Camberwell Grove Bridge Consultation
We are calling for the railway bridge in Camberwell Grove to remain closed and for high levels of non-local traffic to be excluded from the residential roads of east Camberwell. It's currently directed here by Sat Nav.
We want to avoid the outcome of the current consultation on the bridge to just result in moving traffic from one residential road to another. This does not address the real problem - too much non-local traffic.
Why does the bridge affect the streets between Camberwell Grove and Rye Lane?
The consultation is an opportunity for people from the whole area between Camberwell Grove and Rye Lane to support greater restrictions upon through-traffic - particularly large lorries.
Re-opening the bridge will not reduce the number of lorries and large vans using other roads. The bridge has now been permanently damaged by over-weight vehicles - so even if the bridge re-opens, everything over three tonnes in weight and two meters wide will be diverted through the nearby streets.
In practice, everything larger than a car will to continue to use the diversion along Grove Park, Lyndhurst Grove, Lyndhurst Way, Bellenden Road and Chadwick Road. This will also mean increased traffic on the roads between Vestry and Talfourd. Calling for the bridge’s re-opening will be recorded as supporting the increased traffic across east Camberwell and west Peckham.
Southwark Council has launched a public consultation on whether to reopen the bridge. It can be seen here; it will close on 30th. October 2017. If you want a paper copy you can phone 020 7525 0127 or email highways@southwark.gov.uk
Please take part in the consultation - numbers count!
In the following pages we discuss the problems in the area and below we suggest points to be included in responses to the consultation.
If you agree with them you can cut and paste any or all of them from this page
Camberwell Grove will be used again as main route but it's not a main road.
The issue is not only the volume of traffic but the suitability of the road to take it. With the same volume of traffic again Camberwell Grove will not be safe for pedestrians and cyclists.
Traffic uses the Grove to bypass Camberwell Green and to travel between Peckham and Dog Kennel Hill via McNeil Road
The traffic bypassing the Green affects the whole length of the road and may increase as a new traffic system is introduced at the Camberwell Green junction. This will only be stopped by keeping the road closed.
One way traffic can only be operated with traffic lights - which are unacceptable. Idling traffic has caused pollution, noise, traffic snarl ups and road rage.
Experience shows that weight/width limits will be disregarded and the railway bridge will once again be damaged
With the bridge open there will be snarl ups at the bridge with traffic having to turn back when too wide; there is no turning circle. This is dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians
Above the bridge the road is too narrow to take two way traffic so vehicles must mount the pavement to pass large vehicles. Cyclists also use the pavement when there is no space for them on the road.
Increased cycle traffic with Quietway 7 would be dangerous with the bridge reopened, as the southern section is too narrow for cyclists
Safe conditions, as specified by TfL for Quietway 7 which will use Camberwell Grove, cannot be provided if the bridge reopens
No mitigation has been suggested by the Council such as safe crossing points and effective traffic calming
We want safe walking and cycling to school. Hundreds of children cross Camberwell Grove on the way to school; many are children are on their own
Southwark Council is once again finding ways to keep main road traffic running through residential roads
Traffic counts indicate that to reopen the bridge will not solve the high levels of traffic in other roads such Bellenden Road and Lyndhurst Way or Grove Hill Road. This traffic is coming from main roads at Dog Kennel Hill junction and from Peckham Road. Keeping the bridge closed is a start to cutting off the rat runs and Southwark Council must address the rest.
Residents, pedestrians and cyclists should have priority. With the bridge reopened vehicles have priority
The consultation has not been designed to enable residents of Camberwell grove and other local roads to make informed decisions. What are the conclusions of the traffic counts? The only replies from all the roads will be "we want less traffic on our road"
Opening the bridge will simply bring dangerous conditions to Camberwell Grove - particularly the top end of the road - but not the traffic problems in other roads such as Bellenden Road and Lyndhurst Way
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If the bridge re-opens as it was without tackling rat running in the whole area, then residents of Camberwell Grove must pay the costs of air and noise pollution. Pedestrians and cyclists from the wider area are exposed to the dangers of congestion above the bridge.
If we let the Council reopen the bridge with a promise to tackle rat runs, we do not have confidence that anything will improve for many years - it never has, this is a neglected area.
A decreasing proportion of Southwark’s residents have cars, and car-owners are driving less often. The Government is also committed to reducing the numbers of diesel polluting delivery vans. This means that the way to deliver the greatest benefit to the greatest number of Southwark residents is to make the whole area better for people on foot or on bike, including people walking to the train or bus.
Other streets around Camberwell Grove have seen similar improvements before. To the west, Grove Lane, Daneville Road and Windsor Walk. To the east, improvements have been made to Dagmar, Oglander, Copleston, Ondine Roads, and to the roads off Rye Lane. We would support the residents of other local streets to get similar improvements and enjoy the benefits.
Take Action:
If you agree with our proposals, please tell Southwark Council officers and your local councillors:
Please send your comments to:
The Council, where Officers are currently writing a report on potential solutions.
For Brunswick Park Councillors (below the bridge) -
Radha Burgess, Mark Williams and Ian Wingfield
For South Camberwell Councillors (above the bridge) -
Peter John, Sarah King and Octavia Lamb
Contact us by email
