‘They’re going to trample over us’: Community locks horns with council over ‘dramatic’ changes to street

A community has locked horns with its council over plans which they say will see shops forced to close and vulnerable residents left disadvantaged.

Lambeth council has been working on plans for “public realm improvements” in Amesbury Avenue as part of the Streatham Hill LTN scheme.

But two weeks ago, their efforts to begin works were blocked by residents who cornered off the road with cars and children holding banners and placards.

Tony McDermott, 62, who has lived in Amesbury Avenue for the past 40 years, said: “Councillors are here to help us as a community, but they don’t listen.

“We would love improvements, we want the area to be painted and done up and more street lighting to make women feel safer. Not a box ticking scheme that will ruin the wonderful community we have here.”

A spokesman said the Lambeth council has “engaged with residents” for the past five years about investing in the “neglected shopping parade” to make it “a better place to spend time and do business”.

According to plans, the avenue will be upgraded with widened footways, new pedestrian crossings, a bike hangar, six cycle stands and permanent traffic filters in a bid to reduce cars in the area and make streets safer and more accessible for walking and cycling.

Plans will also see the removal of parking bays from the street with businesses loading bays restricted to 30 minutes.

Businesses, including Stockwell Care and a Londis corner shop, have said they will need at least a two hour limit on their loading bays for deliveries.

Mr McDermott said: “Shops wont be able to function with restricted loading times and they will be forced to close.

“Elderly and vulnerable residents rely on these shops, they will suffer if this goes ahead.

“Businesses are already losing profits because of the LTN.”

Mr McDermott, who is a tradesman living above a shop, said parking restrictions will also affect residents like him.

He said: “If they take our parking we are left with our vans out of sight to get broken into – and that happens every 12 minutes of the day.

“They have given no thought to this to the community. They haven’t engaged with us at all.

“It’s like we’e a bit of dirt and they’re going to trample over us.”

Quentin Wright, 58, who has lived at the top of Amesbury avenue for 30 years, said the changes will affect the community “dramatically”.

He said: “There are charities and nonprofits here. Once the shops have gone you might get offices but not key services.

“It’s become a very quiet area because of the LTN and now the council is imposing a high street scheme on a residential area.

“We want improvements but not with such a badly planned design. They’re spending £650,000 on this – it’s a waste of public money.”

The community has set up a petition against the proposals which has received around 700 signatures, as well as drafting an alternative plan including more street lighting and CCTV cameras to improve safety.

Mr Wright said: “You’re seeing it all across South London at the moment, councils seem to be able to railroad schemes through with very little consideration about how it affects residents.”

A Lambeth council spokesman said the community was “rightly passionate” about their neighbourhood.

But he said: “Our proposals both align with our strategic priorities and people’s feedback.

“There has been a huge amount of work completed to engage the community in the design of the scheme and we are confident that a positive outcome that delivers for the area will be the end result.”

Pictured top: Tony McDermott outside his flat in Amesbury Avenue, with a banner reading “save our community” (Picture: Quentin Wright)