'The only peaceful days you get are Easter Sunday and Christmas Day'

FRUSTRATED RESIDENTS ARE STILL WAITING FOR A BAN ON HEAVY GOODS VEHICLES FIVE YEARS AFTER IT WAS PROPOSED

- By HARRISON GALLIVEN Local democracy reporter

RESIDENTS of Beddington are growing frustrated after waiting more than five years for a promised ban on heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) on their narrow residential roads.

Despite years of planning, meetings, and community pressure, the proposed ban remains stuck in limbo due to political wrangling between Sutton and Croydon councils.

The HGV ban formed part of the 2019 Beddington Lane Improvement Scheme, a project led by Sutton Council and Transport for London (TfL) to slow traffic, improve air quality, and make roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

Narrower lanes, 20mph limits, and new crossings were introduced, but the vital lorry restriction was never implemented.

Independent Councillor Tim Foster says residents have waited long enough.

"It's now gone on longer than the Second World War," he said, adding that the implementation of the plan has been bogged down in politics.

Neighbouring Croydon Council objected to the traffic management order (TMO) when it was first proposed, as they feared displaced lorry traffic would end up on the already busy Purley Way. According to Foster, Croydon were also concerned about traffic congestion around their Purley Way housing developments near the other end of Beddington Lane.

However, data gathered by TfL and Sutton Council shows that Purley Way could absorb more traffic without a major impact.

Cllr Foster added: "TfL were looking at the proposals and said Purley Way could take another couple of thousand vehicle movements a day."

However, any hope of progress was dashed with the arrival of Covid.

Communication between Sutton and Croydon temporarily ceased, and with a number of changes to personnel in Croydon Council, plans for the HGV ban were put on hold.