Action needs to be taken to stop another fatality on the South Circular, according to one Greenwich councillor who fears an accident is “waiting to happen.”

Campaigners desperate for safety measures on a dangerous stretch of the South Circular were told last night the council could ask to install cameras on TfL’s behalf.

A petition with more than 860 signatures called on the council to install cameras between the Woolwich Ferry Roundabout and Grand Depot Road “as a matter of urgency”.

It follows the death of a motorcyclist earlier this year, the latest in a history of fatalities on the carriageway.

Presenting the petition to the council, Dr Jonathan Blower, said: “Would you please consider walking up the hill to the two primary schools there which are very close to each other either adjacent to or very near to the south circular.

“Then take a look at John  Wilson Street. I was there this morning for just over an hour, and despite an unmissable high vis vest I zapped 22 vehicles travelling well above the speed limit of 30 mph, one of them at 48mph. When you consider the proximity of children to that speed, it is a little embarrassing to have such a dangerous road so close to the heart of local government .

“I recently read a speed camera installed generated enough revenue in the first three months to cover the cost of three. The Mayor and TfL have said they are not considering any new cameras – my question is why not?”

TfL controls the road, which figures show had 43 crashes during a 36-month period up to June last year.

Ward cllr John Fahy said: “I find it extraordinary that a public body can have a strategy that depends on how many people are killed, how many are injured, in actual fact we should have a policy on the community.

“The schools there are significant, children cross that road. Are we going to sit back and wait for an accident to happen? We should seriously be campaigning for them to change their policy in the interest of the community.”

Cllr Denise Scott-McDonald, who is the member for transport and the public realm,  said officers were aware of the problems on John Wilson Street, and that the council would push for safety measures.

Member for community safety, cllr Jackie Smith added: “Clearly the situation is really bad. There have been a lot of accidents there, some fatal, near misses. I have had discussions this week about measures we can take.

“One thing I think we could put to TfL is install a camera on their behalf and take the revenue. It’s a really fast road, it causes a lot of problems down by the roundabout with people doing illegal manoeuvres. We need to stop that.”

A meeting is being organised between councillors, officers and TfL to discuss safety measures.

According to the petition report: “TfL wrote to the lead petitioner in January 2018 following a request to them for a speed camera at this location. TfL explained that based on the recent collision history, it would not prioritise a camera in John Wilson Street. There are no current plans to install new safety cameras throughout London due to camera upgrade plans for the existing sites.”