Traffic restrictions on Abbey and Pincott Roads

Traffic restrictions on Abbey and Pincott Roads

With very limited notice, Merton Council has introduced road closures to limit traffic between Merantun Way and Merton High Street.

This means there are road closures at the junctions of Pincott Road/High Path and Abbey Road/Station Road.

These closures are enforced by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and fines, although access for the emergency services will not be restricted.

Background

In September 2023, a petition from the majority of households in the Abbey Road area was submitted to the Council, requesting they explore ways to reduce rat-running through local streets. No specific solution was proposed, and the local residents' group suggested a number of potential ways that could be looked at.

Unfortunately there has been no direct contact about the right approach with residents or local councillors, who were given only a few days' notice before the closures were put in place.

We've recently found out the Council measured traffic between 29 November and 5 December 2024.

The new scheme has generated significant discussion and some concern. We have received both positive and negative feedback on the Council's scheme.

Our view

We share a number of the concerns raised with us about the way the scheme is being implemented. We are worried that the proposals are set up to fail because it will be very easy for people to accidentally get fined.

We have raised a number of points with the Council.

• We have asked about exemptions for residents of the affected roads. The Council will not allow exemptions to either of the road closures.
• The signs are too small and difficult to spot, and occasionally confusing given existing width-restriction signs. We have asked for signage to be improved so that fewer people are fined – this is supposed to be about reducing traffic.
• We have called for an urgent meeting with the Labour councillor in charge of transport, especially given it has attracted a small number of demonstrators from outside the area. Due to the insufficient signage and communication we will also ask them not to fine people the first time they go through, but instead warn them.

Give your view

There is a consultation period, which will last from 14 March 2025 to 15 September 2025, although the Council are asking people not to respond until after 14 April.

You can find out more information from the Council and respond to the consultation here: www.merton.gov.uk/lowtraffic

Do tell us your view too

Kind regards

Cllr John Braithwaite, Cllr Klaar Dresselaers and Barry Smith