Transport for London under fire
for Wandsworth Bridge 'fiasco'
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| Wandsworth Bridge |
Transport for London began standard non-essential works to a set of traffic signals at the northern end of Wandsworth Bridge earlier this week. The works are scheduled to last for two weeks.
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| Battesea Bridge |
The impact on traffic congestion across the borough has been enormous. Since the works began, jams have been reported as far away as Robin Hood roundabout on the A3 in Roehampton and on the A24 Trinity Road by Wandsworth Common. At peak times, the Wandsworth one-way system has been described as looking like "a car park".
Now Wandsworth's cabinet member for regeneration and transport Cllr Guy Senior has demanded an explanation from TfL and called for it to immediately cease the works during peak hours.
Under the Traffic Management Act 2004 organisations like TfL and the utility companies are under a duty to liaise with all local authorities that may be affected by their works. Wandsworth was never notified in advance that these works were being planned.
Cllr Senior said: "It is sheer madness to start a set of roadworks on Wandsworth Bridge when Battersea Bridge is closed to traffic. Only Transport for London could be so daft.
"The impact on congestion has been enormous. We've seen rush hour tailbacks stretching as far away as Roehampton and the Robin Hood roundabout, while the Wandsworth one-way system has been at an absolute standstill.
"Unfortunately TfL are a law unto themselves. By law they should notify boroughs that might be affected in advance, but they haven’t and this is not the first time this has happened. They don’t seem to care what inconvenience and hassle they cause motorists.
"If this was an emergency, then that would be easier to understand, but the information we have been given indicates that this is some kind of routine repair to a set of traffic lights on the Fulham side of the bridge.
"We are now calling on TfL to suspend these works during rush hour periods with immediate effect. As they are not emergency work they should only be carried out at weekends or overnight, when they do not cause such a massive amount of disruption. They must act now to bring this fiasco to an end."
Battersea Bridge, which is managed by TfL, is currently closed to all traffic except buses. The closure, which has led to heavier traffic flows on other bridges in the area, was brought about when it was struck by a river barge in September. TfL's engineers estimate that it will be April 2006 before it is reopened.
November 17, 2005