Daily motor vehicle flows on four roads within the Brixton Hill Low Traffic Neighbourhood ‘trial’ INCREASED following its introduction.
But a ‘stage one monitoring report’ says of the increases on both Sudbourne Road (39 pc increase) and Baytree Road (42 pc increase) that whilst these are significant increases in percentage terms, the streets still meet Healthy Route quality criteria as the daily flows remain very low.
The report also found an overall 3.6 per cent net reduction in traffic when looking at roads within the LTN and on the boundary roads, including on main roads approaching the LTN (Printed page two of report)
The highest volumes of motor vehicle traffic WITHIN the LTN area were on New Park Road at the junction with the South Circular A205 (4,935), Lyham Road (3,589), Dumbarton Road (3,479) and Kingswood Road (1,856).
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The A23 Brixton Hill (up 1,443); Acre Lane (up 272 and 840) and Kings Avenue (up 1,304) are also highlighted but the figures for these roads are only shown on maps in the report’s appendices.
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The report says the strategic roads also indicate high volumes of traffic with an average of 18,631 motor vehicles per day on A23 Brixton Hill, A205 South Circular (25,921), Acre Lane (14,763) and Kings Avenue (13,577)
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There were large decreases in motor vehicles within the traffic cells created by the modal filters especially on: Lyham Road: minus 84 pc (Figure of minus 91pc on appendix G map showing Percentage Change in Average Weekday Motor Vehicle Flow – Ed); Dumbarton Road off Brixton Hill: minus 87 pc. (- 656 on map on page nine of report – Ed.); New Park Road, at the junction with the A205 (South Circular) showed a figure of minus 32 pc (1,443 on map at appendix F showing Absolute Change in Average Weekday Motor Vehicle Flow – Ed).
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Within the LTN, daily motor vehicle flows increased on Thornbury Road 12 pc ( +122); Rosebury Road 2 4 pc ( +54 ); Sudbourne Road 39 pc ( +194); Baytree Road 42 pc ( +111 ).
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Flows also increased on the boundaries of the LTN, namely on Acre Lane: +3.8 pc; Kings Avenue: + 6.3 pc; A205 (South Circular), east of the junction with New Park Road: +11.2 pc; A23 (Brixton Hill ); and between the A205 (South Circular) and New Park Road: +5.2 pc (Actual vehicle figures not given – Ed.) (Printed page nine)
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The report (page 12) says of the increases in both Sudbourne Road and Baytree Road that whilst these are significant increases in percentage terms, the streets still meet Healthy Route quality criteria as the daily flows remain very low.
Community feedback analysis
Residents:
Blenheim Gardens Estate: Local councillors met with the Blenheim Gardens Residents Management Organisation (RMO) to hear the concerns and issues faced after the trial was implemented.
Concerns raised: Missed deliveries negatively impacting vulnerable residents and carers visiting residents at the estate; Concerns over feelings of unsafety due to restricted visibility and lack of other people walking and wheeling especially at night, particularly among women and the elderly.
Actions as a result of feedback: All the addresses remain accessible if needed. But we will discuss and review delivery routes to the estate for those facing issues; An assessment of current lighting levels (photometric tests) will be conducted at the location in response to the residents’ feedback. (Pages 14 / 15)
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Comments regarding the Branksome Road filter: • Support for this traffic filter as it helped reduce through-traffic, contributing to people feeling safer and healthier • Support for the one-way in Branksome Road as it prevented through-traffic to Acre Lane • Concerns over longer journey times for travelling northbound into Brixton and southbound into Brixton Hill with the road frequently congested by non-residents travelling further afield • Residents suggest that the nearby roads as Hayter Road, Sudbourne Road, Haycroft Road and Winterwell Road are already quiet, and the filter is penalising them. Suggestion that leaving Branksome one-way would be sufficient • Concerns over displaced traffic with cars not being able to access the roads between Acre Lane, Branksome Road and Brixton Hill • Sudbourne Road residents perceived an increase in traffic and speeding because of the introduction of the filter, which exacerbated the impact of the removal of the speed bumps in 2010. (Page 15)
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Comments regarding the New Park Road filter: • Support for this filter. • Suggestions to make the filter two-way as some drivers tend to use the road to cut the corner from Brixton Hill • Concerns over increased traffic, mostly on boundary roads, and consequently increased air pollution on the road • Concerns over increased noise pollution from motor vehicles (e.g., beeping sounds) especially during rush hour • Concerns over longer journeys to access nearby addresses.
Suggestions raised by residents: • Relocate filter on New Park Road. (Page 15)
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Comments regarding the Kings Avenue filter: • Some residents in support of the LTN have highlighted the need to address issues such as speeding and dangerous driving through traffic calming measures. Concerns over speeding due to an absence of speed cameras and lack of traffic calming measures. This occurred before the trial started and has now worsened • Concerns over children’s safety walking, cycling or wheeling to school due to the large number of primary schools in the vicinity • Concerns over increased road danger and worse air pollution for those travelling actively through Kings Avenue with anecdotal reports of increase in collisions since the trial’s implementation lack of safe crossing points. (Pages 15 / 16)
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Comments regarding the Lyham Road filter: • Support from residents living on Lyham Road as this filter reduced traffic and road danger for cyclists • Concerns about safety at night due to lack of people and activity on the streets • Concerns over Lyham Road and Chale Road/Dumbarton Road being dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians as some drivers drive through the filters.
Suggestions raised by residents: • Opening Lyham Road to through traffic while closing all other streets would deliver a better balance to the area • Introduce a right filter at the traffic lights at the top of Kings Avenue – junction with Acre Lane. (Page 16)
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Comment regarding on Strathleven Road filter: • Positive feedback received from residents of Glenelg Road • Only one access point into Strathleven Road is negatively impacting residents and causing congestion at this location and on Lyham Road. (Page 16)
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Comments regarding enforcement:
- Concerns over CCTV cameras being vandalised, and signs sprayed over
- Concerns over drivers obscuring their number plates to drive through the filters without being fined
General comments:
- Perceived negative impact on air quality on boundary roads
- Perceived negative impact on road safety, especially walking and wheeling on boundary roads
- Perceived negative impact on people walking and wheeling at night in the roads where the traffic filters are
- Concerns raised by pedestrian and cyclists over Google Maps showing road closed for all rather than for motorised vehicles only
- As a result of the road closures and less people using them, residents reported an increase in fly tipping
- Some residents request additional measures to further reduce speeding in the area
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Businesses – Lyham Road
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Ahead of the launch of the LTN trial, businesses on Lyham Road were contacted and expressed concerns about the LTN trial impacting their businesses negatively. A survey was conducted by the Lambeth Market Research team to understand how customers travelled to those businesses. The results showed that 58 pc of the clientele wheel or walk to the shop.
Concerns raised: Reduction in customers.
Actions as a result of the survey feedback: To mitigate the impact of the trial on those travelling by motor vehicle we added a timed parking bay.
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Businesses – Morrish Road
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After the LTN trial started, some business owners on Morrish Road raised concerns regarding the LTN design. Lambeth officers and councillors met them. Concerns raised: • Planters accumulating litter; Removal of parking bays created issues for loading and unloading vans; Negative financial impact due to loss of clientele who can no longer park near the business
Actions as a result of feedback: Removal of planters; Installation of loading bay where the initial parking spaces were located. (Page 14)
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Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA)
Impact on children: Potential increase in pollution in and around the Brixton Hill LTN. Some of the main potential locations affected are the educational institutions some of which are on the boundary roads or in their vicinity Impact on older people: Access to their homes and local services has been impacted. The restrictions have made it challenging for their carers and family to reach them with consequent potential decrease in social connections Disabled people: As only Blue Badge holders can request an exemption for only one filter location, disabled people might lose connections as members of their family, carers or friends cannot drive through the filter and access the location Impact on women and older people at night: • Possible negative impact due to the absence of regular street activity contributes to a perception of isolation • Potential increase in last-minute cancellations from taxis and Ubers when they experience access difficulties and potential increase in travel costs Impact on carers and community workers: • Possible negative impact on caregivers journey time due to longer routes to access addresses • Possible negative impact on caregivers due to the unavailability of exemptions to travel through the filters • Possible negative impact on people providing services in the area due to longer journeys and consequently fewer jobs in a day • Increased traffic and congestion affecting personal and employer productivity Impact on businesses: • Businesses depend on ease of travel, and have reported a decrease in customers. Possible negative impact on local shops mainly on Morrish Road and Lyham Road. (Page 17)
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Baseline traffic flows
Cycles See Appendix H. • Cycle flows are mixed in the Brixton Hill LTN area. The Quietway Route 25 passes through the LTN area along Crescent Lane, Mandrell Road and Lambert Road where reasonably high flows can be seen – this is enabled through the physical filter on Strathleven Road, which was in place before the LTN was introduced. Crescent Lane on an average weekday has 843 cycles, while the section of Lyham Road between Prague Place and Crescent Lane has 910 cycles. • Brixton Hill is a direct and popular north/south commuting route which can be seen by the high values, with an average of 1,406 cycles per average weekday. Acre Lane has an average of 1,166 cycles per day, reflecting its popularity as an east/west route between Brixton and Clapham. The southern section of the LTN generally has lower cycle flows than the northern section. This may be due to a combination of factors such as high levels of through traffic, steeper topography and less dedicated cycle routes . (Printed page nine)
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Source: Brixton Hill Stage 1 Monitoring Report
Brixton Hill Low Traffic Neighbourhood Stage One Monitoring Report.pdf
NEWS FROM CRYSTAL PALACE 