Residents in Greenwich claim they have to block traffic themselves at a busy junction due to drivers not stopping.

The news comes after two people were hit by motobikes at the crossing in October and January of this year. 

Kate Middleton, a resident of East Greenwich, said she has been complaining to Transport for London and Greenwich Council for over a year about the busy junction.

News Shopper: The crossing on Woolwich Road, described by residents as being too narrow for wheelchair use (photo: Joe Coughlan)The crossing on Woolwich Road, described by residents as being too narrow for wheelchair use (photo: Joe Coughlan) (Image: Joe Coughlan)

She said: “It’s gridlock most of the time. Particularly in the mornings from about four-ish, maybe earlier.”

Kate added that the traffic at the crossroads is part of a wider issue in the area.

She said the crossing at the junction on Trafalgar Road is far too narrow to allow those with mobility issues to cross safely.

Ms Middleton added: “It’s crazy that we are not prioritised in the pecking order. We are right at the bottom as pedestrians, above people trying to use wheelchairs.”

Last Saturday (October 8), a pedestrian believed to be in his 50s was reportedly struck by a motorcycle on Woolwich Road, near where the road meets with Blackwall Lane.

News Shopper: Woolwich Road, one of the main roads at the junction (Credit: Joe Coughlan)Woolwich Road, one of the main roads at the junction (Credit: Joe Coughlan) (Image: Joe Coughlan)

The junction in East Greenwich also meets Vanbrugh Hill and Trafalgar Road.

The collision was not the first to occur in the area. Last January, a motorcyclist reportedly collided with a car on Trafalgar Road at the junction.

Walking through the area every day, Ms Middleton said she sees many more near misses each morning, due to “rat racers” from the south taking detours into the city.

News Shopper: Vanbrugh Hill, which Kate Middleton said sees rat runners driving on the wrong side of the road in the morning (photo: Joe Coughlan)Vanbrugh Hill, which Kate Middleton said sees rat runners driving on the wrong side of the road in the morning (photo: Joe Coughlan) (Image: Joe Coughlan)

She said: “What they do is they come down on the wrong side of the road and put their foot down, race round and then pull past the traffic into the pipeline to pour onto the pedestrian crossing.

"And most of the time, they just completely ignore the red lights because they know there’s no camera on it.”

The resident also said that drivers in the area are frequently aggressive to pedestrians trying to cross, including children.

She said: “Lots of us suffer regular abuse from drivers, particularly women. The last few days I’ve been called all sorts of names because I’ve put my hands up when it’s a red light to stop the traffic.”

Katherine Kennedy, another resident of East Greenwich, said: “Everyone who lives around here knows how bad the junction is, it’s terrible.”

She described the crossing on Trafalgar road as “shocking”, and said: “I would absolutely not let my children cross there on their own. It’s genuinely dangerous.”

Ms Kennedy also said that pedestrians with limited mobility are not prioritised at the junction with the time for residents to cross the road being “dreadfully short”.

She said: “The narrow refuge between [the road and cycle path] is not big enough to allow buggies or wheelchairs to pass.

"Sometimes you can’t get off the road quick enough and have to stand in the road blocking traffic to make sure an elderly person can finish crossing before the traffic starts moving.”

TfL were aproached for comment but said the council were better placed to give a comment.

A Greenwich Council spokesperson said: “The Royal Borough of Greenwich is committed to Vision Zero: for all deaths and serious injuries from road collisions to be eliminated from our streets. 

“We have worked closely with Transport for London (TfL) to request that it make improvements to the Vanbrugh Hill, Trafalgar Road and Blackwall Lane junction, as it controls the signals and is responsible for the design and build of the cycle route which passes through it.  

“Once the cycle route is complete and we have been able to gather reliable traffic data, we will assess if further action is needed to help make the junction safer for everyone.”

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