Today’s damaged junction box (brought to you by Virgin Media) is on Dorville Road, by the junction with Leyland Road.
As you can see, this junction box’s door isn’t just open - it’s not even attached to the box any more.
As I wrote yesterday, if you know of any other damaged boxes in Lee Green, do bring them to my attention using the comments facility or by emailing me direct.
Today I’ve written to Virgin Media’s head office demanding that they take action on the number of their junction boxes within Lee Green Ward which have been neglected and are open to the elements. Just in the course of walking round the ward this weekend I’ve discovered five such boxes - and I didn’t go out of my way to look for them.I think these boxes with exposed wires, some of which apparently carry a 230 volt charge, are are an accident waiting to happen in an area with such a lot of family housing. They also make the whole area look uncared for, and I guess if they were tampered with they could interupt residents’ cable telephone, TV and internet connections.
These cabinets are Virgin Media’s responsibility. Hundreds of residents in Lee Green ward pay Virgin Media to provide services to them, and it’s time for Virgin to get their act together.
The one pictured is on Kellerton Road, near the junction with Manor Lane Terrace. As you can see from the label, this one has a 230 volt live charge.
Do you know of an open Virgin Media junction box in Lee Green? If so, let me know and I’ll get onto it. Use the comments box below or drop me a line.
I’ve pasted the update we got on 20mph zones and humps below. The status of the consultation that occurred over the summer does seem to be a bit unclear, and Paul’s got a number of questions down for the next Full Council meeting on the 29th to try and get to the bottom of this. The ball does seem to be in the Council’s court on the Manor Lane Terrace issue, and I’ll let you when I hear more on that.
“For a number of years the borough has had an extensive programme of area traffic calming in the form of a 20mph zone programme. The criteria used to develop the revenue programme take into account accidents, rat running, traffic volume and speed, parking problems, traffic intrusion and community use. In the last 4 years the council has received funding from Transport for London for 20mph zones, with the emphasis on causality reductions. We are now approaching a stage where there are few areas in the borough where accident rates are sufficiently high for the Council to be able to design a scheme where the required levels of accident reduction can be achieved. It is unlikely that TfL will be able to fund further 20 mph zones in the borough under current funding criteria.
Where funding is available existing 20mph zones are reviewed and any necessary physical works implemented. The original 20mph zone in Manor Lee was introduced in 2001, with limited traffic calming in the south of the area.. Last year the council reviewed the Manor Lee 20 mph zone and as a result introduced speed reducing features in the eastern part of the zone in Handen Road, Micheldever Road, Taunton road, Effingham road and Southbrook Road. Also Manor Lanes aging humps were reformed to cycle friendly profiles, which have a shallower rise.
It is a legal requirement [stated in the Traffic Signs and Regulations and General Directions 2002 (TSRGD)] that all 20 mph zones must have self enforcing traffic calming features at regular intervals. The Metropolitan Police have advised that they do not have sufficient resources to effectively police the speed limit within 20mph zones. It was felt that, given this advice, it was important that each street within 20mph zones , conforms with the TSRGD and has effective self enforcing features.
A leaflet was sent out to residents in July outlining the Councils proposals to install road humps or speed cushions in roads which up until that point did not have traffic calming, and thus make the 20mph limit self enforcing within the regulations. The purpose of the measures is to make the zone legal. This was explained in the leaflet, and the purpose of the consultation was not a vote for or against , but to gauge the public reaction to the proposals .The leaflet explained that works were programmed to be implemented in August and September. Implementation of the scheme is now taking place in Chalcroft, Fernbrook. Kellerton, Leahurst, parts of Manor Lane, Pascoe and Thornwood Roads.
As a result of the consultation , a petition was received from Manor Lane Terrace and some objection letters received from Manor Lane Terrace, Abernethy and Lochaber Roads .
The petition is being considered by the Council. If Manor Lane Terrace were to be excluded from the Zone it would be necessary to review the zone boundary in the north and possibly exclude a number of other roads from the 20 mph zone . Four new entry points would be required to the revised zone at the following junctions; Northbrook Rd/Manor Park, Manor Lane Terrace/Kellerton Rd ,Manor Lane Terrace/Manor Lane and Hedgely St/Taunton Road. Roads that would be excluded from this revised zone would include; Northbrook, Manor Lane Terrace, Murillo, Rembrandt, Abernethy, Lochaber, Old, Bankwell, Aislibie, Lenham, Lampmead, Brightfield and Hedgely Street .”
I chaired Lee Green’s second local assembly meeting last night at Lochaber Hall. There was another great turn-out - I reckon over 100 people attended once again.
The issues on the agenda (drawn up by the coordinating group) were:
I’ve already posted today to say that Northbrook should be going to planning on October 2nd. Unfortunately, the Town Hall have ruled that senior Council officers won’t attend the assemblies, so last night we had to make do with written reports rather than speaking to the experts face-to-face. That does, though, mean I can post the reports on Leegate and traffic here so that people who weren’t at the assembly can still read them and see what they think. So I’ll do just that!
Once again, thanks to the Assembly team - particularly Ade and Paul, for making it happen.
If you’ve left Lee Green up Dermody Road and over the railway bridge to Hither Green Lane in recent weeks, you’ve probably seen (or smelled!) the leak that’s been running down the hill from the junction at Courthill Road lately.
The good news is that following pressure from my Lib Dem colleague who represents that side of the railway line, Cllr Andrew Milton, the leak is to be fixed. The bad news is, it’s going to mean closing Hither Green lane between Courthill Road and Ryecroft Road from Tuesday.
Andrew has the details of the closure here. Of course, it’s also going to mean the 181 and 225 bus need re-routing - again, Andrew has the details here.
Residents along Southbrook Road will be aware that Transport for London proposed earlier this year to install fixed stops along their road to serve the 273 route.
Following objections from residents, the plans for Southbrook Road have now been revised. Stops will now be situated outside the Northbrook pub and the small industial estate opposite, with no stops outside residents’ homes. Southbrook Road residents should receive a letter from TfL to this effect in due course.
Unfortunately retaining the hail and ride system is apparently not an option, as this is being removed right across London.
Stops along Fernbrook Road will now be located:
Manor Park will proceed pretty much as planned, with an additional set of stops to be located on Staplehurst Road in the area people use at present to board and alight.
If you’ve ever walked down Southbrook Road, you’ve probably noticed the walls outside the flats at the Burnt Ash Road end. Well, not so much the walls, but the lack of them - as the photo to the right shows.
We’ve made sure Lewisham Homes are aware of the problem - including through a walkabout last year - but due to tight budgets, they’ve been unable to fix them up to now.
However, the launch of Lewisham Homes’ resident-led programme has meant we might be able to secure some funding. There’s half a million pounds up for grabs, and bids for funding will be judged by fellow residents.
Sven and I popped round tonight to chat to residents about making an application. Every resident we spoke to agreed to sign a petition to show their support, and we agreed to sort out the forms to make a bid for the walls to be repaired. We’re also going to expand the bid and ask if Lewisham Homes are prepared to fund entryphones for the front doors to the block.
We want the bid to have the best chance of suceeding, so we need to demonstrate as much support as possible. I’m going to ask the Lee Manor Society and our Safer Neighbourhood Team if they’ll support the application. If you live in the local area and support our bid then do add a comment below and I’ll make sure they’re all passed on to Lewisham Homes.
View the map to see where we've been helping out.
From Leepedia
