A LOW TRAFFIC NEIGBOURHOOD FOR JERICHO AND WALTON MANOR

Draft Proposals for consultation 5th August 2020 – Version 3

Please note that mention of an organisation in these proposals is not intended to imply their support for all aspects of the scheme A bit of background before you start…… These are just ideas……

Hello! We are a small group of residents of Jericho and Walton Manor who are tired of how arguments over the Walton Street barrier are dividing our community. So we decided to come together to see if we could devise a positive vision that we can all agree upon.

Our aim is to engage with everyone in our community. We are trying to develop a single vision for a scheme that the residents and businesses of Jericho and Walton Manor can support and to that end, we are consulting with as many people as possible.

We believe that by working together we can achieve much more. Else we risk the current temporary scheme continuing for longer, and we may miss the chance to win investment for the area.

Register now for our Zoom call! This document is not so much a presentation as a consultation. The ideas are exploratory and are likely to change as more views come forward. The three Or you can reach us at: alternatives schemes that have come up so far are also presented, at the end.

Email: [email protected] If you have comments or constructive criticisms, we want to hear them and will Web: www.jerichoLTN.org look to accommodate them into the proposed scheme. We welcome your views and would be only too pleased if you would be willing to join us! Version last updated: 5th August 2020. Might these be the six things we all want?

We believe that ultimately most people in Jericho and Walton Manor want the same things. We just sometimes disagree about how to get there. We think these six things are, in no particular order:

1. A thriving community and street life

2. Buoyant cafes, restaurants, cinema and shops

3. Clean air

4. Access to essential services

5. Safer and quieter streets

6. Clear steps to address climate change Should this be our overriding design principle?

We feel that in making our choices we should base our work on one overriding principle:

“We should first aim to reduce traffic and then to distribute it equitably between the remaining streets. This should consider the needs of all sectors of the community, be that the elderly, the disabled, schoolchildren, cyclists, pedestrians or local businesses.”

In this way we think we can rise above our street-by-street interests to consider the interests of the community as a whole.

Schemes of this nature are often referred to as ‘Low Traffic Neighbourhoods’ or LTNs. A summary of the whole scheme in one slide

We envisage implementing a low traffic neighbourhood for Jericho and Walton Manor by replacing the Walton Street barrier with four ‘modal filters’. These allow pedestrians and cycles through but block larger vehicles.

• The filters will together block all north-south through routes, putting an end to rat running. They would be positioned so that the remaining traffic is shared equally between the north and the south of the area. • The commercial centre of Walton Street would be pedestrianised, boosting trade. • A St Barnabas ‘School Street’ scheme would make children’s journeys to school safer. • Reopening the barrier while also reducing congestion may make it possible for the bus to return to Jericho.

The Council have now agreed that Walton Street will remain closed until a Low Traffic Neighbourhood is successfully designed, consulted on, and funded.

We welcome this decision but also consider that:

• Immediate action should be taken to mitigate unintended traffic impacts in the North of the area until the LTN is introduced • The the barrier should be kept closed until the impact of any Worcester Street bus gate is understood • The workplace parking levy should be introduced for larger businesses in the area.

We believe that this is the best way to meet the principles we have outlined. Other possible schemes are outlined at the end of this presentation. A Low Traffic Neighbourhood is a comprehensive traffic plan for the whole community

Low traffic neighbourhoods are residential streets and associated main roads where through traffic is discouraged or removed. Every resident can drive onto their street, get deliveries and access services, but it’s impossible to drive straight through from one main road to the next.

This video explains how such a scheme works in Waltham Forest, in London. Jericho and Walton Manor as one community Our proposed low traffic neighbourhood would encompass the area bounded by Beaumont Street to the South, the Woodstock Road to the East, the canal to the West and Polstead Road to the North. These all form natural boundaries. Walton Street - The need for a permanent traffic scheme The current arrangements are a clutter of plastic and gives the impression that the area is closed.

The government is providing funding for streets to be repurposed for cycling and walking and is encouraging restaurants to make use of outdoor space.

Investment in a new scheme could benefit residents and traders. But it must be well planned and executed to work. Replacing the barrier We suggest that the barrier can be replaced by four ‘modal filters’ that would eliminate all rat running in the whole area but still allow walkers and cycles through. This cuts off all North–South routes through the area while allowing residents to drive in and out.

These four filters could be placed in:

• Walton Street • Cranham Terrace (by the Rickety Press) • Allam Street (corner with Juxon Street) • Little Clarendon Street Walton Street would become a pedestrianised shopping district. Deliveries, emergency vehicles and buses could all be let through.

The two filters in Jericho would stop rat running and mean that all traffic is local.

Options for Little Clarendon Street vary and are discussed in a later slide. Pedestrianisation could make Walton Street a thriving eating and shopping destination

Re-landscaping part of Walton Street could give more space for restaurants, shoppers, cyclists and pedestrians.

PROPOSED CAR-FREE AREA

From the Health Centre to Juxon Street.

This includes Jericho Tavern, Giggling Squid, Jude the Obscure, the Mind Shop, the Standard, Joots Pharmacy, The Phoenix Cinema, the Jericho Café, Branca, Jamals, Daisies, Manos, Mamma Mia and the 101 Coffee Shop.

Deliveries would still be permitted, perhaps only at certain times, and perhaps also emergency vehicles and buses, but otherwise there would be no through traffic. The ‘Mini-Holland’ scheme has made Orford Road, Walthamstow a more attractive destination

Pavements areas are wide and can be made use of by restaurants, shops and stall holders.

Since implementation, the number of people visiting is reported to be up 93%, and the number of empty shops down by 17%.

Before… After… How might Walton Street look? How might Walton Street look? How might Walton Street look? Resident only traffic in Jericho Stopping traffic from passing down Cranham Terrace and Allam Street will prevent rat running through Jericho. While cars can come in and out of the area, no traffic can pass through.

The Cranham Terrace ‘filter’ could be anywhere along its length. It might provide additional seating outside the Rickety Press.

The Allam Street ‘filter’ would be in at the junction with Juxon Street.

The cars from Lucy’s underground car parks in Juxon Street must then exit to the North, ensuring limited traffic passes down canal Street, Albert Street or Hart Street.

The filters could be an attractive community feature. How might Cranham Terrace look? How might the Allam Street - Juxon Street junction look? School Streets

This video introduces the idea of School Streets, in which roads outside school gates are closed to cars during school pick up and drop off times, making it easier to walk and cycle to school.

A similar scheme has already been introduced at Phil and Jim’s, and could be introduced at St Barnabas and at other schools in the area. The St Barnabas School Street scheme Hart Street could be closed to all vehicles except school staff, residents, carers and emergency vehicles between 8.30 - 9.15 and 3.15 - 4.00 on school days.

Movable bollards could be placed at either end of Hart Street. With the western barrier placed just around the corner into Jericho Street. As Jericho Street is already blocked at the Northern end, this would make the streets on two sides of St Barnabas almost completely traffic free at key times.

Cardigan Street could be left open, allowing staff and residents a way in and out. But any other traffic entering would face a dead end.

Ideally the bollards would be automated, rising and retracting at the right times. Or a passcode or key would allow approved users to operate them. South Walton Street

The Walton Street Barrier would re-open, but all rat-running will have been eliminated by the four ‘modal filters’. Coaches will also no longer be able to take this route, although a bus service and school coaches should still be allowed through.

The introduction of a bus gate on Worcester Street would reduce through traffic dramatically, meaning that only low volumes of residential traffic will use south Walton Street. This should eliminate idling as traffic will not need to wait at the junction. St Bernard’s Road, Leckford and Kingston Roads

Traffic volumes in these streets would be greatly reduced as only residential traffic from Juxon Street and further north, together with deliveries, will be using these streets as a through route.

Some vehicles could be directed to use Kingston Road and the wider St Margaret’s Road and Farndon Road to exit the area. This could be done by introducing no right turns along Kingston Road. Observatory Street and Adelaide Street Under this scheme, the only entrances for traffic to southern Jericho would be via Little Clarendon Street or Observatory Street.

Observatory Street is residential and narrow and exits into the pedestrianised area. This street might then be closed to through traffic.

Observatory and Adelaide Streets would then become 2-way for residents only, and for those parking at the rear of the Walton St business premises. Daisies may need access to and from Walton Street from Adelaide Street, as may other vehicles.

There is adequate space to turn at the end of each street. 3 or 4 parking spaces in Observatory Street will need to be removed to allow for passing places. Little Clarendon Street Options for Little Clarendon Street

Little Clarendon Street contains mostly shops and cafes, and few residences. Keeping it open would mean the parking could remain in use. However rat running into lower Walton Street would need to be prevented.

This may anyway be achieved by the Worcester Street bus gate. But if not, other options are:

• The whole street could be pedestrianised. • The street could be closed halfway along. • A no left turn could be introduced at the junction with Walton Street. • The direction of the street could be reversed. How might Little Clarendon Street look if it were pedestrianised? Area by Area – Walton Street Traders

The re-opening of the barrier would again allow customers vehicular access via Walton Street. At the same time, strategic investment in the streetscape of the car-free area could create a destination that is highly attractive to visitors.

More pavement space and no through traffic would mean that café and restaurant tables could be placed on the street.

Special arrangements would need to be made for deliveries and pick-up, most likely permissible at certain times.

The four parking spaces removed could be replaced, or even added to, by new ones a short distance further south and north. Can we bring buses back to Jericho and Walton Manor?

The PickMeUp service has now ceased despite 300,000 journeys being made on the service. A key reason cited by Oxford Bus Company is that “congestion slowed buses down to 9mph just at the time demand was at its greatest”.

This scheme would allow buses an uncongested journey on Walton Street with no competition from through traffic. The buses could either pass through the pedestrianised area or loop around Jericho.

An hourly service might be introduced, either by some number 6 services taking a diversion or by an existing railway station service adding a loop via Jericho and back to the station, allowing passengers to link up to other major bus routes. Precedents for the scheme

The entrance to Jericho Street was blocked off to vehicles at the same time, in order to create a safer route to St Barnabas school.

The existing narrow zebra crossing installed 20 years back already sets a precedent for a narrower street.

The whole area was also made a 20 MPH zone at this time. Deliveries

It is essential that deliveries can still be made quickly and easily. This includes both goods brought in from elsewhere and deliveries from the Walton Manor and Jericho traders to their customers.

Walton Street will still be open to the North and South. Only the pedestrianised area would be restricted. Delivery vehicles could be permitted to pass through at agreed times. Mopeds, scooters, cargo bikes and cycles should be accommodated.

Special consideration would need to be given to the storage and access points behind the Walton Street outlets on the eastern side of the street such as Daisies. Vehicles from these would either need to head to the Woodstock Road or be allowed access to Walton Street. Parking Any space lost in the car-free zone could be replaced by one outside it but nearby.

There is already a strip of 7 disabled parking spaces just south of the area. Only four one-hour spaces opposite the cinema would be lost. One more can be added outside Blavatnik.

New cycle parking may be needed to encourage active travel. One car parking space can accommodate 10 cycles.

Buses should be reinstated. But if they are not or routes are changed, the three bus stop areas to the north and south could be repurposed and used as parking spaces.

If the Council introduces to Jericho the workplace parking levy, which is charged to business with 11 or more spaces, this may free up parking spaces for residents and customers. Improving the Northern end beyond Juxon Street

With less traffic, there may be room to adapt this area in support of the businesses on this stretch. The pavement could be widened to allow pedestrians to pass more easily.

The chicanes for bicycles might no longer be needed, meaning that more street space could become available. The Worcester Street bus gate

It is not clear when or whether the bus gate will be introduced, nor what traffic restrictions it will impose, but it has the potential to reduce the traffic on Beaumont Street and Worcester Street substantially.

Ideally, the bus gate should be established before

Street the Walton Street barrier is removed, during the Beaumont low traffic neighbourhood consultation period. This will make it easier to assess likely traffic flows in Walton Street once the barrier is replaced by the four new modal filters.

If a Walton Street bus service is re-introduced, this would make it legal to set up a bus gate at the entrance to Walton Street, or elsewhere on the bus route. Without a bus service this is not possible. What other options are there?

Three alternative schemes have been suggested so far. These are:

• To reopen the barrier and put things back to how they were Rat-runners would again be allowed through and so would parents who drive their children to school. Lower Walton street would become clogged with idling cars and pollution.

• To keep the barrier at the south end of Walton Street closed, and narrow Walton Street to cars The closed barrier would mean that there is no need for the 4 ‘modal filters’ and narrowing Walton Street would slow traffic. Or the barrier could become a bus gate allowing only buses and taxis through. Pavements could be widened to some extent. However there is likely to be persistent idling traffic at either end of the narrowed Walton Street area. And almost all traffic could again be expected to exit to the North, causing problems in in St Bernard’s Road, Observatory Street, Leckford Road and Kingston Road and in Jericho too, as pressure would increase on the Northern end of Jericho, in Juxon Street, Allam Street and Cranham Terrace, as drivers heading north look to circumvent the narrowed strip.

• To introduce the Worcester Street bus gate but make no other changes Introduction of the bus gate could reduce traffic volumes in Walton Manor and Jericho enough for further changes not to be needed. However without the four modal filters vehicles may still rat run via Beaumont Street and Walton Street. And almost all traffic could again be expected to exit to the North, causing problems in in St Bernard’s Road, Observatory Street, Leckford Road and Kingston Road and possibly in Jericho too. What next?

We are local residents, not highway engineers. We are keen to bring the community together and to try to work towards one vision for the area that the whole community can support.

As a next step we plan to crowdfund to pay a professional consultant who worked on the Waltham Forest scheme to advise on the design of a low traffic neighbourhood covering Jericho and Walton Manor. We are seeking the council’s support for this process.

Now that the Council has committed to the design, consultation and funding of a Low Traffic Neighbourhood we want to work with them to co-create the scheme.

Register now for a Zoom call! As part of this process we see it as essential that everyone has a chance to express their views and that their voices are heard. Or you can reach us at: We look forward to hearing from all of those who reside, trade or work in Email: [email protected] Jericho and Walton Manor. Please feel free to contact us by email or do please Web: www.jerichoLTN.org register for a Zoom call. Version last updated: 5th Aug 2020.