Chingford • News

Chingford residents fed up with late-night races offered ‘roadwatch’ scheme

22 August, 2022 12:00 am
3 Min Read

Residents told the Echo there are “annoyingly loud” races almost every weekend
By Nadoya Reid

Stock image (credit: Pixabay)
Stock image (credit: Pixabay)

Chingford residents fed up with late-night car races and reckless speeding will soon be able to join a “community roadwatch” scheme.

Last month, around 30 people living in and around Waltham Way met with the council and the Met police to discuss their concerns. 

They complained about regular and noisy races late on Friday and Saturday nights and people driving double or even triple the area’s 20mph speed limit.

However, while some were “thrilled” the scheme was going ahead, others felt that – like all the council’s previous attempts to tackle road safety issues – it would simply be ignored.

Sallie Croton, a Highams Park resident of 33 years, told the Echo that racing and road safety had become a particular problem in the last two to three years.

She said: “It seems like literally everyone is speeding. I saw a mum with her children in the car driving almost twice the speed limit. 

“The council put in speed bumps about five years ago but they are pretty useless, they have not made a single difference.”

When contacted for comment, the local police said 24 people have been injured in crashes in the area over the last five years, although there were no recorded fatalities.

However, Sallie said multiple people she knows have had cats run over in the last six months, adding that she particularly worries about small children crossing the street.

The recent fad for late-night racing on weekends, which Sallie said was “annoyingly loud”, has also become a regular topic of complaints in local Facebook groups.

However, while some are thrilled at news of the roadwatch scheme, others find the idea “ridiculous”, with one 24-year-old carer living in Waltham Way remarking: “Who is going to be waiting for people to race at early hours of the morning when they have work the next day?”

For her part, Sallie said the roadwatch may be a good temporary solution but  suggested something more “permanent” such as speeding cameras would be “the way forward”.

When contacted for comment, deputy leader Clyde Loakes said: “The council works hard to improve safety and protect road users across the borough. 

“This includes introducing 20 mph speed limits in residential areas and installing double yellow lines, low-traffic neighbourhoods and modal filters to improve access for emergency vehicles. 

“The council will continue to look at how we can work with residents and partners from the emergency services and TfL to keep our roads safe.”

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