Healthy School Streets Consultation - Kingsgate Primary School EYFS & KS1 Proposals

Overview

Healthy School Street Consultation – Kingsgate Primary School EYFS & KS1  (Maygrove Road, Loveridge Road and Ariel Road) Trial Scheme Proposals

Overview

We are seeking your views on proposals to introduce Healthy School Street traffic restrictions in the Kingsgate Primary School EYFS & KS1 area, and to install cycle hangars at several locations within the area.

The Covid-19 pandemic changed how people in Camden live, travel and work. Many people have spent 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. We want to ensure that our streets support in both continuing recovery from the pandemic and by providing a lasting legacy of greener, safer, healthier travel, helping us to deliver our wider Transport Strategy objectives.

69% of households in Camden do not own a car, and around 85% of all trips by Camden residents are made on foot, by bike or on public transport. Supporting and encouraging those who can walk and cycle, by creating safer, healthier streets, will also help ensure that there is more space available on public transport and on our roads for those who need it the most.

In line with our Camden Transport Strategy and Climate Action Plan, and to continue supporting safe, active travel following the pandemic, we have been making changes across Camden as part of our Safe and Healthy Streets Programme.

Healthy School Streets create a safer and healthier environment by temporarily closing roads to motor 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 interact. The schemes help to discourage car trips, particularly amongst parents and carers, by providing a safe and inviting space for more walking, cycling, and scooting.

Seventeen Healthy School Street schemes have been rolled out across Camden since March 2020. This brings the total number of Healthy School Street schemes in the borough to 20, with 27 schools having timed or permanent road closures. The monitoring data that we have collected on these schemes, which can be accessed on our website, has shown that they have had a significant impact on reducing traffic levels outside schools, contributed to improved air quality and are strongly supported by pupils who want us to do more to improve their journey to school.

About the proposed Kingsgate Primary School EYFS & KS1 Healthy School Street scheme

Over the past two years, our Commonplace Safe Travel webpages have allowed residents to provide feedback on positive and negative transport issues across Camden. We have received a number of comments raising the following issues:

• • Many vehicles use Maygrove Road as a short cut between Kilburn High Road and West End Lane
  • The roads in the area are narrow with parked cars on both sides encouraging some drivers to speed between passing places
  • The roads suffer from heavy congestion, particularly at school drop off/pick up times
  • There is a lack of secure bike parking for residents
  • 4 comments included requests for a Healthy School Street or similar through traffic restrictions, with a total of 32 people agreeing with these comments

We have also collected traffic count data at a number of locations in the area across an average week during school term time which shows us that traffic levels on these streets are at some of their highest levels during school run times. Figure 1 below outlines data collected on Maygrove Road, however, Ariel Road and Loveridge Road also showed peaks at school run times.     

Figure 1 – Maygrove Road Average Weekday Daily Traffic Levels, week commencing 15^th March 2021

Figure 1 shows that traffic levels on Maygrove Road peak to an average of over 220 vehicles between 8am to 9am, and then rise again to around 200 vehicles between 3pm to 4pm. Maygrove Road, Loveridge Road and Ariel Road are streets with limited space for such numbers of motor vehicles around these times.

Therefore, we are proposing to implement timed Healthy School Street motor vehicle restrictions on these streets between 7.45am - 9.30am and 3.15pm -4.45pm, Monday to Friday during school term only. The proposals would make it safer and easier for children to walk, cycle or scoot to school, with less air pollution, road danger, congestion, and more space for people to interact. We propose to trial the measures using an Experimental Traffic Order for a period of up to 18 months, at which point a decision would be made whether to make the scheme permanent, remove it entirely, or keep it with some changes. If we proposed to make the trial scheme permanent with any substantial changes, we would hold a further full public consultation beforehand.

If the trial proposals are approved, we would carefully monitor the impacts of the scheme on both the restricted roads and those nearby. However, it is important to note that monitoring from previous Healthy School Street schemes has shown that there can be a reduction in traffic on neighbouring roads outside the restricted area, especially once residents have had time to get used to the changes.

A scheme drawing for the proposed measures can be found in the Related section at the bottom of this page. We are proposing the following changes:

• To create a timed Healthy School Street road closure Mondays to Fridays during school term time only from 7.45am - 9.30am and 3.15pm - 4.45pm, by preventing non-exempt motor vehicles from accessing the following:
• • Maygrove Road between the junctions of Barlow Road and Iverson Road
  • Loveridge Road between approximately house numbers 61 – 70 and the junction of Ariel Road
  • The whole length of Ariel Road

The proposed trial scheme is larger than a typical School Street scheme in order to provide a larger number of quieter and safer streets around the school and to ensure that the similar narrow streets of Loveridge Road and Ariel Road also have a reduction in traffic at these times.

• To install relevant signage to alert people driving to the restrictions, and Automatic Number Plate Recognition enforcement cameras at the start of each restricted section of the above roads. The signage would state the times when the road closures would be in place to all motor vehicle traffic and would be closed during school holidays.

In order to facilitate the above changes, there would be some changes to waiting restrictions and parking, as well as to the Maygrove Road – Iverson Road junction and zebra crossing. The proposed changes are outlined below and can be viewed on pages 2 and 3 of the consultation drawing in the Related section at the bottom of the page.

• Double yellow lines to be introduced around the junction of Barlow Road and Maygrove Road in line with the Council’s Safer Junctions Programme.
• Removal of 2 metres of resident parking space on Maygrove Road opposite the junction with Barlow Road to be replaced with double yellow lines to provide space for scheme signage.
• 2 metres of resident parking spce to be removed between 72 - 74 Loveridge Road to provide space for people driving non-exempt vehicles to turn around and exit the road without entering the restricted area.
• In order to offset some of the above loss of parking, it is proposed that the existing unused disabled bay (D.143) on Ariel Road would be converted to a resident parking bay.
• Left turn from Iverson Road into Maygrove Road banned at all times (i.e. not just during the proposed Healthy School Street hours) to improve safety of the junction and prevent left turning vehicles from striking the scheme signage.
• Zebra crossing at the eastern end of Maygrove Road by the junction with Iverson Road to be realigned and relocated 3 metres into the junction to provide space for scheme signage and a safe distance between the start of the proposed HSS restrictions and the crossing.

The following vehicles would be exempt from the timed Healthy School Street restrictions:

• Cycles including standard and electric powered bicycles
• Vehicles registered to properties and businesses on the sections of the streets within the timed restriction area (exemptions would need to be agreed with the Council)
• Any vehicle being used for ambulance, fire brigade or policing purposes
• Refuse collection vehicles
• Door to door services such as Plus Bus and Dial A Ride
• Blue Disabled Badge holders that require access (exemptions would need to be agreed with the Council)
• Vehicles belonging to parents or carers of pupils of Kingsgate Primary Lower School that have a disability that prevents them from walking, cycling, or scooting to school (exemptions would need to be agreed with the Council)

School staff and visitors to the schools would not be exempt. Taxis and delivery vehicles would also not be exempt, and such trips would need be scheduled outside of the restricted times or the vehicles would need to be parked outside of the restricted area. However, exemptions can be applied for in exceptional circumstances, such as when elderly or disabled people may need essential taxis during the restricted hours by contacting the Healthy School Streets team over the phone or via email.                

The Automatic Number Plate Recognition Cameras would only issue fines to non-exempt vehicles being driven into the restricted area during the restriction times, so any vehicle already parked within the restricted area could be driven out at any time without receiving a fine.                     

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

There would be no exemptions available for the banned left turn at the Iverson Road-Maygrove Road junction for any vehicles at any time apart from emergency services.

The above proposals have been developed in line with the Construction Management Plan for the Liddell Road development, which already prohibits construction vehicles from visiting the site between the same proposed Healthy School Street restriction times. If the scheme is approved, the Council would work with the construction management company to ensure that the scheme would not unduly affect these works.

The following photo shows an example of an existing Healthy School Street, which demonstrates how the proposed scheme could look.

Photo of Healthy School Street Signage on Tonbridge Street, similar signage is proposed to be installed as part of this scheme

Permanent bike hangar installations on Maygrove Road, Loveridge Road, Ariel Road and Iverson Road.

Residents in Camden have told us that they would like to have more lockable bike parking close to where they live. We know that a lack of somewhere to keep a bike safely can put people off taking up cycling. As a result, we are rolling out a programme of installing cycle hangars across the borough.

Bike hangers also help to deliver our own Transport Strategy priorities, which were strongly supported when we consulted on them, including increasing cycling, improving air quality, and making our streets and transport networks safe, accessible, and inclusive for all.

Bike hangars offer local residents the opportunity to hire secure on-street cycle parking close to where they live. This is particularly beneficial to residents where storage space is limited within properties.

Therefore, we are also consulting on introducing the following changes on a permanent basis:

• To install four bike hangars on Maygrove Road, which would require the removal of 6 metres of permit holder parking space outside number 176 and 5.2 metres outside numbers 78-80 and provide secure cycle parking for up to 24 standard bikes for local residents.
• To install two bike hangars on Ariel Road (opposite numbers 25-27), which would require the removal of 5.2 metres of permit holder parking space and provide secure cycle parking for up to 12 standard bikes for local residents. We would also remove a further 3.5 metres of permit holder parking space to extend the existing dockless e-scooter and cycle bay adjacent to this.
• To install two bike hangars on Iverson Road (opposite number 6), which would require the removal of 5.2 metres of permit holder parking space and provide secure cycle parking for up to 12 standard bikes for local residents.
• To install two bike hangars on Loveridge Road, which would require the removal of 5.2 metres of permit holder parking space and provide secure cycle parking for up to 12 standard bikes for local residents.

The above proposals would help us to provide new secure bike parking space for local residents. There are currently 140 residents on the waiting list for the nearest bike hangar on Garlinge Road. Usage data for dockless e-scooters and cycles indicates that the use of these kinds of transport is increasing across the borough so the extension of the existing bay will provide space for future anticipated growth of these services. 

Bike hangars are installed and maintained by Cyclehoop, the Council’s approved supplier. Further details are available on their website: https://www.cyclehoop.com/product/shelters-canopies/bikehangar/

Each hangar is 1.33m high with a curved profile roof (see image below). Maintenance is covered by the annual membership fee which is currently £36 per year.

Photo of bike hangars, which are proposed to be installed at the above locations

Why your views matter

The proposed changes, if approved, would be implemented as a trial under an Experimental Traffic Order for 18 months. Officers would seek the views of local residents and stakeholders during the trial period to help decide, alongside monitoring data and relevant policy contexts, whether to retain, remove or amend the scheme after the 18-month trial period. The proposed installation of the cycle hangars would not form part of the trial and would be installed permanently, if approved.

Your views are important in providing feedback both on the proposed scheme as a whole and elements of it, and we would therefore welcome your responses on the pages that follow. To view the plans and find out more about the proposals, click on the links in the Related section at the bottom of this page.

What happens next?

After the consultation, a decision report will be produced and published online via our website. Local residents and stakeholders will be notified of the outcome. The report will consider a broad range of information including consultation responses, relevant policies, officer observations, and other data/information including monitoring information collected to date.

All of this information will be considered in making recommendations in the report about (1) whether the proposed changes should be implemented as a trial under an Experimental Traffic Order for 18 months; and (2) whether the cycle hangars should be installed permanently.

We would collect a range of pre and post scheme monitoring data: traffic counts on the streets proposed to have restrictions and those nearby to ascertain the impact of the scheme, monitoring of traffic speeds, levels of cycling, and air quality as well as working with the school to learn about pupil’s thoughts on the scheme and its impact on travel behaviour. We would also have a Commonplace survey open for the duration of the trial so that feedback could be collected on the scheme and Camden officers would be available to answer any questions or concerns via our dedicated Healthy School Streets email inbox and phone line on 020 7974 8796.

What happens next

 As the consultation is now closed,your views, and those of everyone who contributes to this consultation, will be analysed and considered, alongside relevant data available on the scheme and in light of how the scheme aligns with our current policy objectives, in order to put forward recommendations on whether to proceed with the proposals. A summary of this analysis will be provided in the decision report, and will be made available on the Camden Council website in due course.

If you have any other ideas for improvements to make travel safer and healthier in this area, please go to Safe Travel Camden Map  to make some suggestions.