West Dulwich Street Improvements
UPDATE:
Lambeth council introduced the West Dulwich Street Improvements to reduce road danger and create a safer and healthier neighbourhood where residents can live happier, healthier lives.
The improvements included a trial of traffic restrictions to remove through-traffic, and enhancements to pavements across the neighbourhood.
The trial scheme was launched on 9 September 2024.
A group of local residents and businesses challenged the legal basis of the scheme. Following a hearing earlier this year, the High Court allowed part of their claim and subsequently ordered the removal of the traffic restrictions.
The restrictions, including the signs and cameras, have been removed and that the scheme is no longer being enforced.
Following the court ruling, the council has decided to refund Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) fines issued in relation to the scheme.
Motorists who received and paid PCNs in relation to the Street Improvement Scheme in West Dulwich (from driving through the restrictions at Ardlui Road, Carson Road, Chatsworth Way, Eastmearn Road and Tulsemere Road) can apply for a refund on the council’s website: https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/wdhnrefund. PCNs issued in relation to this scheme that were not yet paid have been cancelled.
In July and August, sections of the pavement that have been damaged by tree roots will be repaired. To keep trees healthy and prevent roots from protruding, the pavement around a number of trees will be renovated with a breathable, flexible material, making the pavements smoother, safer and more accessible for everyone. A map of pavement repair locations is shown below:
Lambeth is committed to creating streets and neighbourhoods that are healthy, safe, inclusive, pleasant, and that support walking/wheeling, cycling and use of public transport. Enabling the community to travel more actively benefits public health and wellbeing, and is part of the Climate Action Plan to become net zero compatible and climate resilient by 2030.
Phases
Baseline Data Collection and Informative Engagement
Stage 1: Baseline Data Collection and Informative Engagement
Background
Lambeth’s 2019 Transport Strategy sets out priorities for the local transport network:
- SUSTAINABLE GROWTH: For Lambeth to continue to thrive we need new homes, jobs and investment in our borough. We need to ensure this growth is not car-led.
- INCLUSIVE AND ACCESSIBLE: Many of our roads have been designed without considering the needs of people who aren’t drivers. We need to make it easier for people walking, wheeling and cycling.
- EFFICIENT AND CONNECTED: We know we have limited space and as we plan for the future, we need quick and reliable routes to travel around Lambeth. We need to take advantage of new technology.
- ACTIVE AND SAFE: Transport is both a cause and a potential solution to public health issues. By discouraging traffic we can reduce road danger, the risk of poor health due to pollution and encourage daily exercise.
- CLEAN AIR AND CARBON NEUTRAL: We need to move swiftly towards carbon neutrality by 2030 to respond to the climate emergency we face.
Informative engagement took place between 25 January and 25 March 2022, in which people in West Dulwich were asked which improvements they would like to see on their streets. As part of informative engagement, the community was asked what is working well, where improvements could be made and how they could imagine West Dulwich in the future.
Community members were invited to:
- Leave comments and suggestions on an online map
- Attend a local site visit (23 people attended)
- Attend a public online meeting to discuss local transport, public realm and greenspaces (65 people attended)
- Attend a stakeholder online meeting to discuss local transport, public realm and greenspaces (22 people attended)
Lambeth council officers also met with Tenants and Residents Associations to dicsuss their needs, concerns and suggestions.
Baseline Traffic Data Collection
As well as speaking to people, traffic data was gathered across the area. Community feedback and data collected showed that some streets experience high volumes of traffic travelling through the neighbourhood, often to/from the A205 south circular.
Wider Improvements
As well as reducing traffic, community members told us that they would like the plants and greenery in their area to be better maintained. We also heard that people would be encouraged to walk/wheel and cycle more by providing more cycle parking, more places to stop and rest and for the pavements to be repaired where they have been damaged by tree roots.
Go to the next page to view the Baseline Traffic Data report and Informative Engagament report