Congestion being created

Having looked at numerous planning applications it strikes me the council has lost control of the real issues. If the planning process approves a new building it does so in isolation from other considerations i.e. health, water, electricity, schools and transport infrastructure.

In Walthamstow the following developments are being planned to start in 2020 i.e. next year.

The Mall (Town Centre) (544 Flats) 2020 - 2025 at least (accessible only from Selborne Road)

Walthamstow Station upgrade - (accessible only from Selborne Road)

Central House (Strettons) (Hotel) 2020 – 2022 (accessible via Stainforth Road and St Mary’s Road)

Juniper House (91 flats) 2020 – 2022 (accessible via First Avenue)

Granada Cinema (EMD) – major refurbishment (accessible only from Hoe Street)

Town Hall Campus (600 flats) 2020 – 2030 (past the Bell pub and along Forest Road)

In Leyton

The Score Centre (750 flats)   2020 to 2025 (only accessible from Oliver Road)

New school in Lea Bridge Road

New tower blocks at junction of Oliver Road and Lea Bridge Road.

This will mean construction vehicles leaving the North Circular and coming up the A112 Chingford Road, past the Bell (now a very successful pub) and into the already congested Hoe Street. The Planning Committee have not decided the outcome on these applications (The Mall is only partly approved) but I think we can assume they will all be approved. If they all start at the same time the Town Centre will continue to be a building site, as it has been for the last 3 years, which does not improve its chances of success. The noise and pollution will continue to get worse and the congestion along Hoe Street will be unacceptable.

Hundreds of construction workers will be used on the sites and the only way they will be able to get to the sites will be by public transport. The Victoria Line and Central Line are already at capacity and there will be thousands more people using it between Walthamstow Central and Tottenham Hale as the new flats along Forest Road become occupied.

Bear in mind thousands of people either live in this area or use the shopping centre and plans must be put in place to ensure normal life can continue.

Can the planners and highways put together a proper logistics plan showing how many vehicles per hour will be coming along this route, how they will service the sites via St Mary’s Road, First Avenue and Selborne Road and what traffic control will be in place to ensure Hoe Street is not brought to a halt?  

Plans will also be needed for Leyton as Lea Bridge Road is a key route through the Borough and Leyton and Walthamstow grind to a halt if traffic gets blocked in Lea Bridge Road. What discussions have been held with the GLA to ensure the area is not gridlocked?

My feeling is only one development at a time should be permitted otherwise Hoe Street, a major thoroughfare, will just not cope and people’s lives will become a misery.