Proposed Permanent Timed Road Close on Macklin Street (St Joseph’s Primary School)

Overview

The Council is writing to seek your views on whether the existing timed closure of Macklin Street introduced as a trial should be made permanent.

You may have been consulted by Camden Council in November 2015 on the experimental closure of Macklin Street at the junction with Drury Lane between 08.30hrs – 09:15hrs and 15:15hrs – 16:00hrs (during school term time only). The purpose of the closure was to make it safer for children to walk to school in the morning and when leaving school in the afternoon. This was introduced to address concerns expressed by the school about poor driver behaviour during the school opening and closure times, resulting in conflicts between pedestrians and motor vehicles. The results of the original consultation illustrated that 80% of the respondents expressed their support for the proposal and because of this the experimental timed closure was approved.

The experimental timed closure was implemented in July 2016 through the use of street signage and reinforced by retractable bollard managed by school staff. The closure was the first trial undertaken as part of the Healthy Streets scheme in Camden.  Since the trial was introduced, the number of parents driving their children to school has reduced; this informs us that the trial has been successful in reducing car journeys to school. The school and some of its parents have also reported that they consider the trial a success and that they feel safer walking with their children to and from school.

 PREVIOUS ROAD LAYOUT

CURRENT ROAD LAYOUT

Why your views matter

We would like to make the trial permanent as we feel that it has improved safety for school children and reduced private car use for the school run. This meets our policies of improving safety for those who were already walking to school but has also encouraged more to walk and cycle to and from school.

For these reasons, the Council is proposing to make the trial scheme permanent with the same operational times as the current trial closure.

An Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form has been included. You do not have to complete this form; however, any information you provide will help us in making an informed decision on our proposals. The information provided may be used in our reports; however, your personal details will remain confidential. You can download a copy of the form by clicking HERE

While it will not be possible to reply to you individually, all comments will be taken into account. The Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Transport and Planning will make a decision in November 2017 on whether or not to proceed with the changes and you will be informed via the council’s website of the outcome of this consultation within three months, where possible.

Under the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, your response is available for public inspection; however your personal details will remain confidential. Please only write to us about the consultation issue. If you want to comment on any other matter, please use a separate letter.

What happens next

While it will not be possible to reply to you individually, all comments will be taken into account. At the end of this consultation exercise, a report will be prepared analysing the comments received and officers’ recommendations. This report will be presented to Director of Regeneration and Planning who will make a decision whether or not to proceed with the scheme. Under the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, your response is available for public inspection; however your personal details will remain confidential. Please only write to us about the consultation issue.