Battle on for alternative traffic-calming measures

The chicane, in Kings Road, Mitcham, was introduced to slow traffic down but people living close by say it is either ignored or has the opposite effect with motorists tempted by the artificial barrier to speed up.

But despite meetings with council officials and an appeal last year to the then environmental services cabinet member Councillor Andrew Judge, nothing has changed.

Merton says the cost of providing speed-reduction tables would be prohibitive, given the results of a speed survey showing the chicane to be effective. It added access for emergency service vehicles would be hampered by road humps or tables.

Marie Anne Combe has had to pay the price of parking her car near the chicane. She has just lost the no claims bonus on her insurance after a driver smashed into the stationary vehicle, causing more than £1,000 worth of damage.

Miss Combe said: People drive too fast through the chicane. You can hear the cars with their tyres screeching on the bend.

She said neighbours were desperate to get something done and would be asking Mitcham and Morden MP Siobhain McDonagh for help.

Resident Edward Locke said the chicane was useless and had taken parking spaces away.

Gertrude Hickey, 76, who was born in Kings Road, said the road was too small to support the chicane and ambulances caused huge hold-ups by having to park where nothing could pass them.

But a council spokesman said: Chicanes were used as a traffic calming measure on Kings Road, as speed bumps slow down emergency services response times. A speed survey has been carried out since the chicanes were installed and average traffic speeds have reduced to 22mph.

Our officers visited Mr Locke, who asked for one chicane to be removed. We looked into the cost of replacing the chicane with a speed table which came to £15,000.

The councils resources are limited, but we will monitor and keep the situation under review, taking appropriate measures if required.