Locals in Catford said the fake camera did slow down traffic
Locals have expressed their frustration after a “brilliant” fake speed camera was swiftly taken down – despite their claims it had helped ease traffic problems on their street.
People living on Sandhurst Road in Catford, South East London, say they experience around four collisions monthly alongside a steady stream of buses that rattle their homes “every three minutes.”
However, following what they describe as insufficient response from the authorities, an unidentified individual chose to address the issue themselves – by erecting a fake speed camera on Monday (November 10). The structure was promptly dismantled though – with video footage capturing a crane removing it on Wednesday morning.
Locals say the mock enforcement of the 20mph limit had begun having an impact, with motorists starting to reduce their speed during the brief period it stood. Numerous members of the Safer Sandhurst & Sangley group and neighbouring Together for Verdant Lane group have applauded the mystery person responsible, hailing them as a community champion.
One resident, who asked not to be named, said: “No idea who made it – but it was pretty convincing. And it really did slow traffic down. The difference was surprising. Sadly, things are back to normal now, and the council is still doing nothing to stop the speeding or pavement parking.”
They added: “The speeding on Sandhurst Road is out of control and for a really brief period it got much calmer. [The council] told us that our chances of getting a real one are basically zilch. I am a cyclist, and my road is the scariest bit of my commute – people treat it like a motorway.”
Freedom of Information (FoI) data suggests there have been over 17,000 incidents of speeding buses in the street since 2021, with some travelling at more than double the speed limit. Transport for London (TfL) also confirmed that there have been 85 crashes involving buses over the last four years – including collisions in neighbouring Sangley Road.
Resident Eddy Scoble, 40, says he thought the camera was genuine and was extremely disappointed when it was removed. He said: “The road was so much quieter, and drivers didn’t overtake me as fast as well. I didn’t realise it was fake.”
William Bloomfield, 37, who has lived on the attached Verdant Lane for over five years with his wife and toddler, previously compared the area to the action series Mad Max.
An FOI request submitted by residents revealed there were 74 reported crashes on Verdant Lane between 2019-2024, which is over three times that of surrounding areas.
William said: “From what I understand someone made a fake speed camera. Whoever has done this is trying to slow the traffic down and this is a problem across Sandhurst and Verdant Lane. I think this is a case of residents taking matters into their own hands and just trying to slow traffic and help everyone stay safe. I think it was a brilliant idea.”
He continued: “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. We are just getting absolutely 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.”
William added: “It is causing a lot of damage too, we have had entire houses destroyed by speeding cars. There have been dozens of our cars that had to be scrapped because they were damaged so bad.”
Lewisham Council said: “We strongly discourage people from putting up fake signs or cameras. Residents who do this run the risk of legal action if these lead to an accident.”
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