Trial road closure on Estreham Road

A number of residents have been in touch about a trial road closure which is being proposed on Estreham Road, and in particular expressed their concern about the lack of council consultation.

The Council (along with TfL and Sustrans) is proposing a trial traffic filter (a block in the road to prevent vehicles travelling along it) for three months.

Residents are now being asked whether they want the trial to go ahead.  The text of the letter is below, and this will be sent to residents in the next 48 hours setting out the details.  Please do respond using the online consultation.   There will also be a drop-in session on Saturday 17th of October 1pm-3pm , followed by Thursday 22nd of October 4-7pm at Streatham Scouts, 39 Estreham road, where you can ask questions and make your views known in person.

Dear Resident, 

Sustrans, Transport for London and Lambeth council are proposing a temporary trial traffic filter in order to reduce the volume of traffic cutting through the area. This temporary trial is likely to last for three months starting in December 2015. 

Residents and locals are encouraged to fill out the enclosed survey or the online version so we can gain an understanding of your views.

During the trial Estreham Road would be closed to through-traffic near Streatham Common Station using a traffic filter (position is marked on the map), which would allow us to understand the effects of the change to traffic flow.

A traffic filter is usually in the form of bollards, trees or planters which prevent motor vehicles cutting through.

Residents would still be able to access their homes and local businesses by car.

The formal consultation period would start once the trial was in place. The official consultation will be available at: www.lambeth.gov.uk.

This work is part of creating the Quietway cycle route from Waterloo to Croydon. Estreham Road is already part of an existing cycle route though suffers from a high level of non-residential cut-through traffic. The reduction in motor traffic is expected to make the area more pleasant to live in and support more people to walk, cycle or play.

You can respond to the online consultation here


The following Frequently Asked Questions are also being sent to residents.

Q) What are Quietways?

Quietways are direct and easy to follow cycle routes in London on quiet roads, parks and waterways. They’ll make it easier for many local people who would like to try cycling, but would rather not cycle on main roads. Quietways provide an opportunity for communities to benefit from Transport for London (TfL) investment that can make local streets more attractive for everyone.

Q) Why Estreham?

Estreham road is a residential street and already part of an existing cycle route. Although it is not a perfect cycle route at the moment it is far more suitable for cycling than many of the surrounding streets. The proposed route alignment for the Quietway has been decided with feasibility studies from Transport for London and the borough. 

Q) How will a reduction in motor traffic improve the area?

Neighbourhoods are more likely to have better community links if there are low traffic levels. There are also many examples to show that reducing through motor traffic reduces crime and makes neighbourhoods more attractive to live in and pass through. 

Q) Will I still be able to drive to my home / place of interest during the proposed trial?

Yes, you would still be able to access everywhere on Estreham road by car, although you may have to take a slightly different route. Please see above map to see where the traffic filter would be and how this may change your route.

Q) Why a traffic filter rather than traffic calming measures?

Traffic filters have been proven to reduce the volume of through motor traffic while at the same time creating a nicer environment for people to live, travel, play and shop. Residents would benefit from cleaner air and safer streets. 

Q) Why have a temporary trial?

The temporary trial would give us an opportunity to understand the impact of the changes in the real world that no traffic modelling could tell us. In some cases these changes reduce overall traffic levels. We would carefully review all the data from the trial after three months in order to make a decision about the next steps. We need at least this much time to allow for changes to traffic and behaviour to take place. It would need to go through a formal consultation process for the filter to ever to be made permanent.

 Q) Will this mean heavier motor traffic on surrounding roads? 

People tend to use Estreham Road as a cut through to avoid using Greyhound Lane and Streatham High Road. Some of the traffic would stick to those A roads which are designed for heavier traffic. We would monitor traffic levels on the surrounding network to measure the impact during the three month trial. In other examples we see a permanent reduction in traffic as behaviour changes. This reduction in traffic is usually due to people either combining journeys or changing modes of transport all together.

Q) Will this mean loss of parking?

No loss in parking at all.

Q) What is the consultation process?  

We are communicating the details to local residents via posted letters, leaflets, on street posters, local door knocking, drop in sessions and mailing list email updates. Residents and non-residents are encouraged to fill out a pre consultation survey (link below and paper copy included) this is so we can fairly assess points of view on the trial. The formal consultation would begin with the trial and consist of formal consultation forms and events for residents. Traffic on the wider network would be monitored to assess any impact.