PRIMARY SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT – LAMBETH FINALLY TAKE ACTION (after a Southwark councillor intervenes)
Lambeth have finally taken action over problems being caused by heavy lorries in the Gipsy Hill area – after they were contacted by a SOUTHWARK councillor.
Cllr Andy Simmons (Lab) who represents neighbouring College ward, told News From Crystal Palace: “I followed up on this after spotting problems myself and receiving feedback from residents.”
In a briefing note following several complaints concerning the delivery of modules to the Paxton primary school redevelopment site on Monday 21 March Lambeth council say:
24 hour, 7 day a week parking restrictions
These have been agreed to by our Highways Department following an application from the contractor. As already notified to residents, the movement of unusually large loads will be completed by 8 April 2016 however other deliveries will be made to the site after that date until completion of the works on 2 September 2016. Consequently, our Highways Department have agreed that the restrictions will remain in place until 2 September to facilitate the timely completion of the works.
Where as we appreciate that construction does not take place 24 hours a day, the restriction is designed to ensure that vehicles are not parked on the access route at any time and so will not require removal if they are inadvertently left there during the hours when the restrictions would otherwise apply; ie when the site is open.
Temporary removal of bell bollards on Gipsy Hill
Three bell bollards have been temporarily removed and will be reinstated on completion of the works. During periods when contractor’s vehicles are either turning into Woodland Road from Gipsy Hill or turning into Gipsy Hill from Cawnpore Street a traffic marshall is present at each location to ensure the safety of pedestrians and to guide vehicles through these particularly tight junctions. Temporary double yellow lines have been placed on Gipsy Hill opposite the end of Cawnpore Street to create additional space for vehicles to turn into Gipsy Hill. These will be removed on completion of the works.
Increased damage to footways
A schedule of condition (including photographic record) of surrounding roads, footpaths and street features was made before any works commenced at the site. Any identified damage caused by the contractor will be repaired.
Construction Logistics Plan
A Plan has been prepared by our contractor and submitted to our Planning Department on 9 January 2016. Approval is currently awaited and should be forthcoming shortly.
Use of Wiseman Court Car Parks
Our contractor has agreed with the management committee of Wiseman Court that some of his vehicles may be parked in its car park but acknowledges that these should be kept to a minimum so there is space in the car park for the residents of Woodland Road.
In future, all sub-contractors will be directed to park away from the site when they have dropped off labour, materials and tools etc.
Sub-contractors vehicles parking on double yellow lines
Our contractor will instruct all sub-contractors to refrain from parking on double yellow lines and any vehicle caught so doing will be subject to the same sanction as any other vehicle not complying with local traffic by-laws. Our contractor has also confirmed that sub contractors will be made aware of alternative area’s for parking in the vicinity, and will be again instructed not to park illegally at both pre-start meetings and at site inductions.
As part of the project’s consultation strategy, and in response to complaints submitted. All local residents will receive a project update which will highlight to steps which have been taken to mitigate the concerns raised by some residents.
We acknowledge that there is some disruption associated with the redevelopment of Paxton Primary School being caused to local residents however Lambeth Council is obliged to undertake this development to fulfil its obligation to provide an adequate number of primary school places in the Borough. Furthermore, our contractor is complying with all of the requirements of our various departments whilst constructing the new school.
Following an email received from a local resident, and the necessary investigation which subsequently took place into the health and safety practices of our principal contractor– Extraspace Solutions, Extraspace have already made improvements by increasing the number of traffic marshals, and have also instructed sub-contractors not to park in the much needed car park spaces whilst the parking restrictions are in place.
Further actions are being developed to ensure that we mitigate areas of concerns by responding to each and every point raised. A subsequent update will be communicated to all local residents shortly.
See: GIPSY HILL BUSINESSES LOSING TRADE – Extra parking restrictions introduced with school building works. May 03, 2016
