Cars filmed driving along pavements near schools in Enfield

The shocking scenes were filmed in Bincote Road, Enfield, which is close to three schools – Merryhills Primary, Grange Park Primary and Highlands Secondary School.

The footage, which was posted on Twitter, shows several vehicles driving along the pavement and grass verges to avoid traffic jams – while residents look on in disbelief.

It was taken by Bincote Road resident Glenn Wilson at 3.20pm on Friday afternoon, when children were making their way home from school.

The video shows cars driving on the pavement to avoid jams

Mr Wilson said: “I was in shock. I couldn’t believe it. When you have children at a young age walking home with their parents, they can run ahead, and they could have been hit.

“My partner and I just bought the house here in January. I had heard you got traffic down here and people shouting, but I never thought I would witness this.”

The video shows cars driving on the pavement to avoid jams

Bincote Road is often narrowed to a single carriageway because cars are parked on both sides, meaning traffic can only flow in one direction, neighbours Ibrahim Djafer and Mary Jackson explained.

People park on the road to access a supermarket, a GP practice and the schools, they added.

They said the street already suffers from traffic chaos, leading to road rage and damaged cars – and they fear Transport for London’s (TfL’s) decision to place the new 456 bus route along the street will only make matters worse.

Mr Djafer, who lives in Bincote Road, said: “It’s like the M25 during the day and a racetrack at night.

“We have had cars smashed into, there have been fights and arguments with people stuck in traffic. Going from two buses an hour to four buses an hour is a big deal.”

Mr Djafer said that as far as they were aware, hand-delivered letters consulting on the 456 bus route were posted to just nine households in Bincote Road.

“There are about 40 to 50 houses down this road – why were only nine letters delivered?” he added.

“The consultation took place between December and January. It is a really bad time. The roads would have been quiet for periods, with not much traffic down the road.”

Mr Djafer said they had asked Enfield Council to look at putting traffic-calming measures such as enforcement cameras in the road to reduce the problems – but the authority had yet to act.

The neighbours said they were not opposed to the 456 bus, which launched last week and runs from Crews Hill to North Middlesex Hospital, but they thought the route should have gone down a nearby road that did not suffer from congestion.

They said many residents were against any new bus stops along their street, pointing out that the 456 could use the stops already in place for the 377 bus route.

Ms Jackson, who also lives in Bincote Road, said the lack of information or consultation on the 456 bus route was “quite disgraceful”.

“What is it going to take to make people understand these are serious problems?” she added. “A fatality?”

An Enfield Council spokesperson said: “The shocking behaviour in this footage is inexcusable, and we are grateful there was no accident involving a child or any other member of the public. We would urge anyone who has information about these selfish drivers to make a report to the Metropolitan Police: https://www.met.police.uk/ro/report/rti/rti-a/report-a-road-traffic-incident/

“Since the start of the pandemic we have seen more people staying at home, resulting in more vehicles parked along some residential streets and fewer people taking public transport. This may have contributed to additional congestion on roads such as Bincote Road.

“Enfield Council officers will visit Bincote Road this week to gauge the extent of the issue with traffic and identify whether additional parking restrictions are required. As well as offering support to local schools to promote active travel, a 20mph speed limit is in place on Bincote Road / Worlds End Lane, along with a number of traffic-calming features.

“Enfield Council is clear that its planning and infrastructure policies should support active travel. It is our ambition that by 2040 the majority of journeys that originate in the borough should be either low-carbon or do not emit carbon at all. This is why we are looking to deliver more high-quality cycling and walking routes across Enfield and promoting active travel for pupils which will in turn mean fewer journeys by car at peak times.”

Geoff Hobbs, director of public transport service planning at TfL, said: “Public transport allows more people to safely travel than cars do, while reducing emissions and congestion. This is vital for the economy of our city and the health of its people.

“We are always reviewing and improving our services and after a thorough public consultation, which was publicised to all residents and showed support, we have introduced the new 456. We will keep the route under review alongside the local council, as we do with all bus changes, however we know this route will increase connectivity for Enfield residents, including those in the Bincote Road area, and play a role in reducing congestion.

“Customers can look forward to new transport links including to North Middlesex Hospital and Winchmore Hill station, an improved level of service to Enfield town centre and a Sunday service – with hundreds of jobs and thousands of residents now within 400m of a bus stop.

“The 456 serves nearby Merryhills Primary School, Grange Park Primary School and Highlands School and will reduce school-related traffic on Bincote Road, and overall car dependency in the area.”

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