Council Hopes Multiple Tweaks Will Improve Traffic Situation

Range of measures introduced over the summer to reduce congestion

Traffic remains problematic in the centre of Putney despite previous efforts

September 4, 2026

Putney’s long-running battle with congestion has entered a new phase, with Wandsworth Council delivering a package of changes to local roads in the latest response to what residents have repeatedly described as a “daily grind” of delays, rat-running and blocked junctions.

The measures, which have been rolled out over the quieter summer period, follow a year of intense public pressure— from the Putney Action Group’s walkabout with councillors, to residents’ testimonies of gridlock on Lower Richmond Road, Putney Bridge Road and the High Street.

The council says the new interventions are designed to make an immediate difference to traffic flow while longer-term work continues with Transport for London on signal timings, bridge-related displacement and wider network issues. They include the removal of the traffic island outside Snappy Snaps and a redundant BT phone box outside TK Maxx, allowing the carriageway on Putney High Street to be widened. Lane markings by Putney Station have been reworked to improve the efficiency of the two ahead lanes leaving the High Street, and the left turn for cycles has been reinstated without reducing green-light time for motorists.

A new trial one-way system on Weiss Road, introduced to curb rat-running and queue-jumping onto Lower Richmond Road — a problem residents have raised repeatedly over the past year. After an introductory period, the council is preparing to enforce the restriction with CCTV. Similar enforcement is being introduced on Putney Embankment to prevent through-traffic using the restricted riverside route, another longstanding complaint from residents who say the embankment has become a pressure valve for displaced vehicles.

On Putney Bridge Road, temporary cycle lane wands have been removed ahead of plans to restore two approach lanes once current signal works are completed. The council says this will allow more green-light time for traffic and ease the bottleneck that has become one of Putney’s most persistent pinch points. Further highway improvements are planned throughout September, including kerb realignment and junction changes aimed at smoothing traffic flow.

The context for these changes is a year of escalating frustration. Residents have repeatedly told councillors that Putney has become the “release valve” for wider transport pressures — from the closure of Hammersmith Bridge to restrictions on Wandsworth Bridge and the planned year-long closure of Albert Bridge. Businesses have warned of delayed deliveries, lost trade and staff struggling to reach workplaces. Parents have described hazardous crossings and unpredictable journey times. Councillors themselves have acknowledged that congestion has become a defining issue for the area.

Councillor Nick Austin, Cabinet Member for Transport, said the council had promised to act — and needed to show visible progress. “When residents told us that Putney’s traffic problems were affecting their daily lives, we promised to act and get changes made. So, over the summer, we’ve been getting on with the job by introducing practical measures that will help improve traffic flow, reduce rat-running and aim to make journeys more reliable,” he said. He added that while no single intervention would solve the problem overnight, the council was “serious about our promises to people in Putney” and would continue working with residents, community groups and TfL to identify further improvements.

The council says it will monitor the impact of each change and bring forward additional measures as needed. For many residents, the question now is whether these early steps will be enough to make a noticeable difference — or whether Putney’s congestion will require far more radical intervention in the months ahead.