JUNE 2020 LOWER MARSH - TIMED CLOSURE LOWER MARSH - TIMED CLOSURE // JUNE 2020 0 1 INTRODUCTION We find ourselves in unprecedented times due to the outbreak of COVID-19 - a virus which has swept the globe turning lives and businesses upside down. As restrictions are slowly eased, it will soon be time for restaurants, pubs, cafes and bars to reopen their doors. But when they do, it will far be a return to normality. Social distancing will significantly reduce the number of customers the hospitality sector can serve inside their premises. These measures are paramount to protecting public health. For a number of years WeAreWaterloo have been working with Lambeth Council on various proposals to close Lower Marsh to vehicles at certain times. As the need for social distancing is upon us at this moment, we are proposing to efficiently implement and manage a timed closure on Lower Marsh. This will ensure that local businesses can utilise some outdoor space in a safe manner, as well as customers, residents and other users of the street having the ability to socially distance in a responsible manner. Not only this, but there have been numerous incidents where pedestrians have been involved in collisions with cyclists and vehicles. This measure provides an opportunity to protect pedestrians and cyclists on the street by moving cyclists to the new Baylis Road redeveloped cycleway and moving the minimal amount of through traffic (1 car per 2.5 minutes) away from the street during the closure times. LOWER MARSH - TIMED CLOSURE // JUNE 2020 0 2 TIMED CLOSURE TO VEHICLES To begin with, we would look to close the street daily from Monday - Friday, from 11am-3pm and again from 4.45-9pm to vehicles and cyclists. This has been adapted so that during the start of the day, there is a large window of access for residents, businesses and workers. The 11-3pm slot allows social distancing whilst Lower Marsh Market is at its peak capacity. The Lower Marsh Market team would implement and manage this closure throughout its duration. A window of reopening would allow further collections and deliveries to be made if necessary, access to the local school, market traders to leave the street and residents to return. Finally, a later closure (4.45-9pm) would allow for local restaurants and pubs to use outside space to safely socially distance their customers in a manner which protects them from oncoming traffic. Here, WeAreWaterloo would ensure that the street is marshalled appropriately with continual onsite presence. LOWER MARSH - TIMED CLOSURE // JUNE 2020 0 3 CLOSURE REMIT At the Baylis Road side of Lower Marsh, a soft manned closure will be in place from the edge of the street, to allow any deliveries to stop and load/unload from the loading bays. A hard closure would be in place between the end of La Barca and Cubana, which would not permit vehicle through during the above times. At the Westminster Bridge Road side of Lower Marsh, a soft closure will be in place at the beginning of the road, with a hard closure from 1 Lower Marsh/Unwined onwards. This would maintain access to 1 Lower Marsh, and ensure some deliveries and collections could be made. There would be no impediment on Lancelot Street/Fraiser Street. LOWER MARSH - TIMED CLOSURE // JUNE 2020 0 4 STREET LAYOUT During the 11am-3pm closure the street configuration would roughly remain the same. The market stalls would stay within their location in the market pitches. Collapsable market tables and chairs would be placed at socially safe distances throughout the road - the road is 4m wide which leaves plenty of space for walking through. Market customers will be encouraged to queue within empty market bays. LOWER MARSH - TIMED CLOSURE // JUNE 2020 0 4 STREET LAYOUT Customers for businesses, would therefore have enough room to queue outside on the pavement. The remainder of the pavement is anticipated to be used for movement throughout the street. No "one way" system or such will be encouraged, due to the transient nature of Lower Marsh. Placement of the collapsable tables and chairs within the road ensures that emergency vehicle access can take place throughout the street if required. The 4.45-9pm closure will be be configured with tables and chairs in such a way that emergency vehicle access will be easily achievable and that there is ample room for social distancing throughout the street. At each end of the street, planters will physically block vehicle access. These can be removed promptly by authorised persons if emergency access is required. Signage will be placed which will provide a contact number to either the market team or on site stewards who will be able to quickly attend either end of the road closure if required. LOWER MARSH - TIMED CLOSURE // JUNE 2020 0 5 LOCAL CONSIDERATIONS In 2018, the Cross River Partnership conducted a consultation on a much broader timed closure - the results of which have features heavily in how we will look to make this new proposal work in a more holistic way for all who use the street. Comments from that aforementioned report and our new approach has been detailed below: Met Police: “The safety of the people of on Lower Marsh is paramount. The lunch crowd from approximately 11am-2:30pm along the road should be considered.” We have shortened the morning time frame considerably, to cover the Lower Marsh lunchtime crowd. London Fire Brigade: “We are hugely supportive of attempts to improve the quality and safety of our community areas. Our professional concern is always that we can get a fire appliance to within 45m of the furthest property.” We have ensured that the closure does not impede emergency access to within 45m of the furthest property by only placing tables and chairs within the 4m road space, which can be removed instantly. Oasis Academy Johanna: “The school’s main reservations were around access to the street from a school transport perspective. The school will always need access using a standard sized car to enable parents and taxis to drop off disabled students at different and varying times. There will need to be some degree of flexibility in the proposal. Currently most office deliveries tend to happen before 8am.” The time bands have been left until the latest possible moment to allow a maximum possible time window for the school. The relief period of non-closure from 3-4.45pm has been designed to allow pickup from the school, both for normal school hours and taking into consideration after school clubs. LOWER MARSH - TIMED CLOSURE // JUNE 2020 0 5 LOCAL CONSIDERATIONS In 2018, the Cross River Partnership conducted a consultation on a much broader timed closure - the results of which have features heavily in how we will look to make this new proposal work in a more holistic way for all who use the street. Comments from that aforementioned report and our new approach has been detailed below: Met Police: “The safety of the people of on Lower Marsh is paramount. The lunch crowd from approximately 11am-2:30pm along the road should be considered.” We have shortened the morning time frame considerably, to cover the Lower Marsh lunchtime crowd. London Fire Brigade: “We are hugely supportive of attempts to improve the quality and safety of our community areas. Our professional concern is always that we can get a fire appliance to within 45m of the furthest property.” We have ensured that the closure does not impede emergency access to within 45m of the furthest property by only placing tables and chairs within the 4m road space, which can be removed instantly. Oasis Academy Johanna: “The school’s main reservations were around access to the street from a school transport perspective. The school will always need access using a standard sized car to enable parents and taxis to drop off disabled students at different and varying times. There will need to be some degree of flexibility in the proposal. Currently most office deliveries tend to happen before 8am.” The time bands have been left until the latest possible moment to allow a maximum possible time window for the school. The relief period of non-closure from 3-4.45pm has been designed to allow pickup from the school, both for normal school hours and taking into consideration after school clubs. LOWER MARSH - TIMED CLOSURE // JUNE 2020 0 5 LOCAL CONSIDERATIONS Cyclists Cyclists will be advised to use the new Baylis Road cycleway, as there will not be sufficient room for them to use Lower Marsh when people are socially distancing. The Baylis Road cycleway lends itself to cycling for a safer and speedier route. Current parking restrictions We will work with Lambeth Council to ensure that parking and waste collection restrictions will be altered to allow the timed closure to operate smoothly. Weather If the weather is poor, market is not operating or businesses are not planning on placing tables and chairs outside, there will be no need to implement the road closure. This assessment of need will take place on daily basis. Cars within closure area and require exit Cars which may become "trapped" within the closure will be provided with a note detailing the name of the Lower Marsh Market staff member/steward who is on duty, and their contact details. When the car requires an exit from the area they can call the steward and be safely marshalled to the nearest exit. Collections/Deliveries Collections and deliveries will still be possible throughout the timed closure. Enough space and consideration has been given either end of the street to allow collections and deliveries to be walked/pushed into the area.