'No funding' to implement Royston Park Road speed restrictions

Dozens of people in Royston Park Road backed a petition calling for safety measures, with one claiming the local problem is partly down to races and general speeding from the South Oxhey and the Watford area to Hatch End.

With at least five recorded crashes in recent months at the road in Pinner, Harrow Council previously agreed to allocate funds from the Transport for London Local Transport fund to develop a speed reduction scheme.

It was also understood at the time that the issue was being escalated after a series of recent crashes.

However it has now been revealed that there is no funding available for the scheme to be implemented any time soon.

A crash earlier this year

In an email, Councillor John Hinkley for Hatch End Ward wrote: “Unfortunately we have been advised that TfL have not made any funding available for this part of the programme so the implementation of the scheme is in abeyance until funding is received.

“The next funding review meeting is in mid-December and we are hopeful of some funds being allocated at that time. We can assure you that this traffic calming scheme is one of two top priorities within Harrow.

“In the meantime, the temporary 30 MPH speed signs will remain in place for the time being

“This result is most disappointing and we hope that in the intervening period there are no further accidents.”

A crash earlier this year

On May 19 at 6pm, a car was overturned at the hotspot road and a man was taken to hospital.

In a previous incident on April 18, a car had left the road and struck a post box.

One eyewitness, Anthony Kenton, previously said: “What the past four recent ones also have in common is that they all involved the damage being across the pavement as well, and so far, it has only been luck, that neither the drivers nor pedestrians have been killed.

“Everyday cars can be seen travelling up the road exceeding the speed limit, often seen doing well over 50 mph.”

On February 21, an alleged “chase” led to a car swerving off the road and hitting a parked car and damaging a tree.

There have also been a series of other crashes between February and May.

Harrow council have been approached for a more detailed response.