A project has been launched to encourage considerate cycling in the borough. Whilst we are all keen to increase the number of people cycling, with both environmental and health benefits, there is a common concern that a minority of cyclists show little or no consideration for pedestrians – cycling too fast in Lambeth’s parks and green spaces such as the cycleway on Clapham Common.

This project has been developed by Lambeth Sustainable Transport, police officers from local safer neighbourhood teams, local councillors and Lambeth Cyclists.

The project aims to highlight that pedestrians have priority but that considerate cycling is permitted. This summer and autumn have seen ‘Chill In The Park’, where cyclists are leafleted by the Sustainable Transport team and Lambeth Cyclists at Doctor Bike and Winter Wheelin’ sessions. This project to encourage enjoyable but considerate cycling has generally been very well received.

We shall update this story as the project develops.

People wanting to give information to the Police, who are concerned about talking to them directly and want to remain anonymous , can now use a ‘Met Box’ which has been placed near the till points in Sainsburys Clapham.

The box can also be used to communicate with your local safer neighbourhood teams views on local issues that you believe the police should focus on.

This is a great initiative, even if the box does not get a great deal of use it helps raise awareness of the local safer neighbourhood teams who are doing excellent work in Clapham.

Clapham Town Safer Neighbourhood Team can be reached at ClaphamTown.snt@met.police.uk or by calling 020 8721 2825.

We met at the town centre office in Bromells Road to consider ongoing traffic issues affecting those living in North Street. Much has been achieved in last year thanks to the hard work and determination of local residents and Hayden Tuck from Lambeth councils transport department, who has listened to the concerns of local people and worked to deliver solutions. This included a speed sign alerting speeding traffic and a re-positioning of parking spaces to reduce traffic speed making the street a little safer.

There is still a lot of work to do here, whilst many just see North Street as a through road for those living there the constant roar of heavy vehicles (which often sounds as if they are going to land in your living room). There is now an enforceable weight limit on the street and regular visits by the CCTV camera are ensuring that these vehicles are discouraged from using the road illegally.

The main issue discussed tonight was traffic congestion close to the junction with Wandsworth Road. As the video below shows at the weekend the back up of traffic is quite simply a nightmare for local residents kept awake by traffic noise. Whilst some residents want extra yellow lines installed others are concerned that the resultant displacement of parked cars will cause problems in the side streets from North Street. It was agreed to look at a partial area of yellow lines which will need to be consulted locally. Unfortunately with statutory requirements to be adhered to there is no quick fix however this is a step in the right direction.

Nicola Duffy from the local safer neighborhood team joined us to hear about issues of noise caused by visitors to local drinking houses each weekend. It was really useful to have her there so that she could hear first hand about that issue along with the other problems affecting people in the area.