By Sian Bayley, local democracy reporter
Road blocks could be reintroduced near a hospital, despite being removed after a controversial month-long trial in the summer.
Wandsworth council is asking residents in Maybury Street, Carlwell Street and Aldis Street in Tooting on how to prevent cars from using their streets as a shortcut between the high street and Blackshaw Road.
But St George’s Hospital is nearby – and some say ambulances need the roads as a matter of life and death for ill patients.
London Ambulance Service has acknowledged blocks to have the potential to cause delays for crews.
The choices are either to install a barrier to vehicle traffic at the junction of Maybury Street with Blackshaw Road or barriers at the junctions of both Aldis Street and Carwlwell street with Tooting High Street.
A third option is to take no action at all and leave the junctions as they are.
Between August 17 and September 12 last year, the council put wooden planters at the junction of Maybury Street with Blackshaw Road as part of a wider series of traffic trials across the borough.
Some residents said they liked the quieter streets and having less traffic near their homes during that time.
Others suggested that a two-road closure would work better at the junctions of Carlwell Street and Aldis Street on Tooting High Street.
There was a considerable amount of resistance to some of the borough’s trials when they were introduced in the summer because they were introduced without first consulting residents.
Similar issues happened across the capital.
Groups such as OneWandsworth raised concerns about emergency access and traffic flows.
A report presented to the council in September also highlighted an “unprecedented” number of concerns and petitions, as well as anecdotal evidence from traffic engineers that cars had been driving on pavements and there had been cases of vandalism and damage.
The council said this was worsened by additional changes brought in by TfL to red-route roads in the borough, including the A24 Balham High Road to Tooting High Street.
However, officers said they would continue to monitor the network and gather data on the number of vehicles using certain routes.
Councillors vowed to continue to find ways to encourage more car-free journeys.
Residents can now have their say on the council’s website here: https://haveyoursay.citizenspace.com/wandsworthecs/maybury21/consult_view/
The consultation continues until March 19.
If you want to request a paper copy of the consultation, you can email [email protected].
Pictured: The junction of Maybury Street with Blackshaw Road
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