Angry South London residents have said plans to add zebra crossings, trees and benches to roads plagued by rat-running drivers fails to solve the 'root cause' of problems they have repeatedly raised.

People living in Tolworth said the latest measures proposed by Kingston Council for the neighbourhood will not reduce rat-running.

Kingston Council launched a month-long consultation in January on proposals to improve streets in the area.

These include introducing double yellow lines at all junctions which do not have them to prevent unsafe parking, along with adding new benches and trees.

Two new zebra crossings have also been proposed in Thornhill Road, along with another in Douglas Road and a fourth in Tolworth Road.

Gridlock on Thornhill Road Tuesday 8 February, 2022 (Photo: Liz Mitchell)

It follows U-turns from the council on measures to tackle traffic in the area.

The Surbiton neighbourhood committee voted to scrap in September an experiment to ban drivers from turning left from Fullers Way North into Tolworth Road at peak hours.

The measure had replaced the trial road closure of Tolworth Road to vehicles at the junction with Fullers Way North, which was introduced in September 2021 to reduce traffic in the area.

It was later scrapped after it was found to have displaced vehicles onto surrounding roads.

Officers will present a report to the committee on March 13 to make a decision on the latest proposals. 

In the last meeting of the committee ahead of this, on February 22, residents raised concerns about the scheme.

Thornhill Road (Photo: Google Maps)

Resident Alex Oakes said: "We've been coming to this meeting for two years now to tell you about the unsafe conditions… in particular on Thornhill and Tolworth roads."

He continued: "As it is mentioned, all we've got at the moment is proposals for some zebra crossings, some trees, some benches to help us with the rat-running issue. All of those measures you've said don't help reduce the rat-running problem."

Mr Oakes argued the council is applying a "sticking plaster and implementing some zebra crossings but not solving the root cause of the problem".

Kathryn Yates, who lives on Tolworth Road, also asked: "We are seeing an increase unfortunately in road rage and aggressive behaviour on both our roads in particular, Thornhill and Tolworth Road […] how will the consultation and proposed measures address the antisocial behaviour that we endure on a daily basis of rat-runners and through traffic?"

Lib Dem councillor Ian Manders told residents the proposed measures are not aimed at tackling rat-running, but would improve the safety of pedestrians and cyclists. 

He said: "I don't see any advantage at all to the area not to have those road safety measures. They are proven road safety measures based on very long experience."

Councillor Manders added he is working with officers to find other solutions for problems in the area.

Ian Baker, highways officer, said: "The consultation was focussed on introducing safer crossing points and other measures to improve the environment generally. We have limited funding to continue healthy streets work in Tolworth during 2024/25."

Mr Baker explained that the council "will continue engaging with the community and to assess and prioritise options carefully. We encourage residents to report any concerns about anti-social behaviour to the police."

He added the council is working with charity Living Streets and will soon promote awareness of the government's 'Think!' road safety campaign to help people travel like they know each other.