Actor Angus Imrie — known for The Crown, Fleabag and The Archers — joined concerned Croydon residents and their Councillor today on Spa Hill, SE19 to demand urgent action from the Council to tackle dangerous speeding on their road.
The campaigners staged a striking photo opportunity: residents holding powerful images of crashes and injuries caused by speeding drivers. The event called for Croydon Council to provide traffic calming measure including the installation of a speed camera to enforce the existing 20mph limit before someone is killed.
This grassroots protest comes just two days before the group formally presents a petition — signed by over 1,500 local people online and offline — to Croydon Council at their 22nd October meeting.
Why this matters:
Despite Spa Hill having a 20mph limit, drivers can reach speeds of 50mph, according to residents and police observations. The road runs through a residential area near several schools, and locals say their repeated warnings to the Council have been ignored for years. Residents are calling for the Council to urgently instal a speed camera on the road.
Angus Imrie the local residents and Cllr Cummings will also be speaking at Croydon Council’s public meeting on Wednesday 22nd October.
Over the last 5 years there have been a number of crashes and injuries to people including:
A cyclist was left for dead after a hit and run, he suffered a severe head injury (2024)
A neighbour was mown down by a car causing multiple fracturs to each wrist. The police are still investigating. (2025)
A serious road rage incident involving two men occurred who beat each other with an iron steering wheel lock and golf clubs. One man sustained serious head injuries, the police and ambulance attended (2024)
A speeding car crashed and exploded, the force of which imploded neighbours’ windows. Smoke poured into their home, meaning the family, including a very young baby, had to be treated for smoke inhalation (2019)
A neighbour’s car parked on the road was badly hit by a speeding driver, and completely written off (2025)
A local resident was knocked off their bicycle at the top off the road. The car ran over her bike (2025)
The one supposed traffic calming measure on the road, a board which flashes up the speed of each vehicle, has even been hit by a speeding driver
Croydon Council have been contacted by residents about the dangers of this road for many years. They have themselves recognised the need to combat speeding here in their own Local Implementation Plan (2024). Staff have previously cited lack of funds for work to slow vehicles down. Yet The Council do have a budget for this work across the borough – as part of their Local Implementation Plan. Funds have just not been allocated to this road.
Angus Imrie, actor and local resident, said:
“As a local resident, I worry every day about children walking to school and neighbours crossing this road. Drivers regularly ignore the 20mph limit, it’s terrifying. Installing a speed camera is necessary to protect lives. After years of inaction on this dangerous road, Croydon Council must listen to local residents and act now to slow vehicles down and keep everyone safe”.
Patsy Cummings, Councillor for Crystal Palace & Upper Norwood said:
As the local Councillor, I’ve listened to residents on Spa Hill years, and their message has been consistent. Speeding is putting lives at risk. This is a residential road where families, children, and older people should feel safe. I fully support their call for stronger measures, including the installation of a speed camera. We need action, not words, to make Spa Hill safer for everyone who lives here and uses this road.
Rt Hon Steve Reed, MP for Streatham and Croydon North noted;
“The images of the accidents I’ve seen on Spa Hill are incredibly worrying. I encourage Croydon Council to engage with residents and work alongside them to produce safer measures and prevent future accidents.”
