The Herne Hill Society blog

Herne Hill junction road closure

Lambeth have announced that they are closing the northbound road under the railway bridge from 10 pm to 6 am for two long weekends – 17 to 21 August, and then 7 to 10 December. In fact, they are taking powers to allow the closure for the full four months, but hopefully this will not happen! This is to enable long overdue repairs to the railway bridge above. Widespread traffic diversions will be in force.

No local consultation was undertaken, but hopefully it has been discussed with London Buses. Back in 2014, Network Rail consulted on a much more disruptive scheme ,which was abandoned when its wider impacts were appreciated. The repair work has been pending since then, and hopefully NR will now have a less obstructive method for the repair.

Bil Harrison

Brockwell Passage

Nearly all the major work on the Junction Project was finished in December 2010 – over two years ago! The results of the Regeneration Project have been widely welcomed and have significantly enhanced the area. But there remains one important thing to be done: widening and upgrading Brockwell Passage.

This is the important and potentially very useful pedestrian route between Railton Road (opposite the station) and Dulwich Road. It has taken a long time because, to widen the passage, it has been necessary for Lambeth to buy a strip of land, about 1.5 metres wide, from the freeholders. The approval of leaseholders for the consequential rebuild of part of their properties was also needed.

Below is a plan of the current layout of Brockwell Passage, with its rather unpleasant blind corner that is not improved by its use as an outdoor urinal.

Upgrading and widening the passage was supposed to have been completed by autumn 2011. Very disappointingly, however, nothing has so far been done on the ground. The plans for Brockwell Passage were designed to significantly improve what is a very unprepossessing alleyway. They would also enhance access between the station and the buses in Dulwich Road, increase footfall to the benefit of Dulwich Road shops and provide a potential space for expanding the very successful Sunday markets in Railton Road.

We have many times raised this issue with Lambeth Highways only to receive the same response: i.e. that the issue is still with the lawyers. We have never had a satisfactory explanation as to why it is taking so long to resolve outstanding issues – or even what those issues are. We have made a number of requests for a Project Board meeting where we could clarify the situation, requests that have met with silence from Lambeth. Meanwhile… nothing is happening.

Come on Lambeth, do get your finger out!!!!!

Herne Hill Market

The first Herne Hill Market will open on Sunday 1 July from 10:00am to 4:00pm in the 'station square' at the end of Railton Road. The Market is an initiative from the Herne Hill Forum involving local residents, traders and Lambeth Council.
There will be over 30 stalls selling food and crafts made, grown or reared within 100 miles of Herne Hill. There will also be music and children’s entertainment as well as the launch of a Shop Local Card.

Pedestrian lights on the main roads

Since the main part of the Herne Hill regeneration scheme was completed over a year ago (we're still waiting to hear from Lambeth when work will start on upgrading Brockwell Passage), we've been receiving a lot of complaints about the phasing of the pedestrian lights for crossing Dulwich and Norwood Roads.  

For long periods during the cycle these show red for pedestrians who have to wait unnecessarily for the 'Green Man when there is obviously no danger from vehicles who are also stopped at the red. This has been raised many times with both Lambeth and Transport for London (TfL).  

At last, thanks to help from Councillor Carol Boucher (Herne Hill Ward) and our GLA member, Val Shawcross, we have learned that, on Monday 19 March TfL at last introduced revised signal phasing.  This should, hopefully, improve the situation for pedestrians.

We welcome feedback from anyone using the junction; and in particular views on whether the changes have brought about any improvements for pedestrians.

Regeneration Project Short Listed for Award

The Herne Hill Town Centre Regeneration Project has recently been short-listed for a London Transport Award, in the category “Excellence in Walking and Public Realm”. The winners will be announced on 28 April, at an event to be held at the Novotel London West.

The London Transport Awards are about recognising excellence in transport, rewarding innovation and progress for transport initiatives which are really working. The Awards aim to showcase new ideas, rewarding London Boroughs, companies and organisations that have made a real difference to London. The Judging Panel will be looking for clear evidence that the approaches adopted are reaping results and the positive effect that this is having on transport users in the Capital.

More about the Junction scheme on our website

Fayre / Inauguration of the Junction #3

Thanks to all the traders, stall-holders and visitors who turned out to support our first Christmas Fayre.

Clockwise from top left:

• Goatwoman greets relatives from Vauxhall
• Community policing - caption this if you dare
• Northern troubadour outside Herne Hill Books
• Elly 'La Roux' Jackson turns on the illuminations at 4 pm

Not the best of weather, but a well attended event and a resounding success. We signed up 20 new members and sold lots of books (though we couldn't persuade Will Self to part with his money).

We must do this again!