Forum Topic

Car tharsis

Not before time, Rishi Sunak has decided to pump some realism into the debate about low traffic zones. Even before the Wandsworth bridge closure, South Fulham and the surrounding area was a nightmare. This weekend it was total mayhem. Heaven knows how much business the large Wandsworth Sainsbury near the bridge is losing. It seems to be impossible to access from the west.  The same must apply to the string of shops and services along WB Road. No doubt the usual devotees of the horse drawn carriage will deplore the fact that Sunak has raised the issue, but it's right that he should do so. By the way, did anyone try to use Putney Bridge on Saturday? A complete glitch, reflecting the simultaneous shut downs of the Wandsworth and Hammersmith bridges. Cars in Disraeli Road were stuck in a 30-minute jam. PHS traffic was so heavy, no-one would exit onto it.

Alexander MacLeod ● 919d60 Comments

besides the poor maintenance of junctions the part utilities play in congestion/pollution should not be underestimated.Upper Richmond Road is regular dug up and single lane with temporary traffic lights implemented. Only to be dug up again a week or two later.Does the Mayor care? It would seem not!

Ed Robinson ● 916d

If you look at my earlier posts I wasn't arguing against a review of LTNs; I noted some are probably poorly conceived intoo much haste and there should perhaps be more carrot as well as stick to help gain acceptance.  However, any review should not lose sight of the need to reduce congestion while continuing to reduce road casualties, pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and improving living conditions; many seem to like seeing fewer motor vehicles rat running along their side roads.

Michael Ixer ● 916d

> They may simply move traffic onto a different road, increase congestion there and so move pollution. Temporarily maybe, but eventually people who don't really need to use their vehicles for those journeys stop using them and seek alternatives, and we drop down to the previous levels of vehicle usage (that still causes significant transit delays) for those that do have a more compelling reason to be driving.Traffic is dynamic and fluid. If you increase capacity more people will start to use their vehicles because capacity is increased, journey times drop, and the journey is not outwardly "horrific". However, the increased volume means it eventually settles to an equilibrium at roughly the same "normal" and now you have more people who will tolerate the same transit times as before. Increased capacity rarely leads to reduced transit times at peak usage.Likewise, if you remove capacity then, eventually, demand drops too, and things eventually return to the same levels.The problem with modern driving is that sat-navs have started to game the system and direct people off the main arterial roads into the residential roads as this doesn't require cab-driver like knowledge of back roads. But the same eventual bottlenecks are present (e.g. single lane Upper Richmond Road through Sheen, West Hill dropping to one lane, etc), or other things like Hammersmith (and now Wandsworth) bridges being shut. Eventually the traffic bunches up somewhere and it's even worse than before as there are now 12 extra side roads all full filtering into the same arterial road.These roads that are now being swamped were never meant to carry commuting traffic. Many of them are roads past schools for example. Some people can't see the problem with this and think that this is fair game and that all roads are equal and that all roads should be able to carry the full weight of vehicles. Good luck to them, but they're going to find things increasingly annoying in the future as the country (and councils and Government) realise this is unsustainable.LTNs are one tool to help redress the balance and reduce the capacity of the residential road network, which puts off people from using their vehicles (ideally those that are choosing to use their vehicles, rather than not having a choice). They'd be less necessary if people weren't as selfish with their transport choices.We'll see what the "independent" LTN review discovers (if it ever happens, the cynic/realist in me suggests that Sunak has just put it out there in the papers to help lather up the various wet Tories and that no official review will ever occur) and I'm sure that, if the review does occur and publish any findings, that each opposing side will decry it for any number of reasons - including bias and political alignment. Such is life, but LTNs are more than likely to stay, and will probably be on the increase in the future so get used to them.

John Kettlekey ● 916d

That is exactly the point.  LTNs can’t turn the clock back to the 50’s.  They may simply move traffic onto a different road, increase congestion there and so move pollution.  Investigating that is the whole point of the review Rishi Sunak is instituting e.g. the start of the thread.

Guy Cameron ● 916d

Yes, look at this, Mr Ixer:-https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/collections/collections-online/photographs/item/1998-73036And compare it with this one:-https://tinyurl.com/2fbzpmf8

David Ainsworth ● 916d

Guy, surely the increase in population and the improvement in average living standards is the reason there are more cars competing for the finite resource of road space?

Michael Ixer ● 916d

Michael, google old pictures of traffic in London.

Barbara Stevens ● 916d

I’m not sure that comparisons with the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s are very meaningful.  Population growth and the dramatic change in living standards are major factors.  In addition it seems recollections may vary.

Guy Cameron ● 916d

Barbara, I guess some highways have always been busy: the north and south circulars for example, and there were always pinch points like the Blackwall and Rothehithe tunnels. I suppose there was some temporary relief in the 60s from some road schemes: the A40(M), the Dartford tunnel and various road widening schemes in London? The trouble is traffic soon expands to fill the available space. I remember getting to my company's Solihull office in record time the week the M40 extension to the M42 was completed and also finding quicker to go to a customer's site in Romford via the M25 when that first opened rather than fight my way through London. Unfortunately, it didn't take long for additional traffic to clog those up!

Michael Ixer ● 916d

Michael, obviously children played out in the side streets I did. But going from Sheen to Castlenau was traffic jams trying to get to Olympia.

Barbara Stevens ● 916d

Ivonne, that was slightly tongue in cheek but I was surprised at how quick our journey was given the pictures of traffic queue north of Wandsworth bridge I've seen posted on nextdoor. I remember the times when one could glide through London and the lights kept going green - it seemed the ones in Kings Road were timed for slightly more than 30 mph at one time in the 70s, perhaps my speedometer was over estimating :-) To my knowledge, the lights are still computer controlled but I think the higher volumes of traffic and catering for better pedestrian and cycling priorities makes the algorithms more complex given there's still probably similar road space to five decades ago?

Michael Ixer ● 916d

My recollection of living in Tottenham in the '50s is we were allowed to go out into the street and play (ok, usually on the pavements). Very little traffic - except on the main roads - and loads of parking spaces. Not sure about buses as we walked everywhere - school, shops, parks - but as few people had cars perhaps that's why the buses were crowded? (My father had a motor bike and side car but maintained it himself as he was a mechanic. Only a few people in our road had cars.) Back to the 1970s, I can remember there were no parking restrictions in Fulham south of Lille Road/East of North End Road - and one could find a parking space on a Saturday afternoon (perhaps not if Chelsea were at home). Try that now … Definitely fewer cars around :-)

Michael Ixer ● 916d

Michael, look up town in the 60's and 70's also the horse drawn going over bridges.  I've been here since the 50's and started work in the 60's always traffic in the morning, buses packed so you couldn't get on. Had to wait for the next one.

Barbara Stevens ● 916d

Spinoff benefit of the Wandsworth Bridge closure?Perhaps but do not forget school holidays have started too so traffic in general has diminshed considerably.Also, in the 80s and 90s there were fewer, much fewer, traffic lights, pedestrian crossings.  And the traffic lights were timed so, if you started off from one green light and kept your speed at just under 30mph, subsequent lights would be green when you reached them....

Ivonne Holliday ● 916d

It's not been that long that so many of the population have had their own private cars.There are so many cars now compared to the street space outside our homes (built before so many had cars) that parkingis difficult not just in towns but cities and villages!

Philippa Bond ● 916d

What? I don't know what period you're comparing but I started driving in London in 1970 and the volume of motorised traffic was nothing compared with more recent congestion. Perhaps in the centre of London the Congestion Charge has gone some ways to alleviating it but even in the City the volumes have been rising again. I suppose some like me now only drive as a last resort because of the congestion and lack of parking spaces but it's not like driving in the 1970s or 80s or even the 90s! Although I must admit my journey from East Putney to Clapham Junction and back this morning by 37/337 bus (using the bus to avoid ASLEF action) was one of my fastest ever; a spin off benefit of the Wandsworth Bridge closure?

Michael Ixer ● 916d

Binary mind, tunnel vision, what on earth are you drinking? Whatever it is, my advice would be that you should keep off it...

Richard Carter ● 916d

Work is now very different - especially post pandemic.  You can even live abroad and run your UK company from wherever you are courtesy of new technology - online meetings etc.In Victorian times people most had more children but also more children died.  Most families are now smaller as a result of better healthcare including a better ability to control the size of the family and the desire to provide for them better and avoid the struggles of large starving families. Sometimes it seems as if we are returning to Victorian times.

Philippa Bond ● 917d

Netherlands has more bikes than people, are we gradually going to end up the same. Bikes falling asleep on the pavement or taking a dip in the river, or wobbling down the road like they are drunk. Are these bikes meant to compensate for you having to get rid of your vehicle, also expensive to hire. When will this all stop, perhaps some of our Government should try sorting out India they might have more to get their teeth into. Years ago if you look at old photo's there was a lot more traffic on the roads than now. Also masses of people as a lot of people had 7 to 9 children or more in the old days before the war. There are a lot more buildings in London now than years ago, people have to get to work one way or another.

Barbara Stevens ● 917d

Pre-pandemic TfL had some trials of On-Demand Buses which are smaller than our traditional buses.Here is a more recent article:https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/aug/11/all-aboard-how-on-demand-public-transport-is-getting-back-on-the-roadI also noticed that there was a question from Caroline Pidgeon to the GLA in 2018 about the transportational legalities of this different transport.

Philippa Bond ● 917d

"Putting a sign up doesn’t stop cars going fast. You might as well have a sign saying no crime and we can all do away with the police!"Do you really think that these politicians in their rolling back of the cost of the state haven't actually thought of that?!I think we should all be petitioning for the 20mph to be enforced.  There are some drivers who fail to understand the reason for not doing something unless they feel it.  Better a fine than a death.

Philippa Bond ● 917d

The same now on Charlewood rd between 7 - 10.

Barbara Stevens ● 917d

It was a big mistake not to enforce during the rollout.At last the WBC website has been updated, in May 2023 I believe, to removed the statement about not enforcing the speed limit.The problem with giving local authority control over speeding is that it will quickly become another form of revenue with safety considerations being secondary.Take (or perhaps not) the left turn from Clarendon Drive from URR now prohibited between 7am-10am mon fri. A man is employed to sit in a car fitted with roof top camera for hours. Meanwhile behind him cars are double parked, doing dangerous manoeuvres and even being left empty with engines running. Not a ticket in sight. A ludicrous situation.

Ed Robinson ● 917d

https://content.tfl.gov.uk/casualties-in-greater-london-2022.pdfTable 8 Casualties involving buses in 2022 by severity and change over 2021 and Table 9 Casualties involving buses in 2022 compared with the 2005-09 average and 2021 does not look good for pedestrians. 200% increase I.e two fatalities for cyclists too. Buses are likely to get even heavier. I hope TFL have abandoned this obsession of ordering bigger and bigger buses that are travelling on average slower and slower each year.Buses that take ages to load/unload and then whizz along to make up time doesn’t make sense. TFL have been far too slow to change outdated thinking. But still USB ports are coming so all is good :-)

Ed Robinson ● 917d

Not had time to look in detail but the stats (below) seem to show that cycling is probably getting safer if one considers there's more cycling but pedestrians are still vulnerable? Speed is given as an important contributory factor. Although the monitoring of 20mph limit isn't enforced I guess if one does kill or injure someone and speed was an obvious factor it could mean a prosecution with a more severe penalty for dangerous deriving? Not ideal, but the threat of a prison sentence for killing or maiming someone might be a disincentive to speed? https://uk.motor1.com/news/669591/london-road-deaths-down-2022/ https://content.tfl.gov.uk/casualties-in-greater-london-2022.pdf

Michael Ixer ● 918d

Yes, Nick, that's why on environmental issues there should be collaboration between parties, and between central and local governments. Unfortunately, Mr Sunak seems to be using this as an election campaign mechanism not something that's best for the environment.

Michael Ixer ● 918d

Ed,You say local authorities do not hav powers to collect speeding fines or impose points.  I received a letter from Richard Holden MP, via Fleur Anderson,  which says exactly that.  In my view, it is waffle.The most important thing here is to enforce the 20mph speed limit. The police do not have the manpower to deal with another traffic camera so, in collaboration with the Council, the latter installed the camera and it would have been for the police to impose points, if required.  This, in my view, is a very practical solution.According to Richard Holden, the Department for Transport told DVLA not to share information with WBC.  Now, I would really love to know how WBC obtains information on car number plates when cars enter illegally timed restricted access to roads. 

Ivonne Holliday ● 918d

Yes, Richard, agreed, there is two little road space because particularly in cities it is a limited resource. It needs to be shared equitably with pedestrians and cyclists, and public transport given priority on that portion allocated to vehicles. 

Michael Ixer ● 918d

Hello Richard,I think these new ideas are electioneering more than anything else.The wafer thin result (majority of 495 votes vs the 7200 which Bojo had) of the Uxbridge and Ruislip bielection was mainly a protest vote against the ULEZ extension.Traditionally, about 12 to 18 months before a general election, the Conservatives managed to reduce tax burden on everyone - they do not have room for that manoeuvre now so I suppose something else must be found and that is motoring.I do not think reviewing the LTNs to be such a terrible thing but reviewing the 20mph zones is madness.Having said this, as there is no enforcement of the 20mph restrictions, this is a speed limit is a paper exercise only. I am on two minds about the issue of new oil and gas licenses.  I do not deny, by any stretch of the imagination, the problem of climate boiling.  I thought the net zero was due in 2030, though there is talk of 2050 now.  However, there is also the immediate need, meaning today, to reduce energy prices and, traditionally, this has been done by increasing production. More onshore wind farms and solar panels would be the ideal but I really do not know how feasible it is to do this immediately - particularly as legislation is required and this is a painfully slow process.

Ivonne Holliday ● 918d

Richard: What a binary mind you must have! Still worried about your tunnel vision. Perhaps you could alert us all when you are thinking of getting behind the wheel.

Alexander MacLeod ● 918d

"Why don't people who want to drive drive and those who don't don't end of."See my post of 30/07/23 @ 9:35 for the answer..

Richard Carter ● 918d

"too many cars for too little road space."There's a problem right there in your statement, Mike, specifically the 'too little road space' part. Just expanding the amount of road space doesn't help congestion in the longer term, because it just draws yet more cars onto the road (because demand for space is elastic, there isn't a fixed level of traffic). Which is why the only answer both from the point of view of pollution and of CO2 emissions, is to restrain the level of car use, not that Sunak would even countenance that, sadly, since he's now in hock to the militant car lobby.

Richard Carter ● 918d

Why don't people who want to drive drive and those who don't don't end of. Just because Sadiq Khan's dad used to drive a bus, doesn't mean to say we have to use it. They take longer keep stopping at bus stops or in traffic. They hold up cars on the narrow roads because you are unable to get past them. Why not make smaller buses, you never see that many people sitting on a double decker these days anyway.

Barbara Stevens ● 918d

Michael, It does rather depend on who is doing the reviewing … too many “independent” reviews and official enquiries are anything but. Nick

Nicholas Evans ● 918d

Ivonne, you say it's not blatant pandering to the more rabid end of the motoring lobby by Sunak, but how else would you describe suggestions of a review of LTNs, 20 mph zones,etc? And, to widen it out a little, there's the plain idiocy reported in the Times today of his plan to put clear blue water between Tories and Labour on energy policy by issuing 100 new oil and gas licences in the North Sea, which includes this frankly idiotic comment:"Sunak views fossil fuels as a key part of Britain’s 'transition to net zero'."https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/pm-gives-green-light-for-more-north-sea-drilling-0rr8fs0jx

Richard Carter ● 918d

It's late so perhaps my memory may not be  at its best but buses and lorries kill most cyclists in London and not necessarily at high speed.Most I believe are at junctions and many of these junctions have been neglected over the years.With so much spent on the 20mph project almost nothing appears to be spent on junctions.

Ed Robinson ● 918d

One of the reasons London had a low accident rate was due to congestion and the low speed of cars because of it.Now with less cars some are travelling very fast in residential areas.Putting a sign up doesn’t stop cars going fast. You might as well have a sign saying no crime and we can all do away with the police!Local authorities do not have powers to collect speeding fines or to impose points, speed awareness courses etc, that’s the job of the police. With Priory Lane the council knew that or should have. Without the other sanctions it would just be a money grabbing scheme. The whole thing looked like an expensive political stunt, perhaps it was just incompetence??They could through the Mayor make policing the 20mph roads a priority but with knifing, mugging and robberies and other violent crime so high I doubt he would. Would anyone?

Ed Robinson ● 918d

Ivonne, I put the question mark there because, other than trying to perhaps make this a political point, I'm not clear what Sunak is trying to do. As I said in my earlier post, reviewing a strategy around LTNs may be sensible if they're not being effective or are having unintended consequences because they're not we'll designed. The 20mph speed limits seem different though;  they are a safety measure that research has shown should reduce casualties so any review could perhaps look at introducing more stringent policing of them? In practice it's unlikely that any legislation needed to modify any traffic legislation to change LTNs or enforce speed limits will be introduced - perhaps something will be promised before the next election to try and attract some votes?

Michael Ixer ● 918d

I disagree Richard.It is not a blatant pandering to the more rabid end of the motoring lobby as it is not a disapproval of the rabid end of cyclists (forgetting those who get ready for their speed trials in Richmond Park on Fridays).There is a very big problem with regard to deterrence or persuasion to do something else or, dare I say, the lack of willingness of showing example by doing, as in the case of a PM going by helicopter for a distance of 200 miles.This "do as I say and not as I do" is at the forefront.Of course we have a massive problem with global boiling. Who can deny it!!Many people do need cars and I really, hand in heart, do not believe the "Sunday drivers" exist anymore but I agree some people do drive for unacceptably short distances.  But some, like it or not, have no other option but to drive to get to work (as in trades people and we must not forget disabled people).Also, I believe, very strongly, that those who pollute the most are not necessarily the barely middle or lower income people.

Ivonne Holliday ● 918d

Michael I,I am afraid that this time I disagree with you.The problem with the 20mph roads is that enforcement is non-existent. This is because only cars exceeding 24mph would receive a PCN  but there are no police to enforce even this, let alone cameras.  So, in fact, there is no deterrent for speeds to be respected.  but yes, there are cameras for no-entry roads.I was delighted when the LTN on Dover House Road was terminated, not only because it affected me personally as well as the road we live in, but particularly as a friend of mine has a shop on the parade and during the LTN (plus roadworks on the parade itself at the time), she lost 80% of her weekly sales.It is not an anti-pedestrian or anti-cyclist move. LTNs have thrown traffic from now prohibited roads onto main roads, which, in fact, affect people living along them tremendously.  The decision by the DoT to declare the camera on Priory Lane as "unlawful" is laughable if not offensive.  The police say they have not enough resources to "police" it, and according to the government, the Council has no right to seek information on the vehicles exceeding 20mph (in reality, 24mph), even if the camera was installed as a collaboration with the police.On our road, the Council say only 12% of the (5720) vehicles using it daily exceed speed limits.  If you take into account the 1906 vehicles that are over 20mph, the percentage goes up to 45%.This is a sad demonstration that deterrence and care is non-existent now and not for the foreseeable future.

Ivonne Holliday ● 918d

It's just blatant pandering to the more rabid end of the motoring lobby,not that it makes it any less unpleasant.

Richard Carter ● 918d

Looks like Sunak et al might want to lose 20mph limits as well as LTNs. An anti pedestrian and cyclists move?https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/jul/30/rishi-sunak-councils-20mph-speed-limit-low-traffic-neighbourhoods-ltns

Michael Ixer ● 918d

It's not directly related to the South Fulham Clean Air Neighbourhood, but it's certainly car-related: I was surprised and rather shocked to see that, earlier this year, the government had blocked the Council from monitoring two 20 mph zones it had established in Priory Lane and Wimbledon Park Road. Residents had often complained about speeding cars in the two streets - research found that a quarter of drivers were exceeding the 20 mph limit in Priory Lane and one third were doing do in Wimbledon Park Road - and the Council set up 20 mph limits there, but the government claimed that using the DVLA database to identify and fine speeding drivers was unlawful. What an extraordinary dcecision!Details at https://www.mylondon.news/news/south-london-news/south-london-council-blocked-fining-26185674.amp

Richard Carter ● 918d

Well, obviously too many cars for too little road space. That's why I avoid driving, only had to do it three times so far this year (and once was in Miami where public transport isn't as great as London and the UK). Certainly no problem on trips to eight cities or towns in the UK so far this year. Probably another car trip in the next fortnight but only because of the ASLEF industrial action; time the government sorted the railways out as part of their climate change initiatives, GBR still hadn't been formed into a proper legal entity a couple of weeks ago.

Michael Ixer ● 918d

Michael, you have just answered exactly what I am talking about, sitting for  half an hour trying to get out of side streets into the High St, or where ever.

Barbara Stevens ● 918d

Only if they have lights, air con, etc on for a significant stationary period. 

Michael Ixer ● 918d

If Electric sit therefor long they will need to recharge. Nobody wins.

Barbara Stevens ● 918d

Most modern cars do have the option for the engine to stop while stationary and electric motors don't produce any pollution anyway. 

Michael Ixer ● 918d

But if the pavements have been widened then surely the build up of traffic is causing fumes.  Tell everybody to turn off their ignitions if it bothers everybody so much. Or admit widening the pavements was a stupid idea.

Barbara Stevens ● 918d

"July 2023 Is Hottest Month Ever Recorded on EarthPreliminary analyses show that this July is virtually certain to be the hottest month on record for the planet by a wide margin, largely because of global warming"https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/july-2023-is-hottest-month-ever-recorded-on-earth/Interesting coincidence - I just received an email from the FamilySearch website:-"Record My Story!Help future generations learn from your life experiences.""Record my apology" would be more apt (but actually probably too optimistic an act)

David Ainsworth ● 918d

Wrong! I do drive a car, I just try to limit its use as much as possible

Richard Carter ● 919d

Perhaps just do not have only one lane going north and a bus stop in the middle of Putney Bridge.Narrow the pavement and put a couple of bicycles lanes each way and two lanes each way for vehicles.A bit radical for your green lobby I admit.

Ed Robinson ● 919d

No harm in reviewing the implementation of the strategy to reduce traffic congestion and accidents, improve the environment and eliminate greenhouse gas emmissions if one comes up with a better one. What would be unforgivable is if such aims were delayed or just abandoned. One needs to have a carrot and stick approach - perhaps there's too much stick in terms of penalties but not sufficient carrot in terms of better, subsidised and safer public transport, and grants/compensation to promote environmentally friendly options. There's also a variety of lifestyle changes for some that can reduce the use of transport: working from home, car club use, deliveries using shared (hopefully, eventually) green transport, just walking or cycking more, etc.The cost of car usage includes maintenance of infrastructure: I'm sure noone wants both Hammersmith and Wandsworth bridges shut but if they're unsafe and need repairing there's not much option. Is there? Image the outcome if they collapsed with people and vehicles on them! It was interesting looking at Coutts's report on Farage; it noted that one of his proposals was a referendum on climate change. Imagine the voting form; two options: yes, I want to take whatever action in necessary to achieve net zero by 2050 or no, let's not do anything and the human race can head fir extinction ... ok, a bit facetious and I am bluring congestion, environmental and climate issues but those that think driving their car anywhere anytime is just unrealistic and not sustainable (and those issues are all interrelated).The big problem at the moment is that all these issues are just being used to score political points rather than collaborate to resolve them. The cynic in me sees that Sunak is playing to the gallery in the hope he can win votes but if he does he won't fix anything. Public transport, NHS education will continue to degrade, traffic congestion will get worse as will pollution. [I think the Who got it wrong with "won't get fooled again", voters have and are being fooled - and remember Daltry wanted Brexit :-)]

Michael Ixer ● 919d

Putney High street hasn't helped with the pavements being widened. Emergency vehicles are unable to get past the traffic. My friend got stuck in Disraeli the other day in a traffic jam. Even in the morning the traffic from the Upper Richmond Rd, is not meant to drive into Charlewood rd, between 7 = 10 am, but i've looked at the signs on the Upper near the old Air Malta building, but the signs are rather high and not really very clear, if you are used to keep cutting into Charlewood in the morning.

Barbara Stevens ● 919d

Just as well Richard doesn't drive a car. Tunnel vision would be an impediment. Surely it's fair for the issue to be up for discussion?

Alexander MacLeod ● 919d

Or, maybe a massive programme of road-widening and house demolition, plus tarmacking of useless green space, could allow unfettered driving for all. Also such a programme would produce a major economic upturn for the car industry. Win, win!And when the effect of that slows down, let's think in three dimensions - I'm thinking drones for every household.Up, up, and away!

David Ainsworth ● 919d

I think I understand Richard now and am moving in hus direction.If we can get all non compliant cars off the road, price out as many others as possible it will leave the roads clear for those of us who can afford it to drive around unencumbered.Great stuff Richard I'm with you on this one.

Andy Pike ● 919d

Oh yes, why don't we let people drive wherever and whenever they want. What could possibly go wrong?

Richard Carter ● 919d

I suggest writing to your local councillor and MP asking for similar schemes in Wandsworth. After all it is green???Wandsworth is ideally places to take advantage with the parks and the rivers. We could see zero council tax again. OK it may piss off Richmond residents who want to use non main routes such as Priory Lane / URR junction or Lower Richmond Road the Wandsworth part to get to the bridge.

Ed Robinson ● 919d

Alexander, agree.  I know somebody who lives in Fulham they said the shops are shutting, we used to go to Townmead Road Sainsbury's, we really stopped when covid was about as a few queues.  But now drive to Richmond Sainsbury's past the Mortlake brewery. My other half got a ticket as he started to go into Hurlingham rd, but got it cancelled, as turned round in time.

Barbara Stevens ● 919d