Transport for London is facing demands for “immediate” safety improvements near Battersea bridge amid fears that a lack of action will lead to more deaths and serious injuries.
Five residents’ groups have highlighted concerns after a woman cyclist in her 30s suffered “life-changing injuries” in a HGV crash last month - on the first anniversary of the death of Jack Ryan, 29, who was hit by a southbound car as he tried to jog across the bridge.
TfL installed a pedestrian crossing on the north side of the bridge last December, in response to a public campaign following Mr Ryan’s death, but there is no protection for pedestrians or cyclists on the three other “arms” of the junction.
TfL says a comprehensive redesign of the area is needed that takes into account the number of cyclists riding through the junction - more than 4,500 on weekdays and 6,000 a day at weekends - and the high number of cycle casualties.
There is only a chance that consultation will begin later this year - and any work is dependent on TfL securing long-term investment funding from the Government.
A total of 72 people, including 31 cyclists, were injured in 63 collisions attended by emergency services in the five years to December 2020, according to independent research commissioned by the residents’ groups.
It said Mr Ryan’s death was “not an isolated incident... but one of frequent collisions witnessed by local residents”.
It added: “Local residents are therefore deeply concerned that fatalities and serious injuries will continue to occur at the Junction in the absence of adequate interventions.
“The junction performs extremely poorly with on average of over 12 injury collisions recorded each year of which on average two are killed or seriously injured (KSI) collisions.”
There had been one fatality prior to Mr Ryan’s death - a motorcyclist killed in collision with a car in October 2017.
The cyclist, who has not been named, was riding west on Chelsea Embankment and is believed to have been hit by the HGV as it turned left onto the bridge.
In a letter to TfL, the Chelsea Society, Cheyne Walk Trust, Christchurch Area Residents Association, Lots Village Chelsea and Royal Avenue Residents Association said the collision rate was twice as high as nearby junctions.
They also published a video showing the amount of traffic in the area – 58,000 vehicles pass through the junction each day – and the difficulty this presents for residents in trying to cross the road.
“We urge you to take immediate action to introduce pedestrian crossings to protect pedestrians and cyclists from the long-standing dangers at this junction,” they wrote.
TfL’s changes last December included a reduction in the speed limit on the Chelsea Embankment from 30mph to 20mph and the existing banned right turn from Cheyne Walk to Battersea Bridge Road being enforced 24 hours a day.
TfL said it had reduced danger at 43 junctions across London as part of its Safer Junctions programme.
Penny Rees, TfL’s head of healthy streets, said: “We are finalising designs for the next phase of improvements here, including new pedestrian crossings and improvements for people cycling.
“A consultation on these changes could be held later this year, subject to TfL securing a long-term funding deal from the Department for Transport.”
Cllr Johnny Thalassites, lead member for planning, place and environment at Kensington and Chelsea council, said: “We hope TfL will progress urgently to ensure the safety of everyone using the road and junction at Battersea Bridge.
“We are fully behind residents, whose tireless campaigning influenced TfL’s work last year to install a new pedestrian crossing on the north side of the bridge, and introduce a 20mph speed limit on Chelsea Embankment.”
