25mm (2.5cm) to constitute a 'trip hazard' and warrant repair. We are pushing the council to sort them out.

Now you see it...now you don't

There's been an old rusty pole on Tooting Bec Gardens for probably more than a decade, with no sign on it, causing an obstruction to the driveway at 25 Tooting Bec Gardens as well as pedestrians using the road.

We got Transport for London to remove it.

Success: pavement widened at bottom of Tooting Bec Gardens, junction with Garrad's Road

As flagged up at the end of this blog, we've been trying to get Transport for London (who have responsibility for Red Routes) to widen the pavement at the bottom of Tooting Bec Gardens where it meets Mitcham Lane.

The situation has been for a long time that the pavement isn't wide enough for many people with buggies, wheelchair users, those with mobility scooters etc... to get past a large tree. In fact it is downright dangerous for many people, particularly in winter when conditions are icy, right next to a red route with large amounts of fast-moving traffic.

We have been trying to get it sorted for months. TFL finally committed to addressing it back in February, and I'm pleased to report that TFL have now almost completed the work. I spoke to the workmen today, and they say the job should be completed tomorrow.

Update: 27/6/12 - here it is completed...