Lambeth school traffic calming wins huge support

A traffic calming trial outside a south London primary school has prompted feedback showing that 91% of residents believe vehicle speeds went down significantly.

The trial was prompted by growing concern after 12 collisions near Richard Atkins Primary School resulting in injury between 2010 and 2014, four of which involved children under the age of 10.

Lambeth Council changed the road layout on New Park Road to slow down traffic and create a safer, more pedestrian-friendly zone. The new layout was developed in collaboration with the primary school and local residents as part of the community street design process by sustainable transport charity Sustrans.

Using the street kit and other temporary materials, such as hay bales, it allowed local residents and parents at a one-day event to see how the designs would work in real life. Vehicle speeds were slowed by 70% to an average of 9-11mph outside the school gate.

Throughout the day students entertained passers-by with drumming and singing performances. More than 250 children enjoyed playing in the temporary play spaces created with the street kit.

The event was also supported by the Pop-Up-Parks initiative whose work involves creating vibrant local park spaces in urban environments.

Local people were surveyed throughout the day. Sustrans said it spoke to hundreds of parents, residents, people on bikes and drivers who were eager to find out what was happening on the street.

Feedback from the trial overwhelmingly supports the new design, with 75% of respondents rating their experience of using the new road layout at as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.

Meanwhile, 77% of respondents either ‘strongly agreed’ or ‘agreed’ that crossing the road was safer.

Construction of permanent traffic calming at the site, if the proposal is accepted, could be carried out later this month.

http://tinyurl.com/hml78ku