Forum Topic

Dangerously high pollution on PHS Putney news website

Is the huge wooden ugly tree/seat monstrosity  outside Subway making any difference? Blocks the walkway, prefer something effective that  fits with surroundings and pleasing to the eye

Penelope Becker ● 1408d17 Comments

That's also the reason for some people drawing attention to it!

Philippa Bond ● 1398d

I see from the article on the SW15 main page that the Council is delaying releasing the full details from the new sensors. Apologies if this has been covered earlier in this thread, but why are they delaying? Really, their rationalisations seem pretty threadbare to me, rather like their failing efforts to  “improve” the high street. Could it be because they don’t want any bad news during the run-up to the May election? Surely not.Nick

Nicholas Evans ● 1402d

LBW in partnership with Putney Bid have made a massive miscalculation in over widening the pavements, and failed to provide a cycle lane.The result is overtaking is impossible, emergency vehicles can't get to the scene  quickly, risking lives. Traffic is often stationary increasing pollution, busses too large for PHS. Failure to provide a cycle lane has pushed electric bikes and escooters on to the pavements, causing pedestrian accidents,altercations, and risking accidents with elderly, infirm and young children especially, it's a disgrace.. Why did they do this? The wooden eco tree is an ineffective eyesore. judging by claims of high pollution on PHS despite wasting our  resources. Take it away, poorly  maintained, leaking, and filthy, a virtue signalling white elephant!

Penelope Becker ● 1402d

Funny I suggested the exact same thing about PHS on the app Nextdoor and got a right amount of abuse for it!

Marc Blanchard ● 1403d

We are also causing huge problems for younger generations by insisting on travelling unnecessarily by motor transport.

Philippa Bond ● 1406d

Philippa,According to reports the repairs to Hammersmith bridge will mean it being closed to cyclists too during certain periods. Cyclists of course can dismount and become pedestrians.It is also closed to emergency vehicles and buses.Sadly the people responsible for not replacing the bridge with a more suitable structure will likely not be around to finish paying for it.Not only are we passing on huge debts to the younger generations but we are also insisting on maintaining structures in place at the expense of the environment and people breathing. Madness!

Ed Robinson ● 1406d

Matt,That's not true, the bridge is a bottle neck. Traffic on LRR apart from queueing to cross the bridge or pass the bus stop South bound is relatively light as is traffic on Putney Bridge Road.Once over the bridge North bound traffic on Fulham palace road is heavy but Kings Road and Fulham road relatively light.Dedicated cycle lanes are needed on the Bridge as I mentioned.Applying generic statements when we have traffic jams even with light traffic doesn't stack up.Whilst we need to move away from dinosaur sized buses and single occupancy private vehicles creating congestion just to satisfy the anticar lobby is morally wrong.Some junctions are so bad it is if it has been by design. I suspect it may well be TFL policy either directly or purposely by not applying enough resource

Ed Robinson ● 1406d

Hammersmith Bridge is open to traffic - it is open to pedestrian and cycle traffic now.  This will have made a difference to traffic elsewhere.

Philippa Bond ● 1406d

I dont see how putting more lanes on the bridge solves the issue? Nothing changes the fact that once you are off the bridge in either direction you are straight into a bottleneck of lights and going down to fewer lanes.This is just a recipe for 5 lanes of stationary traffic rather than 2/3.We have to reduce traffic, simple (not very simple) as that.

Matt Palmer ● 1406d

Having two lanes North bound on Putney Bridge would certainly reduce congestion on LRR.Currently it has one and a half lanes, with a bus stop in the middle blocking the cycle lane.With the 20mph speed limit (do not laugh) it should be possible to have two lanes North, three lanes South and a dedicated cycle lane each way.Removing the bus stops on the bridge would also be consistent with TFL's new policy to speed up bus times by not stopping. Apparently £400m can be saved if buses were 1mph faster.I thought airport shuttle style buses would improve stationary times at bus stops but I guess not stopping or welding the doors shut will work too although there are some disadvantages.https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/tfl-action-plan-speed-express-buses-bus-stops-ban-cars-london-b987534.html

Ed Robinson ● 1406d

I like the way you think Penelope!  The Council has worked tirelessly to reduce congestion in Wandsworth so can't see that being taken up sadly.It's mad how the riverside is promoted for sport and leisure alongside the most polluted road in London, make no mistake the LRR is also very congested since closure of Hammersmith Bridge.  As our property prices fall...

Jenny Featherstone ● 1406d

All opinions and information within this thread point to matters pending and the poor state of public services!

Miles Thompson ● 1407d

After reading the great claims made by Wandsworth BC (https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/news/2021-news/news-may-2021/city-tree-helping-to-deliver-cleaner-air-for-putney/), I too looked for independent evidence of the effectiveness of the city tree. However, all I was able to find was report from the makers (Green City Solutions), hardly a disinterested source.

Richard Carter ● 1407d

I follow a link regarding Hammersmith Bridge residents group  update, and there is absolutely no hope of it being reopened to traffic for years, if ever, as it is restored piecemeal.here in Putney,Wandsworth BC  have increased pollution by overwidening the pavements, and thus making traffic slower, and forcing bikes, scooters and motorbikes on to pavement. As pollution is out of control, we might as well make PHS a pedestrian precinct, with busses only, and reroute traffic over Wandsworth bridge. Its the only way to reduce pollution. No need for ugly ecotrees and other nonsense that doesn't work. Divert West hill traffic at Tibbets corner through Wandsworth. Not such a mad idea, frankly makes sense, and Sadiq Khan can make Wandsworth bridge a toll bridge..

Penelope Becker ● 1408d

"Wandsworth Council asserts that it is indeed effective at pumping out oxygen"When it was installed I couldn't find anything published data on the thing. Hopefully just my Google skills.

Ed Robinson ● 1408d

The tree's effectiveness remains difficult to gauge. Wandsworth Council asserts that it is indeed effective at pumping out oxogen (I do not have the details about this matter to hand) but pollution levels are still above the recommended objectives - as well they might be given the tremendous volume of traffic that passes through Putney via the High Street. The tree's aesthetic value is nil, although it does provide somewhere for people to sit and watch the world go by. As for the much talked about planters opposite said tree the plants that they contain are well past their best and replanting is required.

Miles Thompson ● 1408d

The Putney society found that it 'made no noticable difference to air pollution' as I recall.

Matt Palmer ● 1408d