The bridge repair works executed so far have been carried out very slowly, with insufficient resources and funds allocated for this emergency. This is having a huge impact on the local residents, with huge travel delays, unreliable public transport, extreme traffic congestion and increased pollution in the area.
The Council's response should include but not be limited to:
1. The Council should hold an emergency meeting to address this matter accordingly, taking into consideration the huge negative impact it has on the local community.
2. A clear programme of works to repair/ replace the bridge should be put together and shared with the local residents as soon as possible. All reports about the bridge repairs should be shared with the public.
3. Alternative transport measures should be setup for the most in need. The current TFL arrangements are insufficient and are causing huge delays and inconvenience to the local residents. A temporary bus route should be open to cover the area directly affected by the bridge closure.
4. Clear measures to address the huge traffic delays created by the closure of the bridge. This should include additional bus services per hour, changing the settings on the local traffic lights in the affected areas, changing road priorities for drivers/ pedestrians, displaying suitable road signs, etc.
5. Periodic update meetings with the local residents should be
scheduled, with appropriate advance notices provided to allow
everyone to attend. The meetings schedule should be made public and
displayed on the information board by the bridge.
This ePetition ran from 24/09/2019 to 16/01/2020 and has now finished.
67 people signed this ePetition.
The council is working hard towards reopening Bishopsford Road Bridge as soon as possible and has been putting measures in place to mitigate the impact on local communities. Newsletters are being circulated each month to more than 3,000 homes and businesses in the local area to keep them up to date with progress, as well as on Merton’s website and via social media. https://www.merton.gov.uk/streets-parking-transport/roadworks/bishopsford-bridge
The next newsletter will contain a programme of work towards reopening the bridge and these newsletters will continue to be produced monthly to keep residents informed on progress. Merton Council has worked with Transport for London to create a dedicated new bus route to serve the local area – route 718 We have also been in touch with local primary and secondary schools to offer additional support and training for road safety.
The footbridge adjacent Bishopsford Road Bridge is open for
pedestrians and cyclists; signs and other measures are in place to
support the traffic diversions and we regularly review the
diversions to ensure they are working properly. We have held
meetings on the roads near the bridge itself and we will continue
to use newsletters, the council’s website and social media to
keep people informed, recognising that people that live locally and
some distance from the bridge are also affected by its closure. We
ask you to bear with us during this disruption and would like to
reassure you we are working hard towards reopening the bridge as
soon as possible.