Proposed Low Traffic Neighbourhood in East Sheen

Overview

The Council is keen to engage with the community to establish what long term traffic changes (if any) would be supported to improve the East Sheen neighbourhood.  In recent years, the area has suffered from an increase in traffic using local residential roads between Richmond Park (Sheen Gate) and the Upper Richmond Road West (South Circular).

Following a local petition that triggered our intervention criteria, some initial traffic restrictions were introduced on an experimental basis, to try and help discourage through traffic.  This had some early knock on effects that led to further measures being implemented on a temporary basis whilst a long term series of options were being explored.  The Council recognises that although the early surveys from these measures showed a 10% drop in overall traffic in the area, the present situation is not fully effective. Furthermore, the emergency closure of Hammersmith Bridge has accelerated the need for a wider consultation on new traffic packages seeking to create the best balance of traffic movements in the area.

The Council is keen to reach consensus on the long-term traffic picture for the area and how a low traffic neighbourhood could potentially assist this.  A low traffic neighbourhood is designed to keep through traffic on the most appropriate classified road network and discourage/prevent it using unclassified residential roads. This can however cause some inconvenience for local access, so we are keen to better understand how most people would like to see the balance of traffic on each road classification.

Finding the right balance between restricting through traffic in the area whilst not inconveniencing residents and businesses is a challenging task.  The more one introduces effective measures to deter cutting through, the more likely local access is affected.  However, the more unattractive one makes a cut through journey, the less likely people are to use this route. They either find alternative routes, or they may consider switching modes of transport creating considerable benefits around congestion, road safety, air quality and local environment.

Only a package of coordinated measures will provide an effective long-term solution.  These measures have been designed to ensure that through traffic is heavily restricted and that any displacement traffic is kept on appropriate classified routes.  Any ‘unpicking’ of measures from these weakens their ability to restrain through traffic but we appreciate this is something some people will be more open to, so welcome comments and thoughts around these.

Accordingly, the Council is initially suggesting the following packages of measures for discussion.  All the options require additional waiting restrictions (i.e. yellow lines) on Sheen Lane to improve two-way traffic flow. (If supported, new restrictions would be subject to a separate statutory consultation):

Package Option 1

• Introduction of waiting and/or limited road widening on Sheen Lane to improve two-way traffic flow
• Introduction of one-way working on Shrewsbury Ave (west to east)
• Vehicle closure at junction of Coval Road/Medcroft Gardens and Temple Sheen Road/Medcroft Gardens
• Removal of one-way working on Coval Road and Temple Sheen Road
• Removal of Sheen Lane/Palmerston Road and Christchurch Road/Observatory Road banned turns
• Retention of banned left turn from Sheen Lane into Sheen Gate Gardens
• Introduction of right turn ban in Berwyn Road at junction with Upper Richmond Road West
• Vehicle closure in Fife Road near the junction with The Mall

Advantages

• Reduction in overall volume of vehicles cutting through East Sheen
• Better traffic flow on the main classified road (B351 Sheen Lane)
• Restriction of possible cut through along Shrewsbury Avenue
• No attractive cut through opportunities at any time. Minimal number of changes/restrictions required
• Less enforcement needed (therefore lower cost)

Disadvantages

• More restrictive to local movements
• Potential loss of parking spaces on Sheen Lane, Coval Road and Temple Sheen Road

Please click here for a plan of Option 1.

Package Option 2

• Introduction of waiting and/or limited road widening on Sheen Lane to improve two-way traffic flow
• Introduction of one-way working on Shrewsbury Ave (west to east)
• Removal of Palmerston Road and Observatory Road banned turns
• Replace one way working on Coval Road and Temple Sheen Road with left turn bans onto Upper Richmond Road West (South Circular), subject to TfL approval
• Retention of banned left turn from Sheen Lane into Sheen Gate Gardens
• Introduction of right turn ban in Berwyn Road at its junction with Upper Richmond Road West
• Vehicle closure in Fife Road near the junction with The Mall

Advantages

• Reduction in overall volume of vehicles cutting through the East Sheen
• Better traffic flow on the main classified road (B351 Sheen Lane)
• Restriction of possible cut through along Shrewsbury Avenue
• Less prohibitive to local movements
• Minimum number of changes/restrictions made
• Loss of parking restricted to Sheen Lane.

Disadvantages

• More enforcement needed (therefore higher cost)
• Less likely to restrict rat running numbers to same extent as option 1 and would not prevent through traffic cutting through in opposite direction (i.e. between Upper Richmond Road West (South Circular) and Royal Park (Sheen Gate) with potential knock on effects to other roads in area
• Requires TfL approval/action

Please click here for a plan of Option 2.

Package Option 3

• Introduction of waiting and/or limited road widening on Sheen Lane to improve two-way traffic flow;
• Retention of Palmerston Road and Observatory Road banned turns
• Removal of one-way restrictions on Coval Road and Temple Sheen Road
• Retention of banned left turn from Sheen Lane into Sheen Gate Gardens
• Martindale vehicle road closure (junction with Well Lane)
• Temple Sheen vehicle road closure (junction with Well Lane)
• West Temple Sheen vehicle road closure (junction with Westhay Gdns)
• Vehicle closure in Fife Road near the junction with The Mall

Advantages

• Reduction in overall volume of vehicles cutting through the East Sheen
• Better traffic flow on the main classified road (B351 Sheen Lane)
• Tie in opportunity with potential School Street scheme on West Temple Sheen

Disadvantages

• More prohibitive to some local movements
• Higher number of changes/restrictions made
• Would not prevent traffic cutting through between Upper Richmond Road West (South Circular) and Royal Park (Sheen Gate)
• Some loss of on-street parking

Please click here for a plan of Option 3.

Package Option 4

• Introduction of waiting and/or limited road widening on Sheen Lane to improve two-way traffic flow;
• Removal of Palmerston Road and Observatory Road banned turns
• Retention of one-way restrictions on Coval Road and Temple Sheen Road
• Replace banned left turn from Sheen Lane into Sheen Gate Gardens, with NO ENTRY
• Introduction of right turn ban in Berwyn Road at junction with Upper Richmond Road West

Advantages

• Reduction in overall volume of vehicles cutting through the East Sheen
• Better traffic flow on the main classified road (B351 Sheen Lane)
• Loss of parking restricted to Sheen Lane.
• Refinement of existing measures

Disadvantages

• Would not prevent traffic cutting through between Upper Richmond Road West (South Circular) and Royal Park (Sheen Gate)

Please click here for a plan of Option 4.

We would welcome your feedback on the above packages and any other suggestions or observations you may like to make.

Enforcement to date has been limited due to the costs involved (and the desire to only commit to these once a long term solution has been agreed) but if an agreed package is brought forward, these will have the associated enforcement.  Enforcement will encourage compliance with any posted traffic restrictions and apply to all drivers, including residents. 

Consideration was given to introducing an ‘Except for access’ type scheme.  This would exempt residents, and those with legitimate business in the area, from any restrictions. However, even with automatic number plate recognition technology it is not practical to maintain an exemption list that would cover residents, their visitors and occasional deliveries etc.

This could result in a large number of penalty charge notices being issued in error with significant Council human resource and cost implications to maintain and run such a system.

Finally, some residents have asked the Council to consider the introduction of a controlled parking zone (CPZ) within the area shown by an orange line on the attached plans (Options 1-4).

In order to explore options for a CPZ, it would be good at this stage to get an in-principle indication of support or otherwise.  A CPZ would lead to an overall reduction in parked cars and parking stress on the roads, enhanced movement and potential future displacement of cars parking from initiatives such as the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).  Disadvantages are primarily seen as the cost to users of permits for such a scheme.  

If there is support in principle for a CPZ, then a separate and more detailed consultation (which would outline options in terms of days/hours of operation) would be considered.

For Frequently Asked Questions about the above proposals, please click here.

Have your say

We are seeking your views on the way forward and would be grateful if you could complete the online questionnaire below. Should you require a paper copy, please contact us at consultation@richmond.gov.uk.

To aid this conversation, the Council has set up two drop-in sessions:

Christchurch C of E Church Hall, Christchurch Road, SW14 7AW (Monday 12^th August 2019 – 4pm to 8pm).

All Saints Church, East Sheen Ave, SW14 8AX (Thursday 12^th September 2019  – 4pm to 9pm). PLEASE NOTE NEW VENUE.

• There will be a short presentation on the proposals from Cllr Alexander Ehmann at 8pm – with the chance to ask him questions.

Officers will be on hand to discuss the traffic data collected to date, to talk through the proposed packages as well as any other thoughts or concerns residents may have. We would encourage people to attend these sessions BEFORE completing the on-line questionnaire.

What happens next

The results of the consultation will be published on the Council’s website, and these along with traffic surveys will be formally considered by the Transport and Air Quality Services Committee later in 2019. This meeting will be held in public.  All options remain open at this stage including the removal of all experimental restrictions.