A scheme to cut traffic levels in some of west Greenwich’s most affluent streets will begin next Thursday.
The Hills and Vales scheme will place filters at several junctions to stop all through traffic except bicycles from using back streets around Royal Hill, with a further filter to be placed on Crooms Hill itself.
Plans have been in the offing for some time, but the project comes as other boroughs are implementing their own schemes to make it easier to walk and cycle in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, which has cut public transport capacity. Work was completed last week on a scheme to filter roads to make it easier to walk and cycle between Plumstead High Street and Abbey Wood station.
Filters will be placed on
In addition, Royal Hill will be made eastbound only between Greenwich South Street and Brand Street. The scheme will be reviewed after six months. (More details of the plans.)
The measures come as a temporary ban on through traffic through Greenwich Park has been introduced, extending a closure which began at the start of the pandemic.
Fears have been expressed that rat-running traffic will either switch to streets on the east side of Greenwich Park or use Deptford Church Street, which has been narrowed because of Thames Tideway sewer works.
Greenwich Council had bid for £150,000 from TfL and £100,000 from the Department for Transport to create modal filters across the borough. The TfL bid was unsuccessful, but the Department of Transport did provide funds.
The council is working on schemes for Woolwich around Anglesea Road and east Greenwich around Colomb Street, while proposals to place filters in Lee Green are on hold. “Traffic has reduced in the area due to the measures installed by Lewisham Council so we are prioritising other schemes,” a spokesperson told 853.
Other areas – including the Westcombe Park area which fears traffic will switch to it as a result of the Hills and Vales scheme – lose out. “Due to the funding received we will not be taking forward any new modal filters in Westcombe Park, Eltham and Charlton at this time,” the spokesperson said.
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