Kidbrooke Park Road: TfL has no plans for safety measures
On October 1, a pedestrian aged in her 60s died after a crash involving a motorbike in Kidbrooke Park Road, at the junction with Pegler Square.
Less than three weeks later on October 17, a pregnant woman and her unborn child died after her car was involved in a crash with an unmarked police car in the same road, at the junction with the A20.
Following the first crash, local people said that they were scared to cross the road, describing the junction at Pegler Square as a “lethal trap”[1].
Charlie Fancy, 25, who has lived in Kidbrooke for just over a year, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “It’s scary when you’re trying to cross the road, especially with a buggy because it’s just coming off of the [A2] motorway so cars come really fast around the corner.”
Transport for London (TfL) has said that it continues to "explore ways to further improve safety on Kidbrooke Park Road with the local council" - but is yet to commit to any specific changes.
A petition[2] started by Labour councillor Sandra Bauer, who represents Kidbrooke Village and Sutcliffe ward, calling on TfL to address these concerns has more than 350 signatures.
She has urged transport bosses to implement speed reduction measures in Kidbrooke Park Road, and at its junction with Pegler Square.
Cllr Bauer said: “We need action now and we can’t wait.
“People will come back and tell you that in the longer term this will change but lives are being lost and we can’t have another family lose a member. It’s just horrific.”
TfL data shows that there have now been four fatal accidents in the road since 2022.
A 14-year-old boy was also killed[3] after being hit by a truck while waiting at a bus stop near the junction with Eltham Road in December 2021.
Carl Eddleston, TfL's Director of Network Management, said: “Our deepest condolences are with the loved ones of the woman and her unborn child who were tragically killed following a collision with an unmarked police vehicle on Eltham Road last week.
“We are working with the Independent Office for Police Conduct on their investigation into this incident.
"Our thoughts also remain with the family and friends of the woman who was sadly killed after being hit by a motorbike in Kidbrooke in early October.
“We take the safety of London’s roads extremely seriously and are working with the police on their investigation into this collision to understand the causes behind it.
"We will continue to monitor roads across the borough and regularly meet with local communities and their representatives to discuss proposed changes.”
References
- ^ as a “lethal trap” (www.newsshopper.co.uk)
- ^ petition (www.newsshopper.co.uk)
- ^ 14-year-old boy was also killed (www.newsshopper.co.uk)