A bit of background before you start……

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 for our community that we can all agree upon. We welcome your views and would be only too pleased if you would be willing to join us!

This document is then not so much a presentation as a consultation. The ideas presented are exploratory. If you have comments or constructive criticisms, we want to hear them and will look to accommodate them into the proposed scheme. The presentation is then a work in progress. This version was last updated on 28th May. It is likely to change again as more views come forward.

We believe that ultimately most people in Jericho and Walton Manor want the same things. A thriving Jericho community and street life; buoyant cafes, restaurants, cinema and shops; clean air; safer streets; and steps to address climate change. We just sometimes disagree about how to get there. Register now for our Zoom call! We are trying to develop a single vision for a scheme that all members of the Or you can reach us at: communities of Jericho and Walton Manor can support and to that end, we are consulting with as many people as possible. So please do feed in your views. Email: [email protected] Web: www.dontchokejericho.org 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 th Version last updated: 28 May 2020. win investment for the area. Walton Street - The need for a permanent traffic scheme Most agree that a permanent scheme is needed urgently, so that the clutter of plastic can be removed from the area, and Walton Street can again become a thriving area for street life, rather than feeling closed or in a state of transition.

The government is calling for streets to be repurposed for cycling and greater social distancing and says that restaurants with outdoor space are more likely to be able to reopen.

Investment in a permanent scheme could benefit local traders. As both a major cycle route and a destination shopping and eating area, Walton Street is ideally placed to take advantages of government funds available. A scheme that all interest groups might support?

This proposal suggests re-opening Walton Street at the southern end, but at the same time making the main commercial strip car- free. This will ensure that rat running continues to be prevented and will share more equally the residential traffic that now all heads north.

Could this proposal satisfy all interest groups while also meeting the Government’s call for more space for pedestrians and cyclists?

On the short term, might it give space for people to queue outside shops and for cafes to put tables on the streets to meet social distancing requirements? And on the long term, could it make Walton Street an active street and a more attractive place to visit?

If judged effective, these changes could be implemented quickly and cheaply, paving the way for a more permanent scheme. The closure has strong local support

Some are calling for the road to be reopened to through traffic. However it seems that many support the closure.

The ‘Don’t Choke Jericho’ poster is being displayed in windows throughout the neighbourhood. Most residents want both less polluted and safer streets, and also for local traders to thrive.

Reopening the road to allow through traffic is likely to prove unpopular, as well as going against Government recommendations.

We suggest that the best way forward is for the council and the local community to co-create a scheme that has majority support. Could Walton Street be a thriving eating and shopping area? Re-landscaping part of Walton Street could give more space for restaurants, shoppers, cyclists and pedestrians.

PROPOSED MAIN CAR-FREE AREA From the Health Centre to Juxon Street, with a ‘car crossing’ at Cranham Street. This allows access to and from Jericho via Great Clarendon Street if heading South and via Cranham Street and Juxon Street to the North.

The car-free area 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.

THE TOP OF STREET EXTENSION From Juxon Street to the chicanes outside the bike shop. This brings the Barefoot Bakery and Walton Street Cycles into the scheme.

This would mean that all traffic in and out of Jericho would now need to use the southern end of Walton Street, as all exits to the North would be closed. Orford Road, Walthamstow E17

The design of Walton St could be similar to Orford Road in Waltham Forest.

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

Cycles can pass through the central area. No through cars or taxis need be allowed. The street design still allows for deliveries, but perhaps at regulated times. The ‘Mini-Holland’ scheme has made Orford Road a more attractive destination

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

Before… After… Traffic could still flow freely

The Walton Street - Beaumont Junction would be re-opened. Traffic can leave and enter Jericho at the South end via Great Clarendon Street. At the North end it can enter via Observatory and Cranham Street, crossing the car-free area, and leave via Juxon Street.

The principle is to distribute through traffic as equitably as possible between side streets.

Provision would need to be made for deliveries. These could perhaps be restricted to certain times.

A no right turn from Walton Street into St Bernard’s Road would help share the traffic load with Kingston Road. The southern end

Cardigan Street, a no through road at the southern entrance, could be redesigned to provide a turning space if required.

The scheme could commence just after the Radcliffe Quarter entrance where the street is at its widest and the main shopping and restaurant strip begins. Street adaptions would be minimal

Adelaide Street would become a cul de sac. But turning is not hard. And the end of the closed street could be used for outdoor tables.

The health centre car park entrance would need to be moved south to the Radcliffe Quarter entrance. However only the bollards need to be altered. 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. The argument for the Top of Street Extension

If the bus gate becomes operational, all Jericho traffic will need to head North to the ring road. This is likely to mean that ALL traffic will head via St Bernard’s Road or Kingston Road as it is the shortest route.

The Top of Street Extension would close all routes between Jericho and the North, including along Observatory Street, forcing traffic in and out to use the Walton Street- Beaumont Street junction.

With the bus gate in place, only buses and taxis will be heading along Beaumont Street, meaning that traffic can flow freely out of Walton Street heading east.

There would ne no need for the traffic lights to be reinstated, meaning much less idling and pollution at the South end of Walton Street. The Northern end

The area between Juxon Street and the roundabout is cluttered and the pavement narrow, especially in front of the Barefoot Bakery. Parking on double yellow lines outside Londis is also common.

The Juxon Street junction enters Walton Street just as the residential housing begins.

Several outlets – The Barefoot Bakery, Walton Street Cycles, Londis and the Yoga Studio - lie of north of Juxon Street. Improving the Northern end beyond Juxon Street

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

And if the Top of Street Extension is adopted, these businesses could become part of the full scheme.

More parking spaces may be lost.

On the other hand, the chicanes for bicycles might no longer be needed, meaning that more street space could become available. Car and cycle parking The principle might be that any space lost in the car-free zone would be replaced by one outside of the zone.

Only 6 or 7 parking spaces would be lost. Four one-hour spaces opposite the cinema and 2 or 3 opposite Juxon Street.

Cycle parking may need to be added to encourage active travel.

There is a strip of 7 disabled parking spaces just south of the area.

Buses no longer pass through Walton Street. If they are not to be reinstated, the two bus stop areas to the north could be repurposed and used as parking spaces if necessary. Or new spaces could be created to the South or North. Options for Little Clarendon Street

The scheme risks rat-running down Little Clarendon Street into Walton Street south. This may later be addressed by the Worcester Street bus gate, but this is not certain.

Little Clarendon Street could also be made car-free. It could then become a two-way link route for cyclists both North and South and offers the prospect of outdoor space for the restaurants and cafes in Little Clarendon Street.

Deliveries could still be permitted at certain times. Most changes can be made quickly and easily

Attractive planters can be used to stop cars passing, leaving space for pedestrians and cyclists.

Bicycles can be painted in the road. These reminds cyclists that they are meant to be in the middle of the road, and makes drivers feel like they are driving in a cycle path. All it costs is paint.

Ideally, a 15 MPH limit would be introduced, giving further preference to cyclists, and making it easier for pedestrians to enter the road when they need to social distance. The Walton Street Barrier

This scheme suggests re-opening the barrier, but only once the street is made car-free further north to still prevent rat-running.

Alternatively the temporary closure could be maintained but made more attractive with planters and the gap widened to allow for more bikes, and for eTrikes, supporting eco-friendly last mile deliveries.

As it is now, cyclists entering Worcester Street have to take their chances.

The traffic lights could be switched back on and synced with the Hythe Bridge Street lights to give cyclists a car-free run down to the new George Street junction. This creates an arterial cycle route down NCR 5 all the way from the Woodstock Road cycle path into town and on to the South, East or West. Area by Area – Walton Street Traders

The re-opening of the barrier would again allow vehicular access to 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.

Special arrangements would need to be made for deliveries. Ideally, any parking spaces removed would be replaced.

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

Also introducing the Top of Street Extension and a car-free Little Clarendon Street options would bring almost all trading outlets into the car-free area. If the barrier is re-opened, Jericho drivers, deliveries and Area by Area – Jericho emergency vehicles would again be able to use the Walton Street southern exit. All previous routes would then be open again, unless the Top of Street Extension is adopted, when all traffic would need to head South.

There is a concern that some drivers would by-pass the car-free area and rat-run through Jericho. There are 3 options for addressing this:

1) Adopting the Top of Street extension would close the Northern exit and entrance to Jericho preventing rat-running altogether.

2) The three north south routes through Jericho could be closed with ‘pocket parks’. This would stop rat-running but would mean that Jericho drivers would have only one entry or exit route open to them, to the North or South.

3) The three cross streets could be blocked at different points, allowing a ‘zig-zag’ scheme through Jericho that would discourage rat runners but allow residents to exit or enter at either end. Area by Area – St Bernard’s Road and Observatory Street

The re-opening of the barrier would take pressure off St Bernard’s Road and Observatory Street by re-instating the Southern exit and should return it to pre-closure levels.

A no right turn from Walton Street into St Bernard’s Road would help share the traffic load with Kingston Road. Walton Street traffic would then head north, and only some of Walton Well Road traffic would head down St Bernard’s.

If the bus gate is introduced, there is a strong argument for closing St Bernard’s Road and Observatory Street to all but residential traffic and deliveries. This is because with no route out to the West, all traffic will be headed to or from the North. Traffic intensity will then again increase on these two streets unless it is forced to use the Southern exit.

In this scenario, the Top of Street Extension would also need to be adopted. Area by Area – Walton Street residences

The Walton Street Barrier would be re-opened meaning that the Southern end of Walton Street is no longer car free.

However, rat-running will still have been eliminated, especially if Little Clarendon Street is also closed. Coaches will also no longer be able to take this route.

Synchronisation of the traffic lights at the Walton Street Beaumont Street junction with those at Hythe Bridge Street and Worcester Street will speed up flows out of Walton Street, reducing idling.

The introduction of a bus gate on Worcester Street will reduce traffic further. What next? These initial ideas are being developed in consultation with local residents and businesses. We now want to:

• Hold a series of zoom calls, to discuss the benefits, limitations and practicalities of the proposals and to refine them further. You can register here.

• Talk with the council to understand the difficulties they might face in implementing such a scheme and adjust it accordingly.

• Implement the temporary scheme.

• Extend the scheme area to include the whole of Jericho and Walton Manor, from the start of Walton Street as far North as St Margaret’s Road and East to the Woodstock Road.

• Consider employing a professional consultant to further develop the proposals.

• Consult more widely on the proposals to determine if they have both political and popular support prior to implementation.