What I want to see in Sydenam

[Jack]

Simple thread. Simple answers. So, in order of preference...


1) Decent pub. IE Not for teenagers on winos. Go check out who gets off the train at 6pm - other people do live here.

2) Air conditioned coffee shop. Chains become chains for a reason.

3) Oyster availability at station. Or at least don't have the cheek to advertise Oyster where we can't use it.

4) More street lighting on Spring Hill.

5) Sort out fly tipping.

6) Pound shops are great. But fifty on the same street? Someone's having a laugh somewhere.

7) Agreed, give Somerfield a face lift. Great place, great staff, looks like a disussed roller disco.

Naked Wednesdays. (Come on, let's start a trend)

9) Decent pubs. I know I've said that already, but by heck is it an issue.

10) You see now I'm running out. But to be frank, sort out the pub issue and I'll be more than happy.

[The Eagle]

What about the Traffic!

Lets start with Cobbs Corner Roundabout.............what an absolute mess and how much did that cost?

Then the Death Trap zebra crossing on Sydenham Bridge.......I don't use it often, however I can honestly say out of the last ten times I have crossed there, on EIGHT occasions cars have still continued driving over it (at speed not crawling along) whilst I have been on the crossing.

Then the three sets of traffic/pedestrian tights in the High St..........especially the one at Newsland Park. The lights often run out of sequence, causing long traffic delays coming up the High Street and NO pedestrian lights when crossing Newlands Park. You have to be like twizzle when crosssing there as you need to look up Sydenham Rd, down Sydenham Rd and also along Newlands Park.

What about the DOUBLE parking (not delivery vans) by a certain group of people as they, or their other half pop in the bank/building society or shops!

[Knighton]

pedestrianising Sydenham Road between Newlands Park and Safeway remedies all those problems.

I have suggested this several times before. It is pooh-poohed. It is, however, the only answer to Sydenham's problems. The traffic can use the trunk roads provided for that purpose: The South Circular and the Bromley-London Road!

[Suzee]

I agree with the traffice problems post. Have just bought a place on Kirkdale and although I don't mind being on a busy road the jams around Cobbs Corner are ridiculous. The traffic gets backed-up pasot my house at random times of the day which is a pain. However if you did pedestrianise Sydenham Road where would the traffic go? I assume it's so busy as it's the only crossing of the railway for a while.
As for the zebra-crossing - what genius decided to put it on the brow of a hill?

[leaf]

interesting point knighton,but where would all the buses go?

[Knighton]

the 75, 202, 450 and 194 would need only modest diversions.

75 could either avoid the top end of Sydenham Road altogether and simply travel up Cator/Trewsbury Road or Kent HOuse Road. Then again it could simply divert along Silverdale/Bishopsthorpe Road.

202 and 450 could divert along Newlands Park, Lennard Road, either Cator/Trewsbury or Kent House Road.

194 could quite easily terminate at Sydenham Station. It fulfils no useful service beyond this point. Then again it might also divert via Kent House Road or etc.

In answer to the preceding point. I already stated where the traffic would go. The traffic that uses Sydenham Road is using it as a rat run to avoid the South Circular or London - Bromley Roads... Local traffic, the little there is, will find its own way.

Does everyone know that a little advertised "consultation" has been carried out on a proposal to install a bus-lane (yes another) along Kirkdale?

[The Eagle]

Does everyone know that a little advertised "consultation" has been carried out on a proposal to install a bus-lane (yes another) along Kirkdale?

Yes from about Peak Hill to Cobbs Corner. It will allow pavement parking on the pavements from Peak Hill to the small park just before the garage.
After the total cock up with the roundabout I fear that things will get worse. Don't the Council (TFL) realise the congestion there is caused by two things. Firstly the traffic is congested all down the high street, thus stopping traffic coming down Kirkdale to easily enter and LEAVE the roundabout. Secondly vehicles (including buses) cannot easily turn right at the roundabout. Although the approach from Kirkdale is wide enough for two lanes, one for straight on and the other to turn right, 99% of the time through thoughless selfish driving usually only one lane is in operation.
In my opinion this bus lane will only cause more problems as the buses will get all the way to Cobbs Corner bus stop and then have to fight to get out to get round the corner. Regretably IF they go ahead with this bus lane the only solution I see to this problem is totally move the bus stop away from Cobbs Corner at that roundabout.

[Suzee]

Where I can find out more about this propsed bus lane? Would be interested as a Kirkdale resident from the view of traffic and parking availability.

[The Eagle]

Where I can find out more about this propsed bus lane? Would be interested as a Kirkdale resident from the view of traffic and parking availability.

About three months ago, the residents that it might involve wre sent a questionaire to complete...........maybe try the Council first, then TFL

[Knighton]

Very curious.

There was a web page devoted to this. I can find no trace of it now.

[Sandra]

Eagle you must be very unlucky when it comes to crossing the zebra crossing at Sydenham Bridge. Since its completion I use it most days and have usually experienced the most hospitible of drivers who certainly do not want new mascots. Most are driving pretty slowly due to the roundabout and traffic lights so I fail to see why you have been so unfortunate. Perhaps you are invisible? or maybe you just expect the drivers interpret your decision to cross? This is a regular occurance whereby pedestrians quite simply don't wait for vehicles to slow/stop but immediately on reaching the crossing walk straight onto it. What else can the driver do; keep on going or get a probably get a bang in the back from the following vehicle. Knowing how arrogant some pedestrians are I am permantly looking out for the 'instant crosser 'be it on a crossing or not.

I'm not argumentative and I am both a pedestrian and driver, but am just making allowances for drivers who seem to be persistantly persecuted especially over this particular zebra crossing.

Sandra

[kster]

Eagle you must be very unlucky when it comes to crossing the zebra crossing at Sydenham Bridge.

I don't think Eagle has been unlucky. I have seen several close shaves there, especially when it was first put in. I think part of the problem lies in the fact that people have just left one junction and as they come around the corner (from the roundabout) or up the hill (from the lights) they just aren't expecting to see another junction straight away. And being at the top of a hill you can't see the black and white strips on the road.

On the plus side, most people who use the road probably use it regularly and so now know the junction.

[nasaroc]

I agree totally with comments about the zebra crossing . A crossing in this position is clearly an asset but a great deal could be done to make it safer. When the crossing was first constructed the Sydenham Society managed to press successfully for a number of safety measures - floodlights, lowering the bolisha beacons plus resiting of some street lights which obstructed the view of motorists approaching the crossing. A number of other sensible safety measures were rejected by Lewisham Traffic department - white columns at each side of the crossing so that pedestrians could be "picked out" by motorists more easily plus illuminated bolisha beacon poles. LBL's defence is that the crossing has twice been tested by the Met police and passed as safe. Most locals I've talked to - whether they are drivers or pedestrians - treat the crossing with extreme caution. Extra safety measures are surely needed.

[kster]

Talking of traffic...The other day all the traffic lights were out on the high street. I've never seen the traffic moving so freely during the day, which seems to suggest a serious problem with the phasing of the lights.