Minutes:
Seamus Adams, Head of Commercial Operations and Development and Cllr Louise Krupski, Cabinet Member for the Environment & Climate Action provided an update on the pilot scheme & consultation with local residents.
Seamus Adams (Head of Commercial Operations & Development) and supported by Cllr Louise Krupski (Cabinet Member for Environment & Climate) gave an overview of the scheme, consultation, next steps and discussed areas of concern.
An active travel scheme introduced in Sydenham to increase walking and cycling, reduce car journeys and improve road safety is set to be made permanent following consultation with local residents. Modal filters in Bishopthorpe Road and Silverdale will be retained and converted into camera-enforced restrictions, with access for emergency service vehicles.
Modal filters prevent
through-traffic on certain streets in order
to reduce the number of car journeys made in the area and
encourage walking and cycling. This helps to reduce air pollution,
lower carbon emissions and improve road
safety, supporting Lewisham Council’s work to improve
people’s health and wellbeing, tackle the Climate Emergency
and make Lewisham a net-zero borough by 2030.
As part of a review of the trial scheme in Sydenham, local residents were asked to share their views on the modal filters. The results of the consultation survey showed that:
§ Respondents tended to agree that modal filters had a positive impact on walking and cycling (48% agree vs 42% disagree), improved road safety (48% agree vs 37% disagree) and helped reduce unnecessary car journeys (45% agree vs 44% disagree).
§ 43% of respondents said they thought modal filters helped to reduce traffic and congestion, compared to 45% who disagreed.
§ Respondents tended to agree that retaining the modal filters with camera-enforcement would have a positive impact on road safety (46% agree vs 37% disagree), reduce noise pollution (44% agree vs 38% disagree) and improve air quality (44% agree vs 38% agree).
§ 43% of respondents agreed that retaining the modal filters with camera enforcement would help encourage people to walk and cycle and reduce unnecessary car journeys in the area, compared to 43% who disagreed.
§
43% of respondents indicated that they thought
retaining the modal filters with camera enforcement would help
reduce traffic and congestion, compared to 44% who
disagreed.
It was acknowledged that the outcome of the consultation was only marginally in favour of the installation of the new measures. Main concerns were: traffic diverting onto other nearby roads, inadvertently entering the restricted areas, increased main route traffic, increased pollution and signage.
Key points raised included:
- There were concerns that the new traffic flow system would cause higher congestion – the new traffic measures will continue to be monitored to look at the impact on surrounding areas.
Questions & Answers
- The lack of signage was raised as an issue as it was important that drivers were aware of the changes to routes – It was agreed to install further signage to ensure that changes were easily visible to drivers.
- The changes have affected surrounding roads with increased traffic, are these being continued to be monitored? The council are continuing to monitor the impact on surrounding roads.
-
What measures have been taken to limit vandalism to
the cameras? The cameras are installed at least 20 feet high and
are rarely vandalised and if so, are repaired within 24
hours.
- Has the Council thought about installing ‘acoustic cameras’? Not currently however we will look at the possibilities and the feedback from other boroughs where they have been installed.
-
Air quality monitoring
in Sydenham - live data is provided by Imperial College and the
links can be found on the LB Lewisham air quality
page.
Data to be provided at the next assembly.
§ LB Lewisham air quality https://lewisham.gov.uk/myservices/environment/air-pollution/check-air-quality-levels
§ Live data https://www.londonair.org.uk/london/asp/publicbulletin.asp?la_id=23
- If pollution will take several years to be reduced, are there any plans to plant trees to help the situation? the information for Sydenham is not available today, however this year, 500 trees have been planted across the borough by Street Trees for Living. Perhaps local Cllrs will be able to update at the next meeting.