FURIOUS Lewisham residents are fed up with living on a road dubbed “Britain’s most dangerous,” after years of accidents, traffic and pollution.
Locals in Verdant Lane, Catford, say their road is like a scene from “Mad Max” with crashes occurring on a weekly basis.
Locals say it can take up to six minutes to cross the road safely[/caption]
A frustrated group of neighbours have reportedly been working hard to put pressure on Lewisham Council to bring in traffic calming measures, but say nothing has been done.
William Bloomfield, 37, is a filmmaker who has lived on Verdant Lane for over five years with his wife and toddler, and likened the road to the popular action series.
He said: “We are having at least one crash a week – if not more.
“It is terrifying. You get cars blasting down at 60mph.
“It often makes Verdant Lane feel more like a scene from Mad Max than a residential road filled with families and young children.”
William worries about the damage the pollution may have on his son’s health[/caption]
According to residents, the southeast London residential street is surrounded by busy A roads meaning drivers regularly use it as a shortcut.
This has left locals fed up after years of accidents, traffic pollution you can “taste”, and a lack of safe places to cross.
William added: “We are just getting nowhere with the council. There isn’t the support that we need.
“We have been talking to them for a year now and nothing has happened.”
As well as the regular crashes and residents’ safety concerns, William also worries about the large amount of pollution caused.
He said: “The risk to health and life is quite severe. The pollution is so bad. I have a toddler who is coughing constantly.”
In a bid to help this problem, the Together for Verdant Lane group raised thousands of pounds to plant some trees along the pavements.
However, William claims they were denied permission to plant them as cars “might crash into them.”
He said: “It’s a dangerous situation.
“It is quite scary to live here sometimes.”
Locals say that the constant traffic causes road rage among drivers[/caption]
Gary and his family are considering leaving the area if action isn’t taken[/caption]
Another fed up resident, Gary Nolan, 37, said: “There are serious accidents on a regular basis.
“It is a weekly occurrence to see some sort of incident.
“It is frustrating that we are not seeing any action.”
Gary has lived on the road for over three years and said the problems are especially frustrating at this time of year as he can’t open his windows without letting in the pollution.
A freedom of information request submitted by residents revealed that there were as shocking 74 reported crashes on Verdant Lane in the span of just five years, between 2019-2024.
This is over three times that of surrounding roads.
Lewisham council have reportedly told locals that responsibility for the junction lies with TfL, who residents claim have also done nothing.
Gary, who works in a bank, said: “To me it seems like TfL have lost control of the junction and we aren’t seeing any proposals from them on how to overcome the problem.
“I am an able-bodied middle-aged man and even I feel vulnerable here.
“If I was slightly older or had children, I would have to avoid the junction at all costs.”
He fearfully added: “It is only a matter of time before there is a major incident where someone is significantly injured.”
Gary is at his wits-end as he went on to explain that the pollution is so bad that layers of black dust form on his windows.
He said: “If we don’t see an improvement then we will have to consider leaving the area.”
Gary’s partner, Aine Walsh, 36, appears equally as disheartened.
The pharmacist said: “You notice the pollution in the house.
“After a couple of days there is a layer of pollution on our door from the traffic.
“Luckily neither of us have asthma but I think if you did or you had kids you would be very worried about breathing that in.”
With regards to the safety of the road, she added: “The main problem is crossing in order to get to the station.
“It can take five or six minutes to cross as there is no pedestrian crossing.
“It is really not safe.”
With the council and TfL failing to take action, Aine “can only see it getting worse.”
In 2013, nine-year-old Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, was the first person in the UK to have air pollution recognised as a factor in her death, and lived nearby.
She died following an asthma attack with an inquest later revealing that pollution from the A205 South Circular Road “made a material contribution” to her tragic death.
Anna Resier, 34, moved to the area with her husband and toddler three years ago.
She expressed her concerns as a mother, saying that she is constantly afraid for her own child.
Anna works as a climate change policy worker, and said: “In the winter my son was quite ill and had a cough and we were worried that we were giving him asthma just by living here.”
The popular shortcut used by drivers has led to countless crashes[/caption]
With incidents happening weekly, residents are desperate for action to be taken[/caption]
Anna reflected on Ella’s passing, adding: “It wasn’t long ago that the first registered death happened from air pollution at the end of the road.
“It is a constant worry. We have had quite serious conversations about moving.
“At peak times you can taste the pollution in the air. It is not a pleasant experience.”
Residents say that despite their road’s coverage in the press which led to it being dubbed “the most dangerous in the UK”, very little action has been taken.
A TfL spokesperson said: “Enabling all Londoners to travel on the transport network safely remains our top priority.
“We take people’s concerns about road safety seriously and always welcome feedback from local residents.
“There are a combination of factors which can cause congestion issues at the A205 junction with Verdant Lane, including a narrowing of the A205 under the railway bridge and the current works at the junction with Baring Road.
“We have recently reviewed the signal timings at this location and will continue to monitor roads in the area to ensure the road network works for all.”
A Lewisham Council spokesperson also said: “We have been working with this group of residents over the past few months, holding regular meetings to discuss the issues they have raised.
“During these meetings, we have also invited representatives from Transport for London (TfL) to hear the concerns first-hand and ensure they are reported for further investigation.
“The junction that has raised the most concern is part of the main road network and therefore falls under TfL’s jurisdiction.
“As such, we will continue to work closely with them moving forward.
“We are currently conducting surveys and traffic counts to assess the number of vehicles using Verdant Lane and their average speeds.
“In addition, we are exploring suitable tree-planting options that will not interfere with existing parking arrangements, dropped kerbs, or underground infrastructure.
“Residents will be kept informed of the outcomes of this work.
“The Council remains committed to working with the community to improve safety, reduce pollution, and enhance the local environment.”
