Bedford Gardens residents raise safety concerns

One-way traffic violations and faded road markings have become a daily concern on Regent Street in Bedford Gardens.

Resident Erica Turner, who has lived in the area since 2005, said Regent Street is a one-way street running from west to east.

“However, anything goes. We swing both ways. Delivery scooters travel the wrong way, and cars and delivery vehicles ignore the one-way restriction and speed against the flow of traffic,” Turner said.

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She added that many elderly residents walk along the street and, believing it to be one-way, look only towards the west for oncoming traffic without expecting vehicles from the east.

Turner also noted that motorists often travel at high speed along the road over weekends, particularly when there is little traffic.

She believes the one-way restriction may be widely ignored because the zebra crossing and stop road markings have faded significantly. Turner suggested that the kerbs should also be painted in black and white to make the intersection more visible.

Just outside Bedford Gardens, a Telkom cable chamber has remained damaged since its cover was stolen during vandalism in October 2025.

Turner said anything that appears to have recycling value is quickly removed by scrap collectors.

“This box has been stripped several times. They don’t use this facility anymore for landlines, but there is more than just copper cables running through it. The thieves also stole the concrete cover, leaving a huge hole. Fortunately, not many people walk there,” she said.

Residents have made efforts to keep the surrounding garden clean, but Turner said that when the area is well maintained, homeless people often gather there and leave litter behind.

“They even hang their washing, including blankets, over the thorn hedge,” she said, adding that this attracts rats and mice.