A ‘parklet’ has been obliterated by a vehicle in Dulwich Village prompting local campaigners to question their safety.
The wooden seating area outside the Romeo Jones café was so badly damaged on Wednesday, August 24, that it has since been removed.
Local campaign group One Dulwich says the incident proves the parklet, of which there are several in Dulwich Village, was unsafe and should be reviewed.
A spokesperson for One Dulwich said: “This was an accident waiting to happen. Neither these roadside bench seats nor the ones on Calton Avenue had any lights or even reflectors on them, making them difficult to see after dark.
“We call on the Council to review the benches in Calton Avenue as well before there is a fatality.”
But the parklets, first installed as part of the Dulwich Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN), are popular with some local residents.
Alex Bigham, Dulwich resident and member of the Parklets Campaign, said: “You’d have to have a warped sense of the world to blame a stationary parklet for a collision.
“Everything we can do to improve our streets for the most vulnerable – pedestrians and cyclists – will help. Parklets can be a great way to get some space back for people to use with friends and families, particularly if you don’t have access to a private garden.
“Many studies have shown that small changes to our community like planting and parklets can make them safer.”
However, the owner of the Dulwich Village cafe Romeo Jones also has his reservations. Patrick Belton said: “Had someone been sitting on the bench at the time of the accident they might have not lived to tell the tale.
“I like the idea of a parklet and the idea of the community being able to use outdoor space and for cafes to serve drinks outside. But I’m not happy if they’re installed in a way that isn’t thought through so they become a hazard and a deathtrap.”
Patrick said the parklet was an inconvenience because its ashtray would pile high causing “small bin fires” outside his cafe which were “unpleasant”.
The Met Police was contacted but they had no record of the incident despite an officer appearing to attend the scene in the photo.
Southwark Council has been approached for comment.