Several fresh challenges to a ban on cars turning right into Mollison Drive from Stafford Road, Wallington, have been mounted by protesters.

At a meeting last Monday, councillors voted overwhelmingly in favour of the move, which traffic officials claim will reduce accidents at the junction.

But an independent traffic consultant has been hired to challenge the decision by residents of Redford Avenue, Link Lane and other nearby roads.

They claim the ban will send hundreds of cars into residential streets, endangering lives.

They hope the engineer will be given access to data used by the council when surveying the junction in the belief he can find a better solution.

Redford Avenue resident Trevor King said: "The council is very reluctant to give us all its information, but we know solutions other than banning the right turn were considered."

Mr King and other residents claim the move will send up to 140,000 cars a year into surrounding roads.

At Monday's meeting a 267-signature petition opposing the decision was handed to councillors. And residents who attended the meeting have complained that Councillor Ferris Moussa failed to declare a personal interest, that he has friends living in the area, when voting. The council is looking into their complaint.

But the ban is set to go ahead and councillors, including Mr Moussa, have attacked Conservatives for supporting residents' opposition.

He said: "I am appalled at the opportunist behaviour of Tory councillors who are working for their own political benefit and have given no consideration to the accident figures."

The junction is one of the borough's accident blackspots, with 22 in the last three years.

Only four involved cars turning right into Mollison Drive.

January 31, 2003 11:00