I was travelling from Wimbledon to Orpington roughly 18 miles, a journey which normally takes about 50 minutes to an hour, took 2 hours 50 minutes as the South Circular was closed.

I hadn't intended going via Forest Hill, but was sent towards it by the Sat Nav from Crystal Palace/Sydenham as the sheer volume of traffic wasn't moving there or moving slower than around Forest Hill. No traffic announcements on local radio.

Was it necessary to close the road completely? A few weeks ago lanes were closed on the corner for roadworks, but a contra flow was in place, so traffic flowed albeit slower. Was it necessary to close it for so long?

May be the two PCSO's seen resting on the wheelie bins in one of your pictures could have directed traffic around the incident?

Shut the road and the traffic has to go somewhere, Honor Oak Road, Devonshire road, and so on, they are not up to it.