Verdant Lane Catford residents face 'daily traffic chaos'

In a “weekend of carnage” Verdant Lane saw three significant crashes - starting on Saturday, September 28, when a BMW lost control at the junction with the A205 South Circular Road and crashed into a fireplace shop. 

The following day a Mercedes collided with a bollard on the pavement after illegally cutting through an accessway to avoid Verdant Lane traffic. 

Then, on the Monday, a woman drunkenly crashed a stolen Tesla into the front of a home belonging to an elderly woman who had recently passed away.

The driver has since pleaded guilty to criminal offences.

But residents have told the News Shopper that these crashes are just the tip of the iceberg. 

The crashes all occured on Verdant Lane or as an attempt to avoid Verdant Lane traffic (Image: Together for Verdant Lane) Locals said high volumes of traffic funnelled onto Verdant Lane causes significant queues twice a day, often leading to frustrated drivers driving recklessly.

Gary Nolan, 37, who has lived on the road for three years, said: “It’s only a matter of time before a pedestrian or cyclist is killed given the volume of traffic and reckless driving in the locality. 

“Traffic offences are a daily occurrence and that weekend’s carnage is unsurprising but also unacceptable. The council’s inaction has been tremendously frustrating.” 

William Bloomfield, 36, a Verdant Lane resident of five years, said: “We’re a residential road, classified as a C-road, but we get more traffic than some A-roads. If I need to drive to work I can expect to spend about 25 minutes getting to the end of my road.” 

Residents said huge queues form on Verdant Lane twice a day (Image: Together for Verdant Lane) Residents said there is a feeling of lawlessness, not helped by chaotic junctions such as with the A205 South Circular Road. 

They are calling on Lewisham Council to take action to reduce the traffic volume on Verdant Lane and to improve junction safety. 

Anna Rieser, 33, who moved to Verdant Lane three years ago, said she regularly sees school children involved in near misses as they try to cross the road, which lacks safe crossing points. 

Chaos at the junction with the A205, which causes long traffic jams on Verdant Lane (Image: Together for Verdant Lane) Another issue causing residents concern is the level of pollution. 

William said: “We have a lot of young families living here, I have a young child myself. The sheer amount of pollution you get from the queuing traffic which forms for two hours each day is really concerning.” 

Nine-year-old Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, who was the first person in the UK to have air pollution recognised as a factor in her death, lived nearby. 

In 2013 she died following an asthma attack and an inquest later found pollution from the A205 South Circular Road “made a material contribution” to her death. 

Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, who died in 2013, following a fatal asthma attack and was the first person in the world to have air pollution as a cause of death (Image: Supplied) Anna, who has a one-year old baby, said: “It’s a lovely street and we moved here during Covid when it was quiet. Now I never walk down my own road because I’m worried what that pollution is going to do to young lungs, I go down side streets instead. 

“I know we live in London but this level of pollution isn’t normal, I can literally taste it in the air.” 

Gary said: “I repainted my window seals in August and there’s already a thick layer of dust from engine fumes covering them. Seeing that really makes me worry about what I’m breathing in.” 

A spokesperson for Lewisham Council said: “Lewisham Council is actively working with local community groups to address traffic issues on Verdant Lane. 

“We are conducting traffic surveys to assess vehicle volumes and speeds and are working with TfL to understand their input on potential changes to the road layout at the Verdant Lane junction and A205 South Circular. 

 “Through regular meetings with residents, we are keeping the community informed of our actions and are assessing requests for additional pedestrian crossings in the area. 

“We remain committed to working alongside TfL and the Department of Transport to enhance road safety and raise awareness of driver impairment, especially during peak times.”