Through traffic restriction trial
Following the 2021 application for New Sydney Place and Sydney Road to become a Low Traffic Neighbourhood, the 2021 Liveable Neighbourhoods consultation which demonstrated strong local support for this proposal, and the 2022 co-design workshop (PDF) that began to develop plans with input from the community, the council announced in November 2023 (B&NES) that a through-traffic restriction on Sydney Road at its junction with New Sydney Place would be put in place for a trial period of at least six months.
Aims of the scheme
Liveable Neighbourhoods are being developed to improve residential streets and encourage active and sustainable forms of travel such as walking and cycling. Specifically, the Sydney Road through-traffic restriction aims to:
- Remove all through traffic using the road to skip the lights on the A36.
- Prevent speeding, which had previously made the road dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists and had been identified in consultation responses as the area’s biggest traffic-related problem after excessive through traffic.
- Create a safer, healthier and more pleasant environment for residents and everyone accessing local amenities including two schools, Sydney Gardens, the canal and the Holburne Museum.
More details on why this scheme is needed on Sydney Road can be found in our application to become a Low Traffic Neighbourhood. More information about the Liveable Neighbourhoods programme as a whole and its aims can be found on the council website (B&NES).
Measures included in the trial
- A set of six bollards has been installed across Sydney Road at its junction with New Sydney Place. Cyclists, pedestrians, people with mobility aids and emergency services are able to pass through the filter.
- The dedicated filter lane into Sydney Road from Warminster Road has been removed and the junction improved to reduce vehicle speeds. The previous layout had encouraged many drivers on the A36 to turn into Sydney Road.
- Vehicle access to all properties is maintained, although drivers may have to change which entrance of the road they use. No parking spaces have been lost.
Monitoring and public consultation
A public consultation on the through traffic restriction is open for the first six months of the trial, until 3 October 2024. Your supportive and constructive comments are very important to ensure that this scheme is successful and its improvements to life in the area are made permanent.
The council is monitoring traffic and air quality in the area affected by this scheme to help assess its impact. More information on what data is being collected and how it will be used is provided on the consultation page.
Links
New Sydney Place LTN
LN Consultation Report
What is a Liveable Neighbourhood? (B&NES)
Waltham Forest LN example (YouTube)
New Sydney Place LN page (B&NES)
Project development timeline (B&NES)
Through traffic restriction trial press release, November 2023 (B&NES)
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