Vibrating speed bumps are driving us to despair: Residents ‘can’t sleep at night’ due to noise from newly inst

By Natasha Anderson[1] and James Gamble[2]

Published: 11:56, 11 December 2023 | Updated: 15:23, 11 December 2023

Residents claim they 'can't sleep at night' due to the noise of newly installed speed bumps on their road which cause 'homes to shake' and have left cracks in the walls.

Locals claim their lives have been turned upside down ever since Waltham Forest Council installed the speed-reducing measures on Old Church Road in Chingford, east London[3], last year.

Shanta Prasad, a life-long resident who was born in her home in 1964, revealed that life on the street was peaceful until the speed bumps were installed.

She told the Telegraph[4]: 'As soon as they were installed, our houses started to shake, it's a busy arterial road, and when you get buses and lorries, it's like Formula One.

'I can't sleep at night. I've been referred to the insomnia clinic. Sometimes all I want to do is cry.'

Locals claim their lives have been turned upside down ever since Waltham Forest Council installed the speed-reducing measures on Old Church Road (pictured) in Chingford, east London, last year

Lee Gilbert revealed how a crack in her ceiling (pictured) has become 'worse and worse' over the past year since the speed bumps were installed and now lives in fear of it 'falling in'

Seven speed bumps were installed on the less than a mile-long road in 2022 as part of the council's plans to reduce the speed limit to 20mph. Pictured are some of the speed bumps along Old Church Road, Chingford

Lee Gilbert, 65, (pictured) is among the Old Church Road residents campaigning against the disruptive speed bumps

Seven speed bumps were installed on the less than a mile-long road in 2022 as part of the council's plans to reduce the speed limit to 20mph.

They have become such an issue in the borough that Chingford MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith raised concerns about them in Parliament last week.

Lee Gilbert, 65, is among the Old Church Road residents campaigning against the disruptive speed bumps.

She revealed how a crack in her ceiling has become 'worse and worse' over the past year since the speed bumps were installed and now lives in fear of it 'falling in', the Telegraph reported.

Local community traffic watch member Stephen Field, 59, echoed Ms Gilbert's concerns that structural problems have been exacerbated by the bumps.

Many houses in the area were built on shallow foundations, 'not more than six inches on clay soil', Mr Field told the publication.

He feared the rattling caused by the bumps 'could make it worse'.

Another resident Adam Thackeray told his MP that his 'windows vibrate' and the house 'judders when buses and large vehicles go past'.

He claimed the vibrations cause 'furniture to rattle' and have 'resulted in cracks appearing around the house on various walls'.

But councillors claim that 'multiple studies' have found that traffic vibration and road bumps are 'unlikely to cause significant damage to buildings'.

Larry Relfe, 75, (pictured) has lived in a home near to the bump at the top of Old Church Road, situated opposite the Greene Man pub, for around 40 years.

He told MailOnline that the bumps are 'damaging the houses near them' and believes speed cameras are the only solution to stop vehicles from speeding

Shanta Prasad, a life-long resident who was born in her home on Old Church Road in 1964, has claimed that life on the street was peaceful until the speed bumps were installed

Locals are also suffering from 'sleep deprivation' because the street noise keeps them up at night.

Pictured is a car driving over speed bumps in Old Church Road, Chingford

A car is seen driving over speed bumps in Endelbury Avenue, Chingford, today.

Residents in the area have complained about the effects of the traffic calming system since they were introduced last year

Cars are pictured driving along Old Church Road, where bumps have become such an issue that Chingford MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith raised concerns about them in Parliament last week following complaints from locals

Clyde Loakes, Waltham Forest council's deputy leader, said the speed bumps were 'working' to improve overall safety in the area.

The number of deaths and serious injuries on the borough's roads has fallen from 97 in 2018 to 70 last year, data has revealed.

Department for Transport studies have also found that lowering speed limits in residential areas from 30mph to 20mph can reduce road deaths by up to 40 per cent.

In October, Conservative councillors demanded that the Labour-led council carry out an independent review into the impact of the 'suspected vibrations' and the 'nature of the traffic-calming measures'.

The review was rejected and there was no other recourse.

Cllr Loakes, after the rejection, declared that road humps were the 'only option' to reduce speed in the borough.

But neighbours are universal in their belief that the speed bumps are not doing their job and allege that many drivers hardly reduce their speed when approaching the bumps.

As locals vented their frustration on their front doorsteps today, white vans ostensibly late for jobs incessantly beeped the cars in front of them when they slowed for the bumps.

Phillip Nikolas, a father of four who has lived in the area for around 25 years, agreed that speed cameras alone could slow drivers down.

'The only thing that will stop them speeding is a camera, because it will hurt their pockets,' the 65-year-old told MailOnline today. 'But TfL are not listening. This is important: if they want to slow down the drivers, you have to fine them.

'I have seen a couple of bad accidents. You can't imagine how fast they go.'

Mr Nikolas, who complained that the bumps 'make a lot of noise', argued the new safety measure has 'done nothing to help'.

'It does make a lot of noise,' he added. 'I don't think it stops people from speeding, either - they couldn't care less.'

In October, Conservative councillors demanded that the Labour-led council carry out an independent review into the impact of the 'suspected vibrations' and the 'nature of the traffic-calming measures', but the review was rejected. Pictured are cars travelling along Old Church Road, Chingford

Vehicles drive over speed bumps on Station Rd, Chingford

Larry Relfe, 75, has lived in a home near to the bump at the top of Old Church Road, situated opposite the Greene Man pub, for around 40 years.

The retired security worker believes speed cameras are the only solution to stop vehicles from speeding.

'It was TfL who brought the speed bumps in, so it's them we've got to tackle,' the father of one said,' he said. 'What would be better is speed cameras. The bumps slow traffic down but they are damaging the houses near them.

'I would imagine buses and ambulances with casualties in the back will get damaged as well. It could kill casualties in the back of ambulances when they go over the bumps.'

Mr Relfe said over his four-decade residence on Old Church Road he has seen some bad accidents, including motorbikes 'flying' up the hill and into the walls of nearby houses.

He added that at a recent meeting at the Greene Man pub with MP Sir Iain, Transport for London (TfL) had told them the bumps has been the cheapest speed reduction method available.

'The bumps are very difficult to avoid as well,' he said. 'It's totally unreasonable.

It shakes the houses all the time.

'TfL said it was the cheapest way of slowing people down. But it's causing havoc around here.'

Conversations in homes located near the humps are 'being drowned out' during the day as traffic travels up and down Old Church Road, Sir Iain has claimed. A truck is pictured driving over a hump on the street

Neighbours are universal in their belief that the speed bumps are not doing their job and allege that many drivers hardly reduce their speed when approaching the bumps. Pictured is a car driving over one of the bumps on Old Church Road today

An elderly woman living opposite the bumps, who didn't wish to be named, said vehicles hitting the bumps make her home shake.

She told MailOnline: 'It causes a lot of disturbance. It makes the house shake.

I think it's OK if it's a small road where you don't have lorries and buses, but on a road like this it is really not appropriate.

'It's quite a lot of noise and we would rather have a speed camera or something. That would be better.'

Jenny Coombs, the landlady of the Greene Man, says vehicles going over the bumps at night illuminate her bedroom.

The 53-year-old mother of one, who has run the pub for more than four years, said: 'I think we have just become acclimatised to it now.

'If I'm upstairs it's quite loud, and my whole room lights up when vehicles go over the bump at night.

'Something needs to be there, but is there something better? Speed cameras might be a better idea.'

Jenny Coombs, (pictured) the landlady of the Greene Man pub, says vehicles going over the bumps at night illuminate her bedroom. The 53-year-old mother of one, who has run the pub for more than four years, said: 'We have just become acclimatised to it now.'

Sir Iain last week criticised the traffic measures in a House of Commons debate, alleging they are taking a toll on his constituents' physical and mental health.

He shared the fears of local resident Andrew Mckinley, who no longer feels safe to cycle to work because he is 'very tired due to lack of sleep'.

'Since the speed humps have been installed outside my house, I have not had a full night's quality sleep,' Mr Mckinley said, adding that the situation has had a 'big negative impact on my mental and physical wellbeing'.

Tony Thorne claimed the 'constant jerking' caused by the bumps causes his wife, who suffers with arthritis of the spine, 'to cry with the pain'.

'We now have to plan our journeys to avoid certain areas due to the speed humps which even when you travel over them at 10mph there are still problems with the bounce on exit,' he said.

Sir Iain, who does not live in Chingford, revealed that he has sat in a number of homes in the area where - even at speeds of 20mph - 'enormous vibrations' can be felt as 'large, heavy lorries hit the humps'.

He said that conversations in homes located by the humps are 'being drowned out' during the day as traffic travels up and down the street.

Locals are also suffering from 'sleep deprivation' because the street noise keeps them up at night.

'I have talked to residents who are genuinely deeply stressed by what has happened, he said. 'As for the effects on the public's mental health, some residents now genuinely suffer from some kind of clinical depression.'

Sir Iain further argued that bus drivers are battling 'impact damage' on their spines and necks from the rocking motion caused by the bumps.

He also claimed that the road bumps in Waltham Forest have been 'poorly maintained' and are causing damage to vehicles as drivers pass over them.

References

1. ^ Natasha Anderson (www.dailymail.co.uk)
2. ^ James Gamble (www.dailymail.co.uk)
3. ^ London (www.dailymail.co.uk)
4. ^ Telegraph (www.telegraph.co.uk)