27 October - Lucky it is half-term
No time for webcast reviews today because I had to drive to Bromley and back
- twice. Just over ten miles each way at half term. How difficult can that be?
In 2009 I thought Andrew Bashford should be sacked for telling me blatant lies
about his road designs. How naive I was. I didnְ’t fully appreciate that lying
was what Councils do and if individuals are good enough at it, they deserve promotion. Mr. Bashford is now Head of Highways.
I do not know to what extent he is directly responsible for today’s chaos, the utility companies can be a law unto themselves.
My journey started with a long wait at the top of New Road as a constant stream
of traffic turned in front of me headed for Abbey Wood station. Brampton Road was closed and the
diversionary route via Pickford Lane and Crook Log had a very large hole in it with one-way lights.
Not to mention two Yellow Money Boxes.
Penhill Road was partially blocked by six large construction vehicles and a
digger while work proceeded on a side road. No lights; drivers had to fend for themselves.
I had forgotten that Sidcup High Street is closed for two weeks from today and
the awkwardly angled unnecessary width restrictor in The Green is close to
impassable in my six feet plus wide car. I never use it and have seven year old unscraped alloys
to prove it. Fortunately I was there just before 8 a.m. and the High Street
barriers were not yet in place. I went through unimpeded.
On the return leg, with the High Street closed there were six buses queued at the Eastern end
apparently not knowing where to go. There is no way they can get through the
ridiculous width restrictor. How do bus drivers remain sane in Bexley?
On the second trip Brampton Road, Crook Log and Penhill Road were still all
obstructed as one might expect but I remembered the Sidcup closure and diverted
via Station Road. Guess what? There was a big hole in that too and more one-way lights.
The ‘StoryTeller’ lights let through two cars and a bus before I was stopped again.
In Bromley borough there were no problems at all. Lucky for them that Bashford’s
jurisdiction does not extend South of the A20.
Just to add to the woes there is a notice at the Northern end of Brampton
Road to say that it will be closed for four weeks beginning 10th November.