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We recently consulted on proposals aimed at making children’s journeys to and from school safer and healthier. The schools that were included in the proposals were St Winifred’s RC School, Trinity CofE School Secondary School, Trinity CofE Primary School, Brindishe Lee School, Brindishe Manor School, and St Saviours RC School. The approach we consulted on was different to traditional school streets, which involve closing the road outside the entrance to schools at drop off and pick up times.

The measures we consulted on proposed using existing enforcement cameras over a wider area to reduce through traffic around these schools, at the beginning and end of the school day. After careful consideration, and having listened to the feedback we received, we will not go ahead with the proposals. The feedback was mixed, with some strongly in favour and some strongly opposed to the approach. However, there was clear support for road safety measures for children at school start and end times.

In response to this, the Council is now planning a longer term roll-out of traditional school streets, which have been successful in other parts of the borough and across London. We will do this on a school-by-school basis, in discussion with the schools, and will share more details in due course. You can find out more about School Streets in Lewisham at lewisham.gov.uk/schoolstreets.

We also wish to let you know that we will be reviewing the Lewisham and Lee Green Low Traffic Neighbourhood shortly and will want to find out your thoughts and experiences. This will include a public consultation, which will be widely publicised.

Enforcement cameras have been installed at locations in Upwood Road, Manor Lane north and Woodyates Road where physical barriers have continued to be affected by tampering and vandalism. The cameras will become fully operational when all the necessary signs are in place. Residents and businesses in the affected areas will receive a letter explaining the changes. Other filters in the Lewisham and Lee Green Low Traffic Neighbourhood will continue in their current form and will be kept under review.

As part of the longer term changes for the Hither Green and Catford area that were announced last autumn, enforcement cameras are being installed at locations in Hither Green Lane and Springbank Road. These will allow vehicles to pass through in both directions, except heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). As with the new cameras in Upwood Road, Manor Lane north and Woodyates Road, signs will be put in place before they activated – and residents and businesses in the immediate vicinity will receive a letter explaining the changes.

We are continuing our work to develop the current programme of sites with a view to having them ready when schools reopen fully. However, if the Government decides to delay re-opening until after Easter, we will consider on a case by case basis whether to start school streets earlier this would be for the benefit of pupils who are currently still attending. The schools included in the programme include:

As you will understand our ambitious programme means that we working with different contractors and co-ordinating with multiple different suppliers. Many of our partners are experiencing difficulties in planning workloads with staff being off sick with COVID-19 and recent adverse weather conditions. Subsequently there may be unforeseen delays, making it difficult at this stage to give definitive timescales for when work will happen at each site.

Our intention is for the majority of the physical works to be complete by the end of February half term, aside from of a handful of schools where the works are more complex with a longer lead time. As usual we will keep residents and Commonplace updated as timescales become clearer.

Installing enforcement cameras

For those school street schemes that will have cameras to promote safety and adherence, we need to implement a period of testing on site before they become fully operational. We will notify residents in the vicinity of the closure before this happens. Those with properties within the schemes will receive a letter explaining clearly how to register for exemptions in advance.

We will be installing street signs which will also show when the school streets in operation. These signs will only operate during term times and be covered over using special ‘flaps’ during school holidays.

We have been using a temporary traffic order to put in a timed closure of Coulgate Street, restricting access to motor vehicles. Feedback from both residents and businesses on Comomonplace has been extremely positive with people getting a ‘real life’ insight into how our streets can feel if reprioritised.

Responding to the feedback from local people we have made some adjustments to the scheme, which will be put in place starting on Monday 14 December. These changes are:

- We have moved the southern closure further north to retain some parking for deliveries, emergency/ disabled access to the station

- The plastic barriers will be replaced with wooden planters

- We are making the closure 24/7 rather than 8am – 10pm to go further in our efforts to prioritise walking and cycling as well as maintaining space for social distancing.

Enforcement cameras have now been installed on Leahurst Road. The camera will enforce against 7.5 tonne vehicles from passing through the modal filter as well as enforcing the west bound movement through the modal filter.

We’ve continued to listen to feedback from residents regarding the George Lane modal filter and the impact on streets in the area.

As a result we are removing the existing modal filter and replacing it with a 7.5 tonne weight restriction to deter heavy goods vehicles. This change is intended to reduce traffic impacts being experienced in surrounding roads, most notably in Springrice Road. Works to change the George Lane filter will commence on Friday 18 December. This will be followed by further changes in the New Year as part of traffic management measures for lorries across the wider area.

This will mean that there will be a short period of time where lorries may use Springrice Road. However, it is expected that this will be minimal, and will be offset by a reduction in traffic overall as a result of the changes at George Lane. All measures will be accompanied by appropriate signage, including advanced warning signs. The sat-nav companies will also be notified of the changes and we will continue to monitor the area.

Our aim is to implement 26 school streets throughout the borough by the end of January. The School Streets schemes aim to radically reduce traffic around schools during drop of and pick up times, creating a safer healthier environment for pupils.

We already have ten schemes in operation, and work has started this month on delivering the remainder. We will continue to work with residents and schools and respond to feedback as the schemes become live over the coming weeks.

Additionally, we will be working towards delivering some extensions to these existing school streets, and potentially some new locations (subject to funding) by the spring.

We will also be announcing plans for some improvements to the roads outside schools in the Lee Green area in the New Year. In the interim, some road markings and signage needed on the approaches to the schools will be implemented in the week commencing 14 December, but this could change if the weather prevents the road markings from being laid.

We understand that the School Streets programme is a desired scheme among residents. We are keen to see School Streets rolled out across the borough and are working to implement these as quickly as possible.

We will delivering 16 new School Streets with support from the schools, parents and residents. This will bring the total number of school Streets in the borough to 26.

School streets are timed closures of roads outside schools, which prevent vehicular traffic passing through at the start and end of the school day. Evidence from well-established schemes suggests School Streets can significantly improve air quality near the school, reduce traffic volumes, and increase the number of pupil’s walking and cycling to school. School Streets also support social distancing, preventing crowding on the pavement at pick up and drop off times.

School Streets schemes have already been introduced at ten local schools. Feedback from staff, parents and residents has been very positive. On hearing the news that their child’s school would be joining the scheme earlier in the autumn, one parent wrote:

“Just a quick email to say how happy I am to hear that the school streets road closure is coming to Myatt Garden Primary School. It definitely puts children first before cars. Well done to whoever was involved in making this happen.”

Another comment from a local resident and parent about the scheme at All Saints Primary School read:

“Honestly I really like the school street closure. Seeing the children and parents walking down the road without any risk makes it the best solution. And I can guarantee that my neighbours have the same opinion.”

Viv Nicolls, the Head Teacher at Prendergast Ladywell, said:

“Since starting the School Street project in September, Ewhurst Road has become a cleaner and kinder place to be at pick-up and drop-off times. With COVID restrictions limiting access to our school site, our families are able to congregate outside of our school gates with the knowledge that the street is a safer place to be. As Head of School, I monitor the School Street each day equipped with my 'walkie talkie' and 'hi-vis jacket'. By doing this, our staff have been able to connect much more with our local community - it is great to say hello to not just our own families but local residents too. We are expecting cameras to monitor the School Street from January rather than staff, however we fully intend to continue to be a presence at the beginning and end of the day to maintain the positive relationships that we have formed with local residents. Due to the success of the Ewhurst Road project, our next priority will be to make access to our other school entrance in Sinclair Place a School Street.”

We have been working with primary schools and local communities on the schemes which see vehicles restricted from entering the streets unless the drivers live there or have a business on the street. Emergency service vehicles can still enter at any time. Work on the new schemes will begin in December with an aim to have them finished by the end of January.

Hackney Council reported in June that around nine of the schools where it has implemented measures, traffic had reduced by 68 per cent and the number of pupils cycling had increased by over 50 per cent. Vehicle emissions outside those schools were down by 74 per cent. Evidence from Waltham Forest Council shows that their scheme has reduced traffic around schools during the peak time by 80 percent and has significantly reduced the NO2 concentrations.

Councillor Sophie McGeevor, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment said:

“School Streets are a powerful tool in our armoury to fight air pollution, reduce traffic and create a healthier, safer borough. They run alongside our declaration of a climate emergency, the council’s long term transport strategy and promotion of walking and cycling to address inactivity as alternatives to driving.

“Their implementation means improved road safety and a reduction in needless engine idling. Residents nearby are also seeing the benefits from having less traffic on their streets at those times. I would like to thank the hard work of many teachers who support the schemes at the beginning and end of each school day”

“We already have ten schemes in place. I’m pleased that we can add these 16 schools, Haseltine, Rathfern, Myatt Garden, Kilmorie, St William of York, St John the Baptist, Lucas Vale, Athelney and Good Shepherd, Eliot Bank, Coopers Lane, Gordonbrock, Rushey Green, Holy Cross, Brindishe Green and Holbeach schools will all benefit.”

Existing Schools Street Schemes

As part of our continuing work on developing and adapting the LTN, listening to residents’ views and concerns, we have been updating Sat Nav providers with the changes we have made, to support people on journeys using the new layout. However, some information may take time to filter through to their systems, so please be sure to check our signage rather than completely rely on the Sat Nav instructions, as newer changes may not have been added yet.

We are committed to tackling the climate emergency and promoting sustainable travel and are pleased to be able to say that the borough now has 100 electric vehicle charging points.

The use of EVs is on the increase throughout London, especially in the business sector, and the Mayor of London predicts the volume of EVs on London’s roads will double by 2023. We will continue to expand the network of charging points over the coming year, in preparation for the implementation of the expanded Ultra Low Emission Zone next October.

This complements our wider transport programme which seeks to encourage sustainable modes of travel, with a strong focus on increasing walking and cycling journeys. However, we do recognise that some residents may need a vehicle based option for some essential journeys, and we want to make the transition from petrol and diesel to EVs as smooth as possible for everyone.

We have been listening to feedback from residents and the impacts to streets in the area. As a result, we will be making changes to the measures we originally put in place on George Lane.

In December, we will be removing the existing modal filter and replacing it with a weight restriction preventing access to heavy goods vehicles. This is aimed at alleviating heavy-goods and other traffic pressure from Springrice Road, while providing George Lane residents with protection from lorries.

In the New Year this measure will be complemented with additional traffic management measures in the wider area with appropriate signage, including advanced warning signs and updating Sat Nav companies. More information will be shared in due course.

We will continue to monitor this area.

We are in contact with schools in the LTN area about the introduction of School Streets, a scheme which brings timed closures of some streets around school drop-off and pick-up times. We are looking to introduce the scheme to schools within the LTN as quickly as possible.

We have already worked with many schools across the borough to implement similar schemes, which help improve road safety and air quality for children travelling to and from school each day. So far we have introduced 10 schemes, with another 16 planned between now and January.

The schemes also aim to support people in making as many trips as possible to and from school on foot or by bike, rather than by car. They are an important part of our strategy to promote sustainable travel and of our wider commitment to tackling the climate emergency.

The borough’s first parklet is now in place! The parklet and community space (pictured above) in Staplehurst Road offers space for pedestrians with its all-weather proof shelter. Senior transport planner Councillor Sophie McGeevor, said: “We hope that this new parklet will help with social distancing and allow local businesses to serve more customers in a COVID-secure way. It was made possible through the work of work of the e-scooter sharing company Spin and community space designer YesMake.”

¬Kay Cheng, Streets Program Director at Spin said: "Our Streets team has been working with local safe streets advocacy groups throughout the U.S., and now in the UK, to help creatively transform streets into people-centred places for people to walk or bike, scoot, or otherwise get around safely."

If you are a local business and are keen to find out more about how you too could apply for a parklet outside your shop, then watch this space as we’ll soon be publishing our guidance on how you can apply.

We want our road users and pedestrians to look out for each other when traveling around the borough.

As the evenings are getting darker, remember it may be harder to see pedestrians on the road. So, remember to stay at a safe speed. If you are driving, make sure your windscreens are clear and clean, and look out for pedestrians, especially children travelling to and from school.

School pupils remember to stop, look and listen and think about what you are doing when you are crossing the road. It may be harder for cyclists or drivers to see you in the dark evenings, wearing something bright to make it easier for them to notice you.

Thank you to everybody who has provided feedback to us on the temporary measures we’ve been introducing across the borough. Your feedback is crucial in helping us to make it safer and easier to walk and cycle, to prevent traffic from taking short-cuts down known rat-runs, and to create space for pedestrians and bikes at key pressure points to support social distancing.

Data is being gathered to build up a full picture of the impact of the changes. We have baseline measurements on traffic volume and air quality, and are starting to take comparative measurements now. We continue to ask what the findings mean for our residents and local businesses. This will inform the plans moving forward. The timescales for considering whether schemes should be permanent will be informed by the easing of the lockdown restrictions and travel patterns settling into a 'new normal'.

Enforcement cameras for Lee Green

From today, cameras are being installed at all four modal filter locations on bus and emergency services routes: in Dermody Road, Manor Lane, Manor Park and Ennersdale Road. This means that any driver, with the exception of bus and emergency vehicle drivers, who passes through these filters will be recorded on camera and issued with a penalty charge notice. The charge is set by London Councils at £130 (or a reduced rate if paid within 14 days). It is expected that this will help reduce some of the traffic taking alternative that have been identified to the west of the railway line.

Responding to your feedback

We have received a large number of comments on the Lee Green Low Traffic Area in particular, following the introduction of modal filters (planters and bollards) to stop motorists using side streets as short cuts. In response to many of these comments, we have been:

• Increasing the number of road signs and making them easier to see in areas where drivers told us the signage wasn’t clear enough, for example in Upwood Road and Woodyates Road.

• Installing extra bollards on footways to ensure that motorists cannot avoid the filters by driving on the footway.

• Working with Satnav providers to update their systems after motorists told us they had been directed down a road they couldn’t drive through – and then had to make a U-turn in a small, residential street.

Supporting local businesses in Brockley

Coulgate Street, near Brockley Station, is being closed from Monday to through traffic from 8am until 10pm each day to help create safe space for social distancing and to support the economic recovery of local businesses as shops, cafes and other businesses reopen. The measures are in response to over 300 comments from local people and following discussions with local businesses.

If you would like to suggest a scheme, please visit the website to add your ideas. If you are interested in applying for a pavement licence, you can find information on how to apply here.

Help us stop vandalism

Some of the planters and bollards have been vandalised. Vandalism is a criminal offence and if you see anyone committing this, please report it to the police first by calling 101 or online, ideally adding photos or video footage and a registration number if you can – but not if it would mean putting yourself at risk. After this, please report the damage to us via the Council switchboard on 020 8314 6000 with confirmation that you have reported it to police. We will seek to reinstate it as soon as possible. Our funding is limited so making these repairs will impact on our ability to introduce further measures to support these schemes.

We’ll be sending updates every Friday so please tell friends and neighbours who may be interested in hearing the latest project news to sign up for updates.

Thank you for all of the valuable feedback that has been received to date. We are continuing to closely monitor your comments and undertake site inspections of the measures. In relation to the South Row modal filter, the Council has been in discussions with Morden College about their delivery and servicing requirements and the difficulties that they are experiencing due to the combination of the closure, the weight restriction on Kidbrooke Gardens and the size of vehicle that they need to have access. In response to these discussions, it has been decided to temporarily lower the bollard at the modal filter on South Row, to ensure this access is maintained, whilst we liaise with the relevant stakeholders and decide on the best approach going forward. One option that is currently being given consideration is the lifting of the weight restriction on Kidbrooke Gardens, which would also require liaison with Greenwich and Network Rail approval. However, other options will also be assessed in order to progress the best option that addresses a number of the issues raised.

Thank you for all of the valuable feedback that has been received to date. We have been monitoring your comments closely as well as conducting site inspections to understand how the modal filter locations are working. A number of issues have been identified relating to motor vehicles bypassing the modal filters illegally, which raises road safety concerns.

In light of this all the locations have been reviewed and additional measures to prevent these illegal movements will be implemented at the following locations throughout this week:

South Row

Additional bollard on the southern footway

Additional planter on the north side of the modal filter

Glenbow Road

2 additional bollards on both footways either side of modal filter location

Silverdale

2 additional bollards on both footways either side of modal filter location

Kitto Road

Additional bollard/s on footway subject to site inspection

To increase compliance we will be working with the police to issue Penalty Charge Notices (PCN’s) at the locations where we are experiencing contravention issues. Where we are installing additional bollards to we will retain sufficient width for wheelchair users but the final positioning will be influenced by what infrastructures is under the footway.

We will continue to keep you informed of future changes and will send further updates on a regular basis.

Due to cars illegally turning into South Row from the B212 and the consequent road safety risk this poses to the public we have asked our contractors to take immediate action to allow for east-bound and west-bound movements into and out of South Row. This will be carried out as a matter of urgency to protect the health and safety of the public.

To ensure motor vehicles do not use South Row as a cut through a bollard will be installed next week in between the two planters that are at the junction of South Row with The Paragon. It is also expected that the change of allowing east-bound and west-bound movements at the junction of South Row and the B212 will address the issue of traffic being displaced to Paragon Place and Wemyss Road to access South Row.

General

Many thanks for all your comments so far relating to the COVID-19 safety measures Lewisham Council has been installing throughout this week. We have been monitoring comments closely to ensure we can react to schemes where there are emerging issues that need an immediate response. We have identified some issues with the temporary barriers (currently placed in between planters) being removed by members of the public.

We will be installing droppable bollards (for emergency service access) from next week to address this problem to ensure no motor vehicular traffic can pass through. In the meantime, it should be noted that these measures are intended to improve public safety, and moving the associated equipment is an offence.

South Row

Due to the temporary barriers that form part of the modal filter at the junction with The Paragon being removed by members of the public, this has allowed traffic to pass through and onto Paragon Place/Wemyss Road creating a significant reallocation of traffic through this area. The installation of a bollard (as part of the modal filter at The Paragon junction) next week will address this problem.

In addition, we will be removing the planters for the South Row modal filter at the junction with the B212, to allow the west bound movement from South Row on to the B212 to help facilitate exit from the area for residents in the Paragon Place area. Access onto South Row from the B212 will not be allowed to allow pedestrians a safer crossing of this junction.

Motor vehicle entry for residents in the area adjacent to South Row can be made via Wemyss Road. The new arrangement plan has now been updated onto the project site and will be reviewed closely once installed. We will be sending further updates regularly throughout this programme to ensure you are all kept updated.

Thank you for your comments so far.