Cllr Stephen Stark has held a series of discussions with Camden traffic officers to try and sort out the moped and traffic mess at the top of Back Lane at the junction with Heath Street. The knock-on effect of blocks at this junction has caused havoc adding to traffic backing up in Heath Street, Back Lane and Flask Walk. After my on site meeting Camden have recognized that there are the following issues with mopeds at the top of Back Lane:
- Breaching the “No Entry” from Heath Street into Back Lane, on the path or road.
- Parking and driving mopeds on the path near the Gaucho restaurant,
- Driving mopeds the wrong way down Back Lane.
- Parking mopeds in the loading recess at the top of Back Lane
- Driving on the pavement
- Noise
These are just a few of the issues here all combining to make this area hazardous to pedestrians. There is also the issue of blocking Back Lane by construction vehicles. This is another issue Camden Council need to deal with.
Camden have carried out ‘instances of enhanced enforcement’ where several traffic wardens return fairly soon after leaving, and ticket more of the offenders. Camden have added ‘We continue to visit the location throughout the day and are providing double the number of visits to this location as would usually be the case.’
Traffic wardens only deal with the issue whilst they are there. This is not a long term solution to the problem. Cllr Stark has proposed a CCTV camera. This is supported by Hampstead Safer Neighbourhood group and the police. Camden Council will now hopefully carrying out a feasibility study to see if they can install CCTV cameras to catch people driving into Back Lane from Heath Street: ‘The use of a CCTV camera of this type can only be used for the No Entry issue’.
Hampstead Safer Neighbourhood Group and Camden Council have asked the Police ‘to run a joint operation in the area with Camden Council’s enforcement contractor with a view to stopping these drivers on site, engaging them and possibly seizing their vehicles should they be unlicensed, untaxed or unregistered.’ Sadly, due to the rise in food deliveries across London, Camden officers report that solving this issue in Back Lane will ‘merely move the problem elsewhere.’ The London wide problem is that, ‘unfortunately, regardless of enforcement the demand for this service is not going away any time soon.’ I hope that we can minimise this issue locally.
Cllr Stark will keep you updated about the possible installation of a CCTV camera and will push Camden Council to continue to monitor and enforce where necessary against moped delivery drivers who do not respect the traffic rules.
