Sharp rise in serious collisions on A23 in Streatham

UPDATE: public consultation delayed by general election will now start 6th Jan.

London Assembly Member Caroline Russell has won assurance from Transport for London that a consultation on plans to redesign the A23 at Streatham Hill will go ahead the second week of November. The news comes as latest statistics from TfL reveal that the number traffic collisions resulting in serious injuries on Streatham Hill and Streatham High Road have risen sharply in a year. 

 

Provisional stats for 2018 show there were 212 collisions on the A23 between its junction with the South Circular and the border with the borough of Croydon, including 19 resulting in life-changing injuries, up from 133 collisions, 13 of which were serious, the previous year.

Planned £8.6m improvements to A23 Streatham Hill come a step nearer

Streatham Hill collision in April 2019

Plans to spend £8.6 million on a re-design of the A23 through Streatham Hill will go to public consultation in September this year, Transport for London (TfL) told Streatham Action's transport group this week.

TfL has now completed computer modelling of its proposed scheme, which is aimed at reducing speeds, improving safety and creating a more 'town centre' feel to what is currently more like an urban motorway.

TfL shares two ideas for changes to the A23 in Streatham Hill

TfL shared their latest thinking on plans to change the road layout of the A23 in Streatham Hill at a meeting with local residents last week.

A formal consultation on plans will take place in Autumn/Winter 2018/19;  so this was an attempt to take some inital soundings from the community on two different approaches they are considering.

Option 1: wider bus lanes and footways

Option 2: segregated cycle lanes

Collisions increase on A23 in Streatham

Collisions on the A23 through Streatham have increased, according to latest statistics from Transport for London.

In the period November 2013 to October 2016 there were 403 collisions, including 5 fatalities and 31 serious injuries on the A23 between the South Circular in the north and the junction of Streatham High Road and Hermitage Lane in the south. This is an increase of 13% on the previous period (May 2012 - April 2015). Fatalities rose from 4 to 5, and serious injuries rose from 24 to 31.

Have your say on Estreham Rd closure trial

Cllr Scott Ainslie helping to inform motorists

The closure of Estreham Road to northbound traffic as part of the Quietway 5 cycling route is coming to the end of its six-month trial periods.

Lambeth Council and Sustrans want to hear your views on the scheme.

Click here to have your say.

Plans for new bus lane on Streatham High Road

Proposals for a new bus lane northbound on Streatham High Road have been published. Transport for London (TfL) is seeking local views by Tuesday, 14th March.

The proposal is a bus lane operating Mon-Sat 7am-7pm, starting north of Becmead Avenue and ending near Drewstead Road. The lane would be open to buses, coaches, motorcycles and scooters, as well as cycles and taxis.

The pavement at 148 Streatham High Road (outside New Look, Poundland and Nationwide) would be narrowed by one metre to make way for a loading and disabled parking bay.

Greens accuse TfL of favouring out-of-town commuters over Londoners

Greens campaign for Crossrail 2 at Streatham

Transport for London’s ruling out of Streatham as a stop on a proposed Crossrail 2 is based on flawed data and analysis – and favours the needs of out-of-town commuters over congested & disadvantaged Londoners, says the Green Party

In answer to a question to the London Mayor by Green London Assembly Member Caroline Russell, Transport for London rules out a Crossrail 2 route via Streatham on the grounds that it would add 4.5 minutes to the route into central London by travellers coming from the southwestern outer suburbs: Kingston, Hampton, Chessington, Epsom. 

It appears to be giving more weight to the needs of these commuters than the rapidly rising numbers of commuters from Streatham, who currently suffer much longer journey times than areas better served by public transport.

The TfL report claims Streatham is currently “well-served by rail”, a statement dismissed by Streatham Greens as a fantasy.

New plans for lethal St Leonard's Junction

Cllr Scott Ainslie and the Green team scrutinise plans

Transport for London is developing new plans for St Leonard's Junction - where two people have been killed and five seriously injured in just over two years.

The Streatham Green Team and other members of the Safer A23 Campaign have been working with TfL to propose changes to the road design aimed at reducing danger at the junction. For decades the junction has been a hazard for local people.

Streatham's Transport - have your say

There is a chance to questions decision-makers on Streatham's transport this Thursday 24th November.

Streatham's Transport Question Time will bring officers and elected officials from Southern Rail, Network Rail, Transport for  London, Lambeth Council, the London Assembly and Streatham MP Chuka Umunna to answer questions from the public.

You can submit your question in advance here. or do so on the day.

Doors open from 6.45pm and the meeting starts at 7.30pm. The venue is Immanuel and St Andrew's Church Hall, 452 Streatham High Road (opposite Streatham Common).

TfL rejects crossing for treacherous junction

News reaches us that Transport for London have rejected all proposals for a new pedestrian crossing near St Leonard's Junction - site of numerous serious accidents. Two people have been killed and 39 injured - five seriously - in the last five years.


At an exhibition in Streatham Library last November TfL displayed five options for a new crossing at the junction - where Streatham High Road meets Tooting Bec Gardens and Mitcham Lane outside St Leonard's Church. It is is notoriously dangerous for pedestrians, with currently no safe crossing place as it enters "the dip" down towards Streatham station.

But in a letter sent to local MP Chuka Umunna in April - today forwarded to the Safer A23 in Streatham Campaign - TfL writes:

"Traffic modelling unfortunately shows the proposals discussed at the exhibition are not currently viable, particularly in the weekday PM peak hour that was assessed. The proposals were likely to lead to increased congestion beyond an acceptable level based on the current level of traffic demand. This was a point that TfL made at the time of the exhibition. We need to mitigate for the delays for traffic, including buses, created by the potential introduction of any proposals, including the effects on pedestrians at adjacent crossings.

"In order to address this, we need to investigate a larger area of Streatham High Road and consider complementary measures so that the corridor can work reliably for all of its users.

"Our collision data over the last 10 years for this junction does not show a significant number of collisions compared to the London average. As such, we are looking at these wider measures, but this will involve a longer timescale than the programme communicated previously.

"Some proposals, which were not presented at the exhibition, have been designed to assist bus reliability. We intend to discuss these and other findings with Lambeth Council officers shortly to determine a way forward."


It is deeply disappointing that TfL continues to place a higher priority on traffic flow than on pedestrian safety in the heart of Streatham. The diffulty of crossing the High Road near this busy junction has been powerfully highlighted in this BBC news report.


The Green Party locally will continue with its long-standing campaign, with challenges over the accident data TfL is using in its assessment of the junction safety.

See also for the history at this junction:

http://streathamnews.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/mayor-to-face-question-over-treacherous.html

http://streathamnews.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/st-leonards-junction-have-your-say.html

http://streathamnews.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/another-day-another-serious-collision.html

http://streathamnews.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/fatality-at-st-leonards-junction.html


http://streathamnews.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/response-from-tfl-about-st-leonards.html

http://streathamnews.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/yet-another-collision-at-st-leonards.html

http://streathamnews.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/bus-beached-at-junction-of-streatham.html

http://streathamnews.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/what-could-be-done-about-junction-of.html

http://streathamnews.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/another-collision-at-tooting-bec.html

http://www.streathamguardian.co.uk/news/10024077.Crash_causes_injury_and_traffic_chaos/

http://streathamnews.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/safety-review-at-junction-of-mitcham.html

A death or serious injury every six weeks on A23 in Streatham

Latest A23 collision, 9.15pm on Sept 3rd 2015

One person was killed or seriously injured in a collision on the A23 through Streatham every six weeks in the last five years.

A Green Party Freedom of Information Request to TfL has revealed that six people were killed and 35 received life-changing injuries between 2010 and 2014.

Twenty of these collisions involved pedestrians and five involved cyclists. Three of the people killed were pedestrians, two were car-drivers and one was a motorcyclist. All the crashes happened on the A23 between the South Circular and Streatham Common.

There have been at least two more fatal collisions on the road so far in 2015. And last night, emergency services were in action again as a taxi crashed into Xalwo shopfront next to Sports Direct.

"Streatham High Road and Streatham Hill feel like they are becoming the most deadly stretch of road in London," said Green Party councillor Scott Ainslie, who is campaigning to end the exceptionally high death and injury rate in Streatham.

"These latest figures show how urgent it is that TfL and Lambeth Council do everything in their power to make the A23 a safer road for local people. It is time to give our local high street back to the community."

The Green Party is helping to co-ordinate a cross-party "Safer A23 in Streatham" campaign. Local shops and businesses are being asked to display posters supporting the campaign and calling on TfL to include its Red Routes in Lambeth's proposed borough-wide 20mph speed limit.

TfL figures published in 2014 revealed that nearly half of traffic north of Streatham Hill station was breaking the speed limit.

"In places the A23 feels like a six-lane motorway," said Cllr Ainslie, "and this has a knock-on effect as cars speed up, thinking they are entering a fast, arterial road - rather than the busy community high street that Streatham High Road is for local people."

The campaign is calling for reclassification of the road as a high street, along with other measures such as traffic calming, segregated cycle lanes, removal of the central reservation and re-landscaping north of Streatham Hill station, and longer crossing times at pedestrian crossings.

In June it was revealed that plans to remove the central reservation from the remaining stretch of the the A23 between Streatham Hill station and the South Circular have been delayed by TfL until 2019.

Cllr Ainslie said: "Consultation for this should have commenced already and the delay is unacceptable. Children going to school and nursery, and older and disabled people are a large part of the community using the High Road - and until something is done to prioritise people's safety, we are all taking our lives in our hands every time we try to cross the road.

"We in the Green Party will do everything we can to create a safer, greener, cleaner Streatham High Road."

For more see:
July 2015 20mph speed limit gets go ahead
June 2015 five-year wait for next phase of Streatham road improvements
April 2015 serious collision Streatham High Road
December 2014 fatality near Streatham Hill
May 2014 Fatality at St Leonard's Junction
May 2014 Fatality st Streatham Hill
Feb 2014: Speeding on Streatham High Road
Feb 2014 Response from TfL about St Leonard's Junction
Dec 2013 Increased crossing times for Streatham High Road
April 2013 Another collision at St Leonard's junction
April 2013 Bus 'beached' at St Leonard's Junction
March 2013 - No dedicated cycle lanes or 20mph for High Road
Feb 2013 - We need more from Mayor on dangerous junctions
Feb 2013 - What could be done about the St Leonard's junction?
Jan 2013 - Safety review brought forward for St Leonard's junction
Dec 2012 - Another collision at St Leonard's junction
Nov 2012 - New signal strategy for St Leonard's junction
Nov 2012 - Review of St Leonard's junction announced
June 2012 - Crunching the collisions on Streatham High Road
June 2012 - What Streatham High Road could be like
May 2012 - Three collisions in Streatham
May 2012 - What could be done about Streatham High Road

Fatality at the junction of Mitcham Lane and Ambleside Avenue

I spoke with police last night about the tragic collision at the junction of Mitcham Lane and Ambleside Avenue. This was the scene.

It must be emphasised that the details are still unclear. However it has been reported that a woman died after being hit by a bus, and the driver was arrested.

We have been campaigning alongside local people since 2012 to make this junction safe, and highlighted how buses have been jumping the lights.

We were told that there would have to be another fatality of serious injury before action was taken.

So we launched a campaign which included a demo with parents and children from St Leonard's Primary School who use the crossing, after a number of near misses on the crossing at the junction. It received some press coverage which you can read here.

We have since continued to record and highlight the collisions there and met with Transport for London to press for action and highlight the urgency.

We eventually won a review of the junction in 2013.

However, it then seemed that the Mayor of London was backtracking on his plans to make changes to dangerous junctions, as he scaled down his 'Better Junctions Programme'.

So we continued to push and TfL until they made some promises. Progress has however been delayed by TfL and the Mayor. We have asked for another urgent update and meeting.

Please do show that you want the junction made safer by signing the petition here.


For more on this junction see the following:

http://streathamnews.blogspot.co.uk/p/campaign-to-make-junction-at-mitcham.html
http://streathamnews.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/kids-demo-at-junction-of-ambleside.html
http://streathamnews.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/children-have-near-misses-at-junction.html
http://www.streathamguardian.co.uk/news/9977414.Parents_call_for_junction_to_be_made_safe/?ref=mr
http://streathamnews.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/another-collision-at-junction-of.html
http://streathamnews.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/review-won-at-junction-of-mitcham-lane.html
http://streathamnews.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/countdown-crossing-at-ambleside-avenue.html
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/make-the-junction-of-mitcham-lane-and-ambleside-avenue.html

New trees at the bottom of Lewin Road?

Following a request from local residents, we have asked TfL if they can put two new trees in the spaces at the end of Lewin Road where it meets Streatham High Road.

Lambeth Council has cut its tree budget so isn't planting any new trees. But because these trees are on a Red Route, they come under Transport for London. TfL have checked and confirmed that they do have responsibility for them.

They have now promised that they "will have them investigated to check that they are viable, and if so will ensure that they are replanted between October and March."

Review won at junction of Mitcham Lane and Ambleside Avenue

Last year children and parents from St Leonard’s School took part in a demonstration at the corner of Mitcham Lane and Ambleside Avenue. We called on Transport for London (TfL) to look at ways to make the junction safer. This is part of an ongoing campaign at this junction.

There was some press coverage which helped to show TfL the strength of feeling and that local people wanted something done.

We are pleased to report that TfL were in touch with us over Easter. They have now scheduled a full review of the junction. TfL have told us they will be working with cycling, road user and safety organisations to improve the junction as part of its Better Junctions programme.

The review has been scheduled for the summer. TfL will then produce a number of potential options for improvements, which will be considered by a Design Review Group. The ideas will then be developed in more detail for public consultation.

TfL have told us that they “will be looking to improve provision for cyclists and other vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, and pedestrian countdown signals will be considered as part of the process.”

Thank you to everyone who has helped make this happen. We will provide an update when proposals are brought forward for public consultation. In the meantime, if you would like to see more about TfL’s Better Junction’s Programme you can see more here.

New signal strategy at Mitcham Lane/ Streatham High Road/Tooting Bec Gardens

Further to TfL's promise of a review of safety next year at the junction of Streatham High Road, Mitcham Lane and Tooting Bec Gardens, there has been some further news.

Following some good work by Green Assembly member Darren Johnson on behalf of a local Streathamite, TfL has promised that:

"a new signal strategy will be implemented at this location to improve traffic conditions in the area. Please be assured we will monitor this junction closely to ensure the new signalling has the desired effect."

A timescale wasn't given, but the implication is that this will take place soon.

Local people will have observed the build up of traffic at this location recently, probably due to the closure of the Greyhound Lane Bridge. Let's hope that the new signal strategy helps to ease the congestion.