Proposed Healthy School Street - New End

Overview

PUBLIC CONSULTATION - SUMMARY OF PROPOSALS

Proposed New Healthy School Street Scheme on New End, NW3 (New End School)

SUMMARY OF PROPOSALS

• We are consulting on two proposals, which could be implemented together, to reduce motor vehicle traffic levels, and to improve road safety & air quality outside schools on New End
• One of the proposals would also restrict wider traffic ‘rat-running’ affecting streets connected to New End. Local residents with a CA-H Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) Permit would be exempt (other exemptions apply as set out in this document)
• Any proposals taken forward would be implemented as a ‘trial’, under an Experimental Traffic Order, for 12 months and a further consultation would then take place on any proposed permanent arrangements
• This scheme would be similar to other Healthy School Streets already operating in Camden, details of which can be found here: https://www.camden.gov.uk/healthy-school-streets. That link also contains a presentation on the feasibility study for these New End proposals, under the heading 'our work so far' and 'future plans'

DETAILED PROPOSALS

We are seeking your views on the Council’s proposals to create a safer and more pleasant environment in the vicinity of New End Primary School, in particular to address the safety of students at the start and end of the school day. The scheme could also benefit other local schools including Heathside Preparatory School.

The proposal for a Healthy School Street scheme follows concerns raised by the School and some local residents regarding the safety of students due to the congested road network in the area, insufficient pedestrian infrastructure (in some locations), and heavy parking activity. There have also been complaints made to both the school and Transport Strategy team, from local residents regarding bad driver behaviour and parking issues on New End near the schools, as well as reports of ‘rat-running’ traffic on New End and other nearby streets.

The Healthy School Streets scheme (HSS) is an initiative set up to reclaim the road space in the vicinity of a school, providing children with the opportunity to travel to and from school in a safer, less polluted environment, by closing the road to traffic at school opening and closing times. The scheme meets a number of Camden’s Transport Strategy objectives which include improving local air quality and encouraging healthy lifestyles by promoting walking, cycling or the use of public transport for school journeys.

An extensive feasibility study, and subsequent public engagement meeting has been carried out to establish options for a public consultation for the scheme. As part of the feasibility study, traffic surveys were conducted and analysed during 2018 which showed that:

• During school AM/PM opening/closing times, very high levels of traffic were observed on New End coming from Heath Street in an easterly direction. This was particularly pronounced between 7.30am and 9.30am, with around 300 motor vehicles recorded on New End heading eastbound in that period, on a typical school day. At peak times during that period, around one vehicle every 12 seconds was recorded, which is particularly high for a narrow residential street. The graph shows the number of vehicles recorded on a typical school day.

Please click HERE to view the graph.

• This traffic flow in the morning peak appears to be predominantly “through-traffic” (around three-quarters of observed traffic), rather than dropping off/picking up school children, with that traffic then continuing into (particularly) Gayton Road and Well Walk, and (to a lesser extent) Flask Walk and Willow Road.
• However, a measure to reduce this ‘rat-running’ traffic would also impact on the ability of parents to drop off/pick up their children, helping to reduce the remaining school-related traffic as well. 22% of children at New End School are currently driven to the school, and many of these trips are being made for distances that could be walked or cycled.
• Traffic problems appear to be particularly related to AM and PM school run peaks rather than interpeak or weekend times.
• Baseline traffic flow levels on multiple other streets in the local area have been recorded (see FAQs) and recorded as ‘pre’ data ahead of implementation of any scheme, to compare to ‘post’ data which will be collected if a scheme is approved, to assess impacts on other local streets.

We are consulting on two proposals listed below, and would like to hear your views. If any of the proposals are implemented following consultation it would be on an experimental basis for a year, with extensive ‘pre’ and ‘post’ monitoring carried out to help assess impacts, before further consultation on potentially making the scheme permanent. Proposals which include Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras will have exemptions for residents with a CA-H residents parking permit, residents with a Blue Disabled Badge, and others within a restricted zone (as shown in the plans) that do not have a CA-H parking permit, because they have off street parking in that specific area.

Proposals

Proposal A - Restricting access to the part of New End closest to New End School at School opening/closing times.

This proposal would create a timed road closure (during New End Schools’ opening and closing times e.g. 8:00 – 9:00am and 3:00 - 4:00pm), Monday - Friday during school term time only. The closure would be on the short stretch of New End, from the T-Junction of New End and New End Square (west) by installing collapsible bollards there.  A build out of the footway at the junction is also proposed to create a safe crossing point for school pupils and pedestrians as shown in the proposed layout (plan A). This could potentially address the parking and air quality issues in the vicinity of New End School during school opening and closing times. Residents parked within the closure would be able to drive out via the southernmost part of New End and New End Square, but they would not be able to drive back into the restricted zone at the restricted times. Alternatively the closure could be enforced using ANPR cameras, which would allow residents in the southernmost part of New End to be fully exempt from the restriction.

Please click HERE to view the plan for proposal A

Proposal B - Create a timed road closure at the junction of New End and Heath Street during the morning peak times of 7.30am-9.30am only

This would be enforced by using an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera placed at the Heath Street and New End junction, as shown in the proposed layout (plan B). CA-H permit holders would be exempt, as well as Blue Disabled Badge Holders. In addition, anyone with off-street parking in the zone shown in grey in Plan B would also be exempt. Refuse vehicles may also be exempted. This proposal may deter traffic ‘rat running’ in the area, as it creates a restriction zone for drivers passing through and particularly prevents ‘through-traffic’ in the morning peak. Parents of both New End School and Heathside Preparatory school would be more restricted from dropping off children in the morning, and this option would therefore encourage more sustainable travel modes to both schools.

Please click HERE to view the plan for proposal B

Why your views matter

THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT

The Council will be pleased to hear your views on the proposals we are consulting on as well as any alternative suggestions or objections you may have to any aspect of this scheme. The response submission deadline for this consultation is FRIDAY 29th MARCH 2019.

RESPONSE SUBMISSION:

Please submit your response to this consultation no later than 29.03.19 via one of the following three options below:

Option 1 Online – submit your response by answering a series of consultation questions and providing your comments on the online survey - link located below

Option 2 Email – submit your response via email to: TransportConsultations@camden.gov.uk

Option 3 Post – submit your response using the following free post address (no stamp required) to the London Borough of Camden, Supporting Communities Directorate, Transport Strategy Service (FAO M.Jamieson), FREEPOST RSLT-RJBR-TXAA, London Borough of Camden,Town Hall, Judd St WC1H 9JE.

Please Note: if you are responding on behalf of an organisation, only ONE reply will be accepted. You must give your full postal address when responding to the consultation if you want us to consider your views.

An Equality and Diversity form has been included HERE that is voluntary for you to complete and send to us with your response via email or using free post address as outlined above. Any information you provide on this form will help us in making an informed decision on the scheme.

What happens next

Who is being consulted?

All properties properties located close to the proposals, within the consultation area outlined in the MAP (within the area bordered by the red lines) should recieve the conultation leaflet by post. Ward Members, businesses, local and statutory groups will also be consulted.

While it will not be possible to reply to your individually, all comments will be taken into account. At the end of this consultation period, a report will be written analysing the comments received and officers’ recommendations. This report will be presented to the Director of Regeneration and Planning (Supporting Communities Directorate) who will make a decision whether or not to proceed with the scheme.

Under the Local Government Access to Information Act 1985, your consultation response will be available for inspection if required; however, your personal details will remain confidential. Please only write to us with matters associated with this consultation. If you do have any further questions or require clarification about the proposed scheme, please do not hesitate contact Michelle Jamieson on the above contact details.