Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Hewitt Road - oil slick - update
Residents asked me to follow up the issue with the speed hump/service cover and resulting loss of oil from vehicles which (having driven too fast over it) leave a trail of oil.
Here is the response. The replacement cover should fix the issue but of course the larger problem of cars speeding down our roads continues. Its an issue I will continue to address with the council.
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Your enquiry about the Statutory Undertakers service cover in Hewitt Road outside no’40 LBH/2953114
Thank you for your enquiry.
A site inspection has confirmed that the speed hump has been constructed to the correct specification and conforms to the Highways (Road Hump) Regulations 1996, which is laid down by the Department for Transport. The speed at which you approach the hump should take account of the roads layout. The Highway Code states that 'the speed limit is the absolute maximum and does not mean it is safe to drive at that speed irrespective of conditions. Driving at speeds that are inappropriate for the road and traffic conditions can be dangerous'.
However, it would appear that the cause of the problem is likely to be the protruding sewer inspection chamber near the speed hump outside no’40.
We will therefore ascertain who is responsible for this cover and request that they arrange replacement for a more modern style cover that will be flush with the carriageway when installed.
Engineering Projects Team
Project Engineer
Sustainable Transport Group
London Borough of Haringey
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Gordon T on
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Hmm, the inspection report only stated "the speed hump has been constructed to the correct specification" - would have hoped it would have addressed the fuller carriageway picture which as described above is more complex. Wonder how long they took - it didn't take me more than three minutes to hear a car, at moderate speed, scraping the ground in front of the cover today.
Something similar used to happen on the road bridge on Wightman Road, over the railway - every few years a large dip in the road would be formed. I recall at least three goes at it before a long-term fix was achieved. Stick at it, everyone.....
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Permalink Reply by pipplypig on
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Thanks for taking a look. I would also add that whilst some of the cars are undoubtedly speeding, not all are. I have actually seen someone driving perfectly reasonably crack their oil tank open.
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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on
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Hi pipplypig.
Yes, having looked at the site I can easily believe that some vehicles with torn sumps were not speeding.
I have a bicycle and a motorcycle, but no car.
If I had a low-slung sports car with wide track and short ground clearance, I would be inclined to take this section slowly indeed. I would not want to take it square-on. I would drive over this part of the road with either the right-side wheels as far as possible over the sewer inspection chamber lid – or the left side wheels. Parked cars close by are a limit to this work-around.
I understand the need to calm traffic but personally I'm not a fan of humps. However, even if this hump were removed I'm not sure that would be a solution. It's merely a contributing factor as Gordon T suggests ("the perfect storm").
My guess is the sewer cover has been there a long time and the road surface was built up to match it. I full solution might involve lowering the whole road surface (including the cover) in order to reduce the camber.
Disclosure:
am a prospective councillor candidate
Highgate Ward | Liberal Democrat Party
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FYI I once witnessed an oil spill in South End Green and watched cars slewing all over the place. I called the Fire Brigade who dealt with it double quick. I saw that the problem seemed to be heavy vehicles hitting a pothole while swinging on a bend, which sent diesel out of the top of the fuel tank cap. Diesel has a high viscosity and is like ice on the road surface. Worse, tires then pick it up and remain unstable for some distance.
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Permalink Reply by Hugh on
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The Hewitt oil has caused at least one injury. A girl who lives near the offending hump is a cyclist and came flying off her bike when she went over a fresh slick last year. She required hospital treatment, including for a broken arm. I similarly nearly came a cropper just walking across the road last year, unaware that the oil was there. It was as slippery as ice. I fear that one day soon a child or pensioner will come a cropper.
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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
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Yeah because a young woman with a broken arm isn't really good enough to justify some action. Must be an old person or a child. Surely every motorist affected is making a claim to the council for a new engine?
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No, Mr Cantankerous, I'm not making value judgements about the relative value of lives, I'm simply sharing a fear that the more vulnerable groups may sustain worse injuries as a result of any mishap in which they were involved.
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MY impression is that the council is sometimes slow to respond to problems that are urgent and hazardous.
In North Hill, Highgate, there is a need or a lights-controlled pedestrian crossing where there is a primary school on one side and a doctor's practice on the other.
There've already been accidents, but one suspects the council is waiting for a death or serious injury before taking action.
Disclosure:
am a prospective councillor candidate
Highgate Ward | Liberal Democrat Party
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Hugh do you know if anyone reported this incident to the council and the health and safety aspect. During the conversation I had with Haringey last year I mentioned that the problem posed a significant risk to road users and pedestrians and it was after this particular phone conversation that they must have made contact with the water company because they came out shortly after (none of my previous emails had had any effect).
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on
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I think Gordon T's comment here may have hit the nail on the head. (In the same way he did with the Endymion Road Zebra crossing.) Go to the place and see. And in this instance listen as well as look.
At the hustings last night I spoke to Cllr Karen Alexander who obviously shares everyone's concern about this, especially after Hugh's information about a girl coming off her bike last year and breaking her arm. But Karen wasn't able to phone the Council from work this morning so with her agreement I did, asking that the Assistant Director responsible read this thread and take action.
Sometimes genuine Health & Safety means saying 'Yes'. Not finding yet another reason to say "No".
(Tottenham Hale ward councillor. Not standing on 22 May.)
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THE acute road camber is surely obvious even by amateur inspection. It appears that the council's site inspection was quick, casual and careless. The recommendation of changing to "a more modern style cover" appears likely to be useless. The council points a finger at:
- whoever is responsible for the cover (Thames Water?)
- speeding motorists (yet this perfect storm would catch even moderate speeds)
No responsibility is taken by those responsible for the road surface. Until council functions are actively and effectively managed, ordinary residents may have to try to fill the gap.
So far, at least one broken arm that we know of. Although cyclists and motorcyclists are highly unlikely to be affected by the 'perfect storm' that tears open vehicle oil sumps, are they not far more at risk from the resultant, long oil slick down the road centre-line?
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