Residents on an affluent street in south London have launched a fierce campaign against their local authority, accusing it of installing what they term 'socialist speed bumps' that are causing damage to high-end vehicles.
Claims of Breached Guidelines and Costly Scrapes
The dispute centres on Lee Terrace on Belmont Hill in the borough of Lewisham, where the Labour-run council installed a series of speed cushions several months ago. The objective was to enforce a 20mph limit, but the move has sparked a wave of complaints from locals who say the measures are excessively high.
A survey organised by residents alleges that five out of twelve cushions measured between 100mm and 105mm in height. This, they claim, breaches the council's own recommended standard that speed bumps should not exceed 80mm. The council has received multiple reports of damage to the undercarriages of expensive private cars since the installation.
Residents Voice Their Frustrations
Andrew Thorp, a 59-year-old architect living on the terrace, told The Telegraph his Mercedes C-Class estate has been repeatedly grazed by the humps, even when driven 'very slowly'. He conducted the measurements after growing frustrated with the situation.
'We are paying for the bumps with our council tax, and then paying for the damage to our cars,' Mr Thorp stated. He suggested the design seemed to unfairly target certain vehicle types, mentioning Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Tesla, Toyota Aygo and Volkswagen Mini as being particularly susceptible.
Another resident, 67-year-old Steve Emmott, said he struggles to navigate the road in his Ferrari, having to slow to a near standstill of 3-5mph. 'We all support the use of speed bumps,' he said, 'but, it's the size of the things that is the problem.' He warned that straddling the bumps would 'take the underside' of his car out.
Council Defence and Cyclist Concerns
In response, Lewisham Council has defended the measures. A spokesman stated: 'The cushions we've installed follow national guidelines, which allow heights of up to 100mm, and meet Department for Transport standards.'
The authority acknowledged that earlier this year it identified three cushions around Belmont Hill and Lee Terrace that needed adjustment, and these have now been fixed at the contractor's expense. 'All cushions are now within permitted sizes and can be crossed safely by all vehicles at 15–20mph,' the spokesman added, noting that driving faster may cause scraping.
Interestingly, the local cycling group, Lewisham Cyclists, has also expressed opposition. They claim the bumps cause oncoming vehicles to 'swerve round cushions', creating a new danger for cyclists. The council emphasised that with a school and a hospital nearby, speed control in the area remains essential and that it is monitoring the situation for any significant noise issues.
The row highlights the ongoing tension between local authorities striving to improve road safety through traffic calming and residents who feel the measures are poorly implemented and financially punitive.
