A Labour council has been accused of installing “socialist speed bumps” which damage pricier family cars.
Locals on Lee Terrace and Belmont Hill in Blackheath, south London, claim Lewisham Council’s sleeping policemen are scraping the undercarriages of high-performance and luxury family cars.
Local motorists commissioned their own engineering survey, which found that 12 of 15 sampled speed cushions exceeded the council’s recommended height limit.
The report alleges five of the bumps measured between 100mm and 105mm, breaching the council’s stated 80mm standard.
But the council disputes these findings and claims all their bumps comply with national guidelines.
The measures were brought in several months ago to enforce 20mph speed limits in the area.
Architect Andrew Thorp, 59, conducted the survey after his Mercedes C-Class estate scraped the bumps on multiple occasions – despite travelling at low speeds.
“We are paying for the bumps with our council tax, and then paying for the damage to our cars,” he told The Telegraph.
Lewisham Council’s sleeping policemen (pictured) are scraping the undercarriages of high-performance and luxury family cars, locals say
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“It’s as if they are socialist speed bumps,” Mr Thorp added, noting that Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Tesla, Toyota Aygo and Volkswagen Mini vehicles were most likely to graze over them.
Ferrari owner Steve Emmott, 67, described having to slow to between three and five miles per hour before each hump.
“If I try to straddle them, I will take the underside of my car out,” he said.
Retired civil engineer Andrew Holmes, 82, raised concerns about noise from heavy vehicles striking the bumps.
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Even local cyclists have joined the resistance movement, warning that cars are forced to swerve around them – endangering riders
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“Skip lorries are the worst. Trucks also make a huge noise when they drive over them,” he said, adding that the impact can “shake the house” regardless of vehicle speed.
Lewisham Cyclists, affiliated with the London Cycling Campaign, has also voiced its fury.
The cycling group warned that motorists swerving around the cushions pose a danger to those on bikes.
The cyclists warned of risks from oncoming vehicles veering towards them, and cars cutting in front of riders to straddle the humps.
A Lewisham Council spokesman defended the installations, stating they follow national guidelines permitting heights up to 100mm and meet Department for Transport standards.
But the authority acknowledged that three humps near Belmont Hill and Lee Terrace required adjustments earlier this year, which have since been corrected at the contractor’s expense.
“All cushions are now within permitted sizes and can be crossed safely by all vehicles at 15-20mph, however driving faster may cause scraping,” the spokesman said.
The council said speed control remains essential given the proximity of a school near Belmont Hill and a hospital on Lee Terrace.
Officials confirmed they are monitoring noise levels and will act if the impacts prove great enough.