Healthy School Streets consultation - Ecole Jeanine Manuel School, Bedford Square

Overview

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed how people in Camden live, travel and work. Since the start of the pandemic many of us have been spending more time closer to home, making our neighbourhoods more important than ever. We want our streets to be safe spaces for you to walk and cycle, for children to get to and from school safely and healthily, for businesses to be able to flourish and for you to be breathing cleaner air.

As 69% of households in Camden do not own a car and public transport capacity remains much lower than before the pandemic, we know that safe and easy walking, cycling and scooting routes are more important than ever. Supporting and encouraging those who are able to walk and cycle, by creating safer streets will ensure that there is more space available on public transport and on our roads for those who need it the most.

Healthy School Streets create a safer and healthier environment by temporarily closing roads to traffic outside schools during drop-off and pick-up times. This enables more children to walk, cycle or scoot to school, with less air pollution, road danger, congestion and more space for people to physically distance. Healthy School Streets help to discourage car trips, particularly amongst parents/carers, by providing a safe and inviting space for more walking, cycling and scooting.

Why your views matter

Motor vehicles on Bedford Square, from the junction with Bloomsbury Street to Adeline Place would be prohibited at school pick-up and drop-off times. The restrictions would be enforced using an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera, which allows for some vehicles to be exempt from the restrictions. The one-way system on all sides of the square will remain in place, with the addition of a contra flow for cyclists only.

The scheme would be introduced as a trial for a maximum of 18 months. After 12 months a further consultation would be carried out to decide whether to make the scheme permanent.

WE PROPOSE TO -

• Create a timed Healthy School Street road closure on Mondays to Fridays from 8.00am-9.00am and 3pm-4.30pm during school term time. This will improve safety for local residents, parents and pupils accessing Ecole Jeanine Manuel School, by preventing vehicles from accessing Bedford Square at the Bloomsbury Street Junction at school pick-up and drop-off times
• Add a contraflow cycle lane to the southern side of Bedford Square to improve local cycling facilities and provide a link from the new cycling facilities on Bloomsbury Street and Gower Street
• Install relevant signage to alert drivers of the restriction, and an ANPR enforcement camera would be placed at the junction with Bloomsbury Street. The signage would state the road closure to all motor vehicle traffic (except exemptions – see below)   
•  Close the signs during school holidays   
• Add relevent signage for the cycles only contra flow

The following vehicles would be exempt from the restrictions:

• Vehicles registered to properties and businesses on the section of Bedford Square between Bloomsbury Street and Adeline Place
• Any vehicle being used for fire brigade, ambulance or policing purposes
• Refuse collection teams
• Blue Disabled Badge holders resident on the above section of Bedford Square
• Pupils of Ecole Jeanine Manuel that have a disability that prevents them from walking, cycling or scooting to school.

Taxis and deliveries will not be exempt, and these should be scheduled outside of the restricted times. However exemptions can be applied for in exceptional circumstances, such as when people with mobility issues may need essential taxis during the restricted hours.                     

If the scheme goes ahead, details of how to apply for an exemption will be posted to residents/businesses in the consultation area.     

In line with new Department for Transport guidance, we are now consulting on all new and amended Safe and Healthy Street schemes so that we can engage our local residents, businesses and stakeholders in changes happening on their streets. We want to know what you think about these proposals. A drawing of the proposals is in the related documents below.