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. 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.
In the meantime, residents say their once-quiet village has become a rat run for speeding lorries, buses, and cars. Local roads are now so busy that people describe the traffic as constant, with some families fearing for their safety while walking to school.
Pete Pattinson, who’s lived in Beddington for 34 years, says the area has completely changed. “It never used to be like this when we first moved here,” he said. “You used to see a car every ten minutes.”
Most of the houses along Hilliers Lane are within the Beddington Conservation Area, a lush environment surrounding the River Wandle. Birdsong and wildlife can be found in abundance just moments away from the road.
However, Pattinson now says the road is blighted by a daily stream of cement mixers, buses, and haulage trucks. “The only peaceful days you get are Easter Sunday and Christmas Day,” he added.
Beddington Industrial Area, which shares the road, is home to the Viridor Incinerator, three bus garages and the large Asda store. The HGV ban would have barred most HGVs from passing on Hilliers Lane, at the bottom of Beddington Lane.
Residents are also frustrated that Sutton spent money installing cameras to monitor traffic, but has yet to install cameras to enforce the ban or 20mph speed limit. The cameras are still up along the road, but no longer in use.
“They do hammer up and down here, because there’s no speed cameras and the police don’t seem to enforce it,” Pattinson added.
Cllr Foster also criticised the removal of safer pedestrian crossings used by families heading to Beddington Primary School. “There was a traffic light-controlled crossing at Guy and Derry Road,” he said. “They removed these and replaced them with three ordinary zebra crossings.”
Residents say the area has become dangerous due to speeding vehicles and the lack of enforcement of the 20mph speed limit. Pattinson said drivers often fail to stop at the Zebra crossings.
On a visit to the area, one parent told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that the force of the lorries driving past has made her buggy shake on several occasions. Foster also recalled a serious accident within the last 18 months when a driver lost control and wiped out a row of bollards near the village hall, luckily, no one was injured.
According to Foster, traffic has also worsened in the absence of a ban. The concentration of HGV traffic near the junction with the A232 means car drivers use the side streets as rat runs.
He told the LDRS: “If you stood for a couple of hours and actually did a count on the number of HGVS, it is horrendous. Worst of all are the cement lorries with the aggregate on the back, because they go up Hilliers Lane and all of the aggregate comes spilling out the back.”
The lack of action on the lorry ban, some believe, stems from disjointed planning and poor coordination between departments and boroughs. “If there were going to be difficulties, they should have addressed them at the start,” said Foster. “It hasn’t been handled very well.”
On top of planning failures, road works have also caused problems. During construction, gas mains were damaged and halted due to high-voltage power lines being laid too close, forcing repeated delays.
Foster raised concerns over delays to Sutton’s Lib Dem council during a meeting on Monday. Chair of the Housing, Economy and Business Committee Jake Short revealed that communication would soon resume with Croydon with the hope of finally resolving the impasse.
Officials have resubmitted traffic data showing the HGV ban would not cause significant disruption on neighbouring roads. When asked by fellow Lib Dem councillor Muhammad Sadiq: “How frustrating is it that Croydon’s failing Conservative council are refusing to cooperate on this matter?”
Councillor Short chose a diplomatic response, spreading responsibility for the delay between Croydon Labour as well as the current Conservative Council. He said: “It is disappointing that colleagues across both parties are refusing to engage. It depends on both of those parties getting their act together.”
But for the people of Beddington, patience is wearing thin. “Of all the priorities, where do the people of Beddington go?” asked Foster. “The people of Beddington come over in a very poor last place.”
A spokesperson for the London Borough of Sutton said: “We are working hard to bring the HGV ban on Hilliers Lane, Beddington, into force. Like the residents of Beddington, we are frustrated with the time it has taken to bring in the HGV ban.
“We have provided all the necessary evidence to Croydon Council, who currently object to the ban, that it will have no significant impact on the neighbouring road network. A response from Croydon Council is expected soon and, subject to their removal of their objection (to Purley Way), the HGV ban will be progressed as quickly as possible.”
Croydon Council was approached for comment but failed to respond in time for publication.
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