Clapton to be calmed by cushions

Upper Clapton residents are at odds over traffic calming measures recently given the go-ahead following a consultation in which a majority of people opposed the scheme.

Under the new Upper Clapton 20mph scheme, which received formal approval on 10 March, speed ‘cushions’ will be introduced on the following streets: Moresby Road, Knightland Road, Sach Road, Mount Pleasant Lane, Mount Pleasant Hill, Mundford Road, Dudlington Road, Gunton Road, Cleveleys Road, Casimir Road.

The decision to introduce these measures was taken following a consultation in late 2010 in which 57.2 per cent opposed the scheme and 42.0 per cent were in favour. The council report on the matter notes that 47 of the 257 responses to the consultation were received several days after the closing date, and that at the time of the official end of the consultation, there was a narrow majority (51.4 per cent to 47.6 per cent) in favour.

A council spokesperson said: “The council accepts that a majority of the responses received to the consultation were not in favour of the proposed scheme. However, the consultation exercise is intended to seek views and comments from the community and in itself is not a referendum on the proposal.

“The council has considered the responses and have amended the scheme both in the type and number of traffic calming features. It has subsequently decided to proceed with implementation of the 20mph zone, which is in accordance with the council’s policy.”

Cllr Simche Steinberger, who represents Springfield ward, objects to the proposals, saying the £200,000 cost is unjustified. Though the bill will be footed by Transport for London, he says it is ‘scandalous’ that the council should implement a scheme opposed by the majority consulted.

9 Comments

  1. NoopyDoopy on Sunday 10 April 2011 at 21:30

    Did any of the residents propose this.

    I think they would rather £200,000 be spent on public landscape works than road humps.



  2. TonyN on Sunday 10 April 2011 at 22:08

    Public consultation say one thing and council does another. Not the first time this has happened. So when does the council actually do anything for the public.? There are times when you think just why were these idiots elected? They lie and they do not act on behalf of the public just run there own little fiefdom the way they want it. Sooner or later they will alienate sections of the community enough that there will be a back lash (ok just wishful thinking)



  3. hackneyartist on Monday 11 April 2011 at 09:14

    But as it says public consultation ? referendum and anybody who sees lowering the speed limit as a bad idea should think again as it does save lives.



  4. Warrambungle on Monday 11 April 2011 at 09:30

    Lowering the speed limit from 30mph to 20mph does not, actually, make a great difference to the braking distance of a car.

    It concerns me that creating obstacles such as cushions on narrow residential streets makes the driver focus myopically on the road in front of their car when they should be scanning the entire roadway ahead of them, footpaths, driveways and front gardens for cyclists, children about to run onto the road, pedestrians and animals.

    Also the cushions damage cars and make them use more fuel through frequent accelerating and braking.



  5. hackneyartist on Monday 11 April 2011 at 11:23

    A child hit by a car doing 30MPH is a lot more likely to die if hit by a car doing 20MPH.



  6. Molly Mulready-Jones on Tuesday 12 April 2011 at 10:50

    All credible research on this issue shows a genuine increase in safety when cars are slowed just by 10mph from 30mph to 20mph.

    http://www.slower-speeds.org.uk/20s-plenty/rationale

    What’s not to like?!



  7. pat on Tuesday 12 April 2011 at 12:56

    I do not know the all the facts here but again the council have put something out for consultation and gone against the results.



  8. TonyN on Tuesday 12 April 2011 at 14:52

    The cushions force cars below the 20mph. However the issue here is that rather than use a speed limit and enforcement the council would spend money when the money is needed for front line services



  9. Tom on Tuesday 19 April 2011 at 12:18

    Tony N – the article states the funding is via Transport for London so presumably not available for any other scheme, let alone ‘front line services’



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