Bell Corner Traffic Lights and Junction – Update

Earlier today (16/3/18) Cllr Ron Ower and Cllr Linda Hawthorn met with council officers at the Bell Corner to discuss a number  of traffic issues in the area. At the time, traffic was flowing freely we were assured that Transport for London (TfL) had re-set the phasing of the faulty Traffic Lights. We would very much like to thank all of those who took the positive step of contacting TFL, we understand that many of you did, and this obviously helped them to see the severity of the problem.  Also our Cranham colleagues Residents’  Association councillors – when something affects both wards, as this was, we act collectively as a team – good teamwork.

The response from TfL regarding the Traffic Lights is set out below.

In respect of the road markings at the junction which allow traffic to go south or turn right, traffic control observations by the Highways Department concluded that the changes was not a factor in building up congestion .

Cllrs’ Linda Hawthorn and Ron Ower

Response from TfL

Thank you for your web form of 12 March about the traffic signals at Bell Corner.

I’m very sorry for any problems the traffic signals have caused you and I appreciate you bringing this matter to our attention.

We visited the junction to investigate and we found that there is a fault with the signals that means one of the vehicle sensors embedded in the road surface is only working intermittently. As such, the signals are not providing enough green signal time, which is what has been causing the queues to form.

We have now overridden the automated timings to make sure that a minimum amount of green signal time is given, in keeping with how the junction normally operates. We have also escalated this fault as high priority to our maintenance contractors to investigate and repair the detector.

We aim to have the signals repaired as soon as possible and I am grateful for your patience during the interim.

Thanks again for contacting us. If there is anything else we can help you with, please reply to this email/letter. Alternatively, you can call us on 0343 222 1234 and we’ll be happy to help you.

Kind regards

Lucy Peacock
Customer Service Adviser
Transport for London Customer Services

3 Comments
  1. This is only a partial answer. So to complete the resolution of the issue, when do you plan to implement a permanent fix to the faulty sensor and as it’s imbedded in the road will that require further road works.

    • I think TfL have passed this on to their contractor and they will come back with proposed a date for the works. If it requires a temporary road closure, then they will have to get a permit from the Council. As the sensor is embedded in the road, there may well be an element of disruption when it is replaced.

  2. But you were there at midday…completely missing the school time madness? Try being there between 8:45-9am ….it is absolute chaos from branfil to upminster then from A127 to the lights with traffic at a complete standstill every day.

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