Bermondsey drivers say the junction between Jamaica Road, West Lane and Southwark Park Road is so dangerous that someone will be killed “sooner or later” – whilst the council and TfL have both blamed each other for the situation.
When the new Jamaica Road cycle lane was installed, the junction was re-designed so drivers can’t turn right from Southwark Park road into Jamaica road.
As a result, drivers caught unaware by the new rules often go straight across into West Lane, do a u-turn, and turn left into Jamaica Road – an illegal manoeuvre.
Worryingly, the treacherous junction is within a stone’s throw of three different primary schools and is a common route for families on the school run.
Steve Evans, chair of the Millpond Estate Tenants’ and Residents’ Association, said: “There’s not a single person I could think of who would say this is all good.
“In order to swing around, they’ll drive up onto the pavement in order to get the arc for the u-turn.
“They often go at high speed and we don’t think they’re paying sufficient attention to everything that’s going in around them.”
He said TfL needed to act “sooner rather than later” or “somebody is going to get killed at some point”.
http://southwarknews.co.uk/news/transport/bermondsey-station-sign-could-be-fixed-in-time-for-christmas/
http://southwarknews.co.uk/news/transport/exclusive-bermondsey-locals-rage-against-complicated-parking-permits-that-leave-the-elderly-confused-and-excluded/
A Southwark Council spokesperson said: “This is a problem caused by the right turn ban from Southwark Park Road onto Jamaica Road introduced by Transport for London as part of the measures associated with the construction of the cycle lane on Jamaica Road. TfL is aware of the situation and is looking at possible measures to address the problem.”
Helen Cansick, TfL’s Head of Healthy Streets Investment, said: “The changes made to roads in Bermondsey as part of Cycleway 4 are playing a vital role in enabling thousands of walking and cycling journeys in Bermondsey each week. The safety of everyone travelling in the area is our top priority and a number of clearly signed changes were made to roads in the area as part of the new route.
“The banned right turn from Southwark Park Road onto Jamaica Road was introduced in partnership with Southwark Council to discourage traffic in the area from using residential roads to access the Rotherhithe Tunnel. We are aware of people’s concerns about drivers making U-turns on West Lane and will be working with the council to look at measures to address these concerns.”