Streetlife

I agree this junction is even more of a nightmare then it was before.  And what about the Earlsfield Road side turning left onto Garrett Lane.  Why isn't the paint put there so idiots don't take up two lanes ie. go in the middle of two lanes to go straight when the turning is so short to turn left.  
Just typing this makes my blood boil.  
Please someone from the council please read our comments and do something.

There are so many traffic junctions that only let two or three vehicles through so the traffic builds up - the latest is Trinity Road, Bellevue Road, Burntwood Lane.  This week the traffic has been trailed back to Ellerton Road which is quite some distance down Burntwood lane.

Hi Michele and Kate (B's)
I agree with both of you as I use both of those junctions as well as the Magdelan one - I dont know who is in control of the phasing of the lights - But I think when I am at them ...... someone is asleep! I was so hoping that someone from the council would repy - but I guess they are all too busy dealing with the up and coming Olympic Torch stuff to worry about mere day-to day issues that we normal folk have to deal with

They resurfaced Upper Tooting Park last week and cut through all the TFL cables that are supposed to work with the phasing - I wonder if that has something to do with the appalling traffic along Trinity Road etc??

The problem at the junction of Burntwood and Trinity Road started over a week ago and I cant believe it has not been sorted out yet!!! Basically, if you are going towards Tooting on Trinity Road, the traffic lights turn green for about 5 seconds then go back to red for a couple of seconds before going green again!!! But the lights for traffic going the other way on Trinity Road only go green for the second green phase going the other way - hence the constant long tailbacks. This is obviously an error and not planned so why has it not been sorted yet???

i know that traffic light phasings are gradually being changed for the Olympics so maybe this problem is due to that.....

as far as anyone taking any notice is concerned, why don't you get in touch with your local councillors.  They are our representatives and should be on the case.

I live in Bedford Ward and our councillors are always ready to listen and help.  If your councillors aren't getting on the case then you need to remind them that they can be voted out just as easily as they were voted in.......

Hi Sarah
i have - a few months ago when works were going on, on the junction of Earlsfield Rd and Garratt lane and they said that once those works were sorted they would be rephasing the lights - which they have not done, We just drove down Garratt Lane from Penwith end and as usual there were two rows of cars jamming up at the junction and blocking any pedestrians from crossing Garratt Lane.

I am just surprised that more people aren;t complaining about this - Maybe not enough of them are on Streetlife.

Do notbe surprised, it is policy to slow traffic in Wandsworth thereby to encourage thru users to go elsewhere. Every road scheme results in narrowing of space, limiting lanes from 2 to 1, protruding bus stops that were once indented, narrowing access to roads ( all to be seen at Garrat lane/ Mag junction redesign, Nightingale Lane, Wandsth roundabout up Trinity Rd) of you don't believe this then just think about the latest news and effect of narrowing Trinity underpass to 2 lanes- locals like us will understand the massive impact and snarl-up this will cause as it reduces options and alternatives for vehicles. Many of these schemes trumpet 'safety' as their goal but often, like Earlfield station, remove pedestrian islands, remove space for cyclists, remove safety space between cars, etc. I think the Wandsworth planners all use skateboards and live 100m from office!!

This road chaos is everywhere in our area (and possibly further afield). There now seems to be  traffic gridlock almost all the way from Streatham to the Wandsworth roundabout, seven days a week, day and night. It has never been this bad before. I have been told that recent changes in traffic lights phasing has been to allow full central control of all of London traffic by some twerp in an office. If so that that's a bit sinister. Can this really be some grand plan to benefit London traffic flow for the Olympics. Why now and why in Wandsworth? Does anyone know who to contact for a positive response to this madness?

Have any of you contacted the council? If yes, what was the response?

Yes I have, but to the Highways Consultancy (highwaysconsultancy@wandsworth.gov.uk). They control our traffic, not the Council. I'm waiting for a response.

I  know the feeling - I have been waiting for something for ages  on both this and another web - I know I have a councillor on this site -  - so i am going to wait but  not forever ....

Any adjustments or changes to the timings of traffic lights are the sole work and responsibility of Transport for London. 

Councils in London are not allowed to interfere or adjust traffic light timings on any road in the capital. This applies to every traffic light in London, not just on red routes.

A number have been changed by TfL over the past week or so ahead of the olympics. Unfortunately many changes have been made to traffic lights on minor roads that are not part of the Olympic Route Network (ORN) and this is causing unnecessary disruption and inconvenience to local residents.

We are now calling on TfL to re-adjust these traffic lights as a matter of urgency so that drivers do not suffer from these needless hold-ups.

Oh praise be! Thank you Wandsworth Council for the voice of reason. May it have some effect!

Thank you Wandsworth Council for your explanation. It IS causing chaos but my theory is TFL have done this ahead of the games for exactly that reason: to cause chaos which serves to deter people from making unecessary journeys and/or from using their cars at all.
Still, it doesn't help the poor local residents who have no choice, and it is a dire situation for emergency responders (and I'm not talking about the tube engineers who will be 'blue-lighting' it around during The Games!).

Hi Wandsworth Council,
I understand that TFL are responsible for the Traffic lights - but who is responsible for the removal of the Yellow Box? as this seems to be the main problem at this Junction on Garratt Lane, as the traffic coming down Garratt lane towards Wandsworth - keep on driving past Magdalen and block the exit for those queuing to get out and they drive across the Pedestrian crossing making it hugely difficult for people trying to cross the road. There is a 1/2 yellow box at the next left turn, which is only a minor junction??

Here's the response I got from TfL...

Thank you for your email regarding the Traffic signals in Wandsworth / Trinity Road / Bellevue Avenue. London is being turned into a massive sporting and cultural venue for the 2012 Games.  Venues are being constructed and changes to the way the city is being managed are being put in place not just in east London, but across the capital.  As announced by TfL on 12 June, in order to prepare London's road network for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and familiarise road users with Games-related changes, traffic signal timings are being altered on a phased approach from 1 July. An Olympic Route Network (ORN) is a requirement of all Host Cities and is necessary to ensure all athletes, officials and the world’s media can get to their events on time.  During the Games, the road network will need to transport a significant number of Olympic vehicles every day.  As part of TfL’s programme to build and implement the ORN, the traffic signal timings at the above junction have been altered temporarily. Traffic signals are being monitored constantly in the lead up to, and during, the Games. Traffic signals play a vital role in managing the road network, and contributing to the success of the Games. There will be some disruption to road users as a result of the numbers of Olympic vehicles on the road network and the changes we are making for Games time.  Please be assured Transport for London (TfL) is working hard to keep this disruption to a minimum. Your feedback has been passed to our traffic operations team and will be taken into account as part of our ongoing review and management of this junction.
Yours sincerely    
Lee Anne Van Dyk Customer Service Advisor Transport for London
   
To TfL -
 
Re: Wandsworth traffic chaos...
 Dear Sirs, Why the recent road chaos everywhere in this borough? It has never been this bad before. I have been told that the recent changes in traffic lights phasing has been to allow central control of all of London traffic as part of some Grand Plan to benefit London traffic flow for the Olympics. Is this so? If it is, why now and why in Wandsworth? There is now traffic gridlock almost all the way from Streatham to the Wandsworth Bridge roundabout, and in many neighbouring streets, seven days a week, day and night. Many traffic junctions now only let two or three vehicles through so the traffic builds up - the latest is Trinity Road, Bellevue Road, Burntwood Lane and Garrett Lane. If heading towards Tooting on Trinity Road the traffic lights turn green for 5 seconds then go back to red for a moment before going green again. But the lights for traffic going the opposite direction only go green for the second green phase - hence the constant long tailbacks. Someone will get injured here soon if this madness is not changed. Please explain. Yours sincerely,
DD.

Worth remembering that half of all car journeys in London are only 2 miles or less, according to TfL research. The positive impact on relieving congestion that would happen from only a small percentage of those people changing how they travel would benefit everyone.

I'm not suggesting that everyone is in a position to walk / cycle or use public transport instead of driving. But clearly a lot more people could, which would result in less congestion, and smoother traffic flows in the round.

What's the shortest distance you drive in Wandsworth?