Kingston's Low Traffic Neighbourhoods
The outbreak of COVID-19 has seen a complete transformation in people’s daily habits, with travel being significantly impacted for most of us. As lockdown restrictions continue to ease, it is predicted that personal car use will increase as people are reluctant to travel on public transport, unless we can encourage more people to walk or cycle. It is crucial that we create a safer environment for those modes of transport, to prevent area wide congestion. This is why we are taking immediate action.
As part of the Government's Emergency Active Travel scheme and the Transport for London (TfL) London Streetspace Plan to support active travel and aid social distancing, we will be introducing three, temporary low traffic neighbourhoods in the borough.
A low traffic neighbourhood is a residential area where ‘through’ motor traffic is discouraged or removed, and the remaining space is improved for residents. They are usually created using barriers (also known as modal filters) which allow walking and cycling through a certain street or area, but restrict access to motor vehicles. Physical barriers such as planters or signs are strategically placed to prevent vehicle access on selected roads to stop motorists using the area as a cut-through.
Our new low traffic neighbourhoods will help tackle through-traffic (‘rat-runs’) in residential neighbourhoods and maximise space for pedestrians and cyclists. They will also play a vital role in improving air quality, delivering safer roads and promoting active travel as we work towards becoming a cleaner, greener Kingston.
How to share your views
The consultation surveys for the low traffic neighbourhood schemes are being run alongside the trials. Each scheme being trialled has its own individual survey as shown below.
The consultation survey accepts one response per scheme from each person registered on the portal.
If you need to report something about any of the schemes, please email using the Streetspace@kingston.gov.uk email address.
You can also use this email address if you would like to add further feedback as part of the consultation.
How to submit a formal representation regarding the traffic management order (TMO).
The schemes were introduced in exceptional circumstances and a TMO was used to facilitate that. Please email us on TMO@kingston.gov.uk if you would like to submit a formal representation. Anyone may comment in writing and all comments will be considered. If your representation is an objection, it must state the reasons for your objection. Please reference the scheme as follows:
- Kingston Town - Albert Road - KingMap0045
- Kingston Town - Lower Ham Road - TMO-P302
- Surbiton - King Charles Road - TMO-P306
To view the maps and layouts of these plans, please see 'Documents'.
For further information please visit the FAQs page on our website: www.kingston.gov.uk/lowtrafficneighbourhoods.
Once the 6-month trials have been completed all feedback will be carefully considered along with the traffic data collated during this period. It will then be decided if the schemes should be extended for a period of time (up to 18 months from implementation), made permanent or removed.
