Agenda item

3

Totteridge Lane, Exit to Waitrose, submitted by Eileen Eskenzi MBE. JP

Submitted by - Eileen Eskenzi MBE. JP

Ward – Totteridge

I am writing to you because I would be grateful if you could place my comments before the Residents' Forum.

Last week, we had our monthly Totteridge Residents' Association meeting.  Repeatedly, the matter arises regarding this dangerous section - namely the entrance and exit to Waitrose in Totteridge Lane.  Each member of our committee has either had personal experience, or knows of someone who has been involved in an accident or had a 'near miss' at this junction.

I had an experience last year when I gingerly edged out from Waitrose whilst all the traffic was at a standstill.  A motorist came speeding up Totteridge Lane, overtaking the single line of vehicles, resulting in a collision.  The insurance company argued, that in spite of the "Keep Clear" gap, there was insufficient road signage for an on-coming vehicle to be able to anticipate a motorist making an exit into the main road, even though at this juncture the road is narrow.  It only widens out beyond this point towards the traffic lights.  I therefore had to pay for the damage to my car.

Almost daily there is an accident or 'near miss' at this busy inter-section.  We have raised this 'accident point' repeatedly to our local Councillors - requesting white lines or some signage - but to no avail.  It has been a point raised by residents at our AGM - again with no positive result to this dire problem.

Do we have to wait for a fatality before some action is taken?

I am writing to you, not only on behalf of this Association, but as a responsible, caring citizen who surely must represent thousands of pedestrians and motorists travelling up and down this busy thoroughfare.

I look forward to a response.

Eileen Eskenzi MBE. JP.

President

Totteridge Residents' Association

It would appear that the insurance company referred to possibly concluded that a driver emerging from Waitrose should give way and their view considering whether there were any vehicles overtaking in the outside lane.

Even if larger vehicles could not overtake, the possibility would remain that motorcyclists may still do so, and this should always be a consideration for vehicles emerging from a side road or access.

Introducing double white lines has previously been suggested, but this would not resolve this issue, not least because the prohibition on crossing a double white line system does not apply in relation to overtaking a stationary vehicle.

The double white line system also automatically introduces a restriction on parking, which would also prevent parking at night or on Sunday on part of the road currently marked with a single yellow line. This includes outside residential properties without off-street parking.  (The Contravention would be a criminal offence in these circumstances.

The introduction of a junction warning sign on the uphill approach to the entrance might provide some additional warning to vehicles considering overtaking. This would not normally be considered for private entrances. (We would try to avoid overuse in any case – if every junction where vehicles might emerge between stationary vehicles were signed then the sign would cease to have any impact). However, this proposal will be prioritised against other schemes for introduction in next year’s work programme and the highest priority schemes introduced. There has been a single injury accident recorded in similar circumstances to the incident described in the most recent three years accident data and as a low cost measure this may achieve a sufficiently high priority to proceed.

Councillor Stock has confirmed that she will contact Waitrose directly to ask them to install a warning sign on the approach to Totteridge Lane.

Highways.Correspondence@barnet.gov.uk

5

Swan Lane N20

Submitted by Ms Ward

Ward – Totteridge

Along with other residents we are tired of asking for a number of problems in the area to be rectified. We find either that no action has been taken or that any action taken has not remedied the problem.

1. At a previous area forum held in Barnet House the request was made for a double yellow line to be painted from the end of the yellow ziz zags outside the school gates to the end of the nursery school grounds. Swan Lane is very narrow and when cars are parked both sides of the road, as they are when it is at the beginning and end of the school day, it is impossible for anything larger than a small car to get down the road – eg ambulance, fire engine etc. As it is a cul de sac there is no other way in to the properties in the road. At the Forum we were told that subject to certain things eg putting a notice in the London Gazette etc there should be no problems granting this. We were told that this work would be completed in the financial year 214/15.  We have heard nothing further.

Sue Ward

The Council receives many requests for yellow lines and other minor parking changes from local residents and other road users.  For all the requests which remain unresolved, it is expected that an exercise where the requests are assessed and then prioritised will take place before the end of the financial year with a view to progressing all those schemes which are considered appropriate in future work programmes – where a statutory consultation will take place, the proposal will be advertised in the local Press and London Gazette.

The request for yellow lines on Swan Lane will be assessed in this way, although it should be noted that yellow lines do not prohibit boarding and alighting from vehicles from taking place.

Highways.Correspondence@barnet.gov.uk

11.

Parking at the junction of Holden Road and Station Approach N12 7EG

Submitted by - Steve Hyman

Ward – Totteridge

I have for some time now been concerned about the cars which have been parking at the junction of Holden Road and Station Approach N12 7EG

There have been a number of instances where large mini cabs park on or even over the corner of this junction which makes it almost impossible to see oncoming vehicles.

There are single yellow lines currently and I would like to request that these are converted to double yellow before somebody is involved in a serious if not fatal accident.

I have noticed that these vehicles are frequently parked around 08:00 but they park there at random times throughout the day.

I do not believe they are part of Abetta Car Service but I do not know who they are serving. 

They appear totally oblivious to the problems they are causing 

I have enclosed some photographs to demonstrate my concerns

I hope something can be done to improve this situation

Steve Hyman

The Council receives many requests for yellow lines and other minor parking changes from local residents and other road users.  For all the requests which remain unresolved, it is expected that an exercise where the requests are assessed and then prioritised will take place before the end of the financial year will take place, with a view to progressing all those schemes which are considered appropriate to progress in future work programmes.

The request for double yellow lines at the junction of Holden Road and Station Approach will be assessed in this way.

It is envisaged that any proposal which results from this process will be subject to a statutory consultation early in the next financial year.

Highways.Correspondence@barnet.gov.uk