Shopping parade access and attempt to stop 'rat run' lead to row


Proposed exit to be closed - Google Streetview

Wandsworth Council has announced to local retailers on the Doverhouse Parade that they have decided to close Doverhouse Road from Putney Heath to the Upper Richmond Road. The road will be closed between 6am – 9am Monday to Saturday as part of a six months trial.

In addition there is a proposal to close the central exit from the parade road to the Upper Richmond Road (pictured above).



The shopkeepers are unimpressed by this decision stating in an email, "The Residents call Doverhouse Road a rat run. We the shop keepers at the bottom of Doverhouse road argue that it is a long straight road for the use of both buses and cars to gain access from Putney Heath to the Upper Richmond Road. Only when cars turn off Doverhouse Road into the side streets would we consider it to be a rat run".

The local residents' association, who support the Council's plan to close Doverhouse Road between 6-9am but are against the plans to change the layout to close the central exit from the parade to the Upper Richmond Road, commented on the forum of this website, "Dover House Estate Resident's Association (DHERA) and Dover House Estate (DHE) residents completely support our local shops, which is why DHERA is objecting to the Council's current plans to change the traffic pattern in front of the shops (close the central exit), which could actually threaten the shops survival by restricting access and causing increased congestion. If it goes ahead, vehicles coming down Dover House road will NOT be able to turn in to the shops and given that all the vehicles will have to exit on to Dover House road it will make it very hard to be able to exit from the shops.  People may just stop visiting the shops if they cannot get in and out easily any more.  That is something the shop keepers should consider. 

"The shops thrived long before the rat running began, and can continue to do so after the restrictions are in place.  Many people visiting the shops, walk there from the Dover House estate and surrounding areas.  The convenience of a few  customers, who have vehicular access from the Upper Richmond Road, cannot justify subjecting local residents to the  continued detrimental effects of rat running".

However residents on the area who are not within the DHERA area believe this will impact their local roads. One such resident posted on the forum, "Dover House residents seem unconcerned that the problem they have will be pushed onto other people living in streets narrower and less capable of coping with traffic than Dover House Road. Of course as a powerful working Residents Association their 'voice' is shouting loudest and will be listened to by WBC so Steffi (Cllr Sutter) is correct saying that other constituents need to make their protests heard too".

Cllr Steffi Sutter responded on the forum that,"DHERA have pushed long and hard for DHS Road to be closed at peak times (and incidentally are now pushing for the same to happen in the evening). There have been two petitions calling for action. We have to take account of these whether we agree or not with their selected solution. But before anything further is even considered we would need to see the outcome (and the outcry) of the morning closure trial".

The Council clarified their position by saying,“Following appeals for action from the Dover House Estate Residents Association (DHERA) and also from people living in the Westmead conservation area, who both presented petitions to the council indicating widespread support for measures to deter rat run traffic from using Dover House Road, the council has drawn up plans for a limited hours pilot scheme to reduce through traffic and improve the daily quality of life for people living in this part of Putney. The scheme, which will be operational for a trial period between 6am and 9am, will be carefully monitored to gauge its effectiveness and its impact on other roads in the area.

“To let local people know this is happening 5,000 homes are about to receive a letter outlining details of this experimental scheme. It will be made clear that if it is found to have a negative impact on the wider area, the scheme may be modified or withdrawn. During this trial period, residents will have the opportunity to raise concerns and if at the end of the pilot period the scheme is judged a success and it’s felt should be made permanent, there will be a statutory consultation offering local people another chance to have their say.

“Quite separate to this, there are plans being currently drawn up to improve the shopping parade at the bottom of Dover House Road. The aim here is to make the parade more attractive to shoppers, increase trade and also improve disabled access to the shops. We are also looking at measures to improve safety at the central junction which has recently seen a number of accidents. These plans have not yet been published but will be in the coming weeks.

“We are aware that some local residents have been given inaccurate and misleading information about what is being proposed and in particular the effect of any changes on the volume of traffic using Dover House Road. When the plans are unveiled they will show, amongst other changes, a proposal for the removal of the central access point and an exit point onto Dover House Road. The council’s highways engineers feel this is a practical solution to safety issues that will not have a significant impact on the volume of traffic travelling through the estate. However, before and after traffic surveys will be undertaken to ensure this is the case. Residents will be given a chance to comment on this and other changes in the coming weeks prior to any decisions being made. Overall we are confident that when the plans are unveiled in due course, local people and businesses, who have already been informally consulted about these plans, will welcome the investment being proposed for this important local shopping parade.”

There is no date set at this point for the start of the six month trial.

January 16, 2019