A present to get the hump about

South London Press

A present to get the hump about

Nov 19 2004
By Greg Truscott

IF YOU can't decide what to buy your loved ones for Christmas, then a local councillor has an idea that's hard to pass over.

This year, why not give that special someone a gift they can marvel at and treasure... a speed hump in the street outside their front door.

Lambeth Liberal Democrat council-lor Marcus Mayers has suggested his council implement a "a sponsor a road hump scheme" where residents fund the installation of speed bumps in their street when the council cannot afford to do so.

The Stockwell councillor's suggestion would see Lambeth's residents who wanted sleeping policemen in their road asked to dip into their wallets to fund the traffic calming measures in addition to paying council tax. He claims it could be run in a similar style to sponsored tree planting.

In a question to council environmental officers, Cllr Mayers writes: "In order to increase the amount of road calming in Lambeth would the council implement a sponsor a road hump scheme?"

In a reply to Cllr Mayers' question, officers from Lambeth council state they would not object to sponsored traffic calming measures.

But the "sponsor a road hump scheme" has received a less favourable response outside the corridors of Lambeth Town Hall.

In June this year, teachers, governors and parents of pupils at Walnut Tree Walk School in Kennington staged a protest calling on the council to install traffic calming measures out-side their school. After a long-battle Lambeth council agreed to put in place the measures.

Headteacher Jeanne Carabine said it would be unfair if road humps were put in place on the basis of whether residents and other groups could afford to pay for them.

She said: "We had to protest to get the council to do something to slow the traffic outside the school.

"I really think it is ridiculous to suggest that road safety measures could be sponsored by people who want them in their street.

"The measures should be allocated were the safety needs are greatest. The council should use the huge amount of money it makes from parking enforcement to fund such schemes."

What do you think about the 'sponsor a speed hump' idea?

Write to South London Press, 2-4 Leigham Court Road, Streatham, SW16 2PD or email letters@slp.co.uk

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