London Fields residents clash over car-cutting measures

Cycle route Middleton Road London Fields Hackney

Cycleway: the proposed route encourages the free flow of cyclists through London Fields and down Middleton Road. Image: Hackney Council

Residents are at loggerheads over council proposals for a car-free zone to the west of London Fields.

During the three-month trial period, due to begin in January, Middleton Road and surrounding streets will be blocked off to motorists, allowing cyclists and pedestrians to travel freely down Middleton Road.

Residents will still be permitted motor access to all streets.

The council hopes the road ‘filtering’ will reduce the amount of non-local motor traffic driving through residential streets, making the neighbourhoods quieter, safer and less polluted.

But the plans have provoked mixed responses from residents, who have launched polar petitions.

“If we filter every road, people will choose a different part of London or just choose not to use their car,” said Ben Alden-Falconer. The 26-year-old launched the Fume Free Streets campaign, urging the council to press ahead with the trial.

Mr Alden-Falconer, who has lived on Middleton Road for 23 years, said the volume of traffic had increased. “Hackney is the seventh worst borough in London for pollution and this is a great way of putting off drivers coming through.

“It will make for liveable green streets and will be great for those who cycle.”

Increasing congestion

Mike Hood, 60, is a cyclist and motorist and long-term resident of Malvern Road. He said: “There is nothing wrong with the roads at present. This area is very quiet and we get a reasonable amount of traffic.”

Blocking off certain roads will not reduce the number of vehicles, according to Mr Hood. Instead it will force more traffic through Richmond Road and Pownall Road, which run parallel to Middleton Road.

The three-month trial will serve as a consultation period in which residents can express their views. Mr Hood has launched a petition calling on the council to prevent the road closures, and at least hold a public consultation period before the trial begins.

A spokesperson for Hackney Council said: “At the early stages of the announcement of the London Fields scheme officers talked informally to residents at a ward forum meeting about some of the possible methods of consultation.

“An initial leaflet-based consultation in advance of a temporary on-street trial was one of the methods discussed. However, this was met with concern by the majority of residents at the meeting who instead said they would prefer a live-trial method of consultation.”

Mapping quietways

Should the trial period prove successful, the route will eventually form part of the Bloomsbury to Walthomstow cycling ‘quietway’.

The Mayor of London has seven cycling quietways planned, which are networks or continuous bicycle routes throughout London.

The quietways – which run along backstreet routes, parks, waterways or tree-lined streets – are targeted at those cyclists who prefer travelling more gently through areas with less traffic.

The council will be sending out information to all residents in the affected area later this month, allowing an opportunity for their views to be expressed.

A Hackney Council spokesperson said: “We believe the three-month trial is the best way for both residents and the council to decide if the scheme is suitable for the area.

“Residents’ views of the scheme will be taken into account during the trial. If it is shown not to work, it will be reversed.”

22 Comments

  1. Gary on Tuesday 3 November 2015 at 11:04

    The real problem with pollution in Hackney is the massive influx of cars from A12, Lea Bridge Rd, Chatsworth, then out through Homerton or into Hoxton. Fiddling with minor roads will not change the pollution level, it will just restrict those who need to use their cars for their family on the weekends, whether they cycle in the week or not. (Yes, some of us cyclists also use cars, amazingly).
    We need an alternative way of getting into Hackney from the east, without going up through Walthamstow, across to Tottenham and down Stamford Hill, that’s where all the traffic is.



  2. Jono Kenyon on Tuesday 3 November 2015 at 11:50

    What is good about the proposed scheme, is that it uses principles that have been tried and tested for decades elsewhere in Hackney. De Beauvoir already has this, as do many areas like the roads up in Brownswood near Finsbury Park. Residents can all still access their homes by car/taxi – it just stops the increasing use of residential streets by rat running cars and vans.



  3. Gary on Tuesday 3 November 2015 at 13:13

    Will police increase patrols on Coppermill Lane too? Already hearing about increased level of muggings in the area. It’s a bleak run across the reservoirs, and plenty of young people on expensive bikes, with laptops and iPhones in their bags. That part of quiet way needs to follow train line imho, with proper lighting. cameras, etc etc.



  4. molly on Tuesday 3 November 2015 at 22:25

    what is ludicrous about this scheme (aside from the lack of consultation PRIOR to initiation) is that it considers Lansdowne Drive “non-residential” for the purposes of the scheme. so it is considered a through-route. it is already extensively traffic calmed, with narrowing and chicanes with give way-sections. it is already heavily overloaded with traffic, especially at present when there is extra traffic due to basement blight. so there are frequent tailbacks already. this road restriction scheme will inevitably see more traffic on Lansdowne. This means more traffic trying to do a left out of Lansdowne on to RIchmond Rd(which will also be busier) and a right towards Mare St. This junction is already busy and the extra traffic will cause tailbacks at the junction. You then get the inevitable situation where buses can’t enter or exit Lansdowne, causing more lengthy tailbacks. this happens already and this scheme, which does nothing to address this situation, will exacerbate it. the backlogged traffic will inevitably spill on to the school crossing points on Richmond Road and Lansdowne Drive, increasing pollution for children in and around Gayhurst School. So while the streets around Lavender, malvern and Middleton will be quieter in weekday daytimes, when no children are around, Lansdowne and Richmond will be busier at peak times, impacting on people walking to school. an ill considered scheme, which should have been subject to full consultation and local balloting before implementation.



  5. Brian Jones on Wednesday 4 November 2015 at 10:05

    The headline of this article is misleading. These proposals will not make the streets around London Fields car-free. The plans merely will eliminate through traffic of motor vehicles. All properties will still be accessible by car.



  6. simon on Thursday 5 November 2015 at 00:44

    the net effect of schemes such as this which restrict motor traffic access is proven to reduce the overall volume of polluting dangerous vehicles passing through an area, not just in the restricted zones but more broadly

    ironic that the residents of albion square who have benefitted massively from the existing traffic calming are so opposed



  7. Jonesy on Thursday 5 November 2015 at 09:47

    Like all government schemes, this will not make the overall situation better; it will make some people’s lives better (those who live on the targeted roads) at the expense of the surrounding roads who will simply receive more traffic. Yes, some traffic might avoid the area altogether but it will simply move to other areas, who will pay the price. The roads around London Fields are already a nightmare. Potholes, speed bumps (which cause people to accelerate and brake constantly down one street thus increasing pollution, noise AND speed in between the bumps), chicanes, bus routes and cars parked on the side means that roads like Lansdowne, Richmond/Graham (by the junction with Mare) are already complete chaos.

    Now a committee of council people earning a few hundred grand of our money between them will spend a few million more of our money to implement and consult upon a scheme that will benefit a few at a cost to many.



  8. Paul on Thursday 5 November 2015 at 22:33

    In the case of comparable closures in De Beauvoir the council try to have it both ways. They told us in a public meeting these measures reduce pollution, but when it’s pointed out that the pollution just goes somewhere else, they say it’s trivial. This is a quote from an email from Chris Proctor at HackneyCouncil: “We are currently discussing the potential Air Quality impacts of the changes with colleagues in the Council’sPollution team. Their initial view is that as the majority of the displaced traffic is expected to be private cars, the impact on local air pollution is likely to be minimal.”



  9. Paul on Thursday 5 November 2015 at 22:34

    Report on BBC London today about total chaos caused by one closure in Lambeth. Hackney will regret all this.



  10. a on Sunday 8 November 2015 at 00:18

    the problem with the scheme is that it is zero sum, the number of cars trying to get from one side of London fields to the other will not change, they will just use the roads that this proposed trial leaves open to them. So Middleton road and others around it benefit and Richmond road, Pownall, Brownlow and Brougham Road all suffer. It is somewhat uncomfortable that those roads that suffer also are areas where there is high density social housing and the roads which are benefiting tend to be lined by Victorian terraces that go for in excess of a million pounds. A cynic would suggest that the gentrified end up with private roads and the less well off put up with additional pollution and noise. spreading the traffic makes more sense if you are looking to reduce congestion or blocking through traffic altogether if you wish to reduce the number of cars , but picking some roads and leaving others is just clearly unfair to those residents who lose



  11. Jane Fletcher on Sunday 8 November 2015 at 14:03

    This scheme will not solve the problems it sets out to. Queues of traffic belching out fumes will be the result. I am not aware of massive congestion and we do not need 100% car free streets. I cycle and drive all I want is cycle lanes and not creating congestion needlessly. If you cannot cycle for any reason this is a nightmare. Additionally, consultation is needed prior to imposing a scheme like this.



  12. Claire on Sunday 8 November 2015 at 15:47

    I’m a long term resident, have kids and this scheme is ridiculous.
    The article above doesn’t mention this other petition AGAINST going on. So here is is: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/stop-the-proposed-road-closures-hackney-london-fields-ward

    Mr Ben Alden-Falconer is 26 yo and self proclaimed:
    Hackneyite, Cambridge History Grad, Consultant, Out Door Swimmer, Traveller, Cycle to work, Photographer, Art & Architecture Addict, & Ideas Lover.

    Clearly is the VERY representative of normal down to earth families and elderly living in the area.
    He is very lucky that he can bike to work. I defy him to do so with two kids. I defy him to carry kilos of shopping with two kids on a bike too.

    STOP THIS NON SENSE



  13. James on Sunday 8 November 2015 at 17:21

    as a london fields resident (Lansdowne Drive) who has lived in and around the area for 18 years and raised two children without a car – yes it is actually very easy to manage kids and shopping with a little planning – i welcome this scheme, it will as other similar schemes have evidenced result in an overall reduction in through traffic, it will not stop residents from being able to use thier cars and it will reduce road traffic danger to children and the elderly especially



  14. James on Sunday 8 November 2015 at 17:24

    ( and as it is a pilot trial scheme if it does not achieve the desired outcomes or the dire warnings of the anti lobby are evidenced then it will be withdrawn – given the controversy it would be hard not to )



  15. Mel McCrindle on Sunday 8 November 2015 at 20:57

    The complete lack of consultation before the scheme was hatched is a very strategic tactic by the council. They will not get away with it and claiming that consultation will occur during the trial is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Their scheme does not even tackle the real issues of congestion, pollution etc. Had they properly consulted all residents then they would have understood where the real problems lies. The main roads are where the greatest congestion and fumes are not the smaller and quieter roads. It’s the council’s way of doing something cheap and claiming to tackle this pressing issue in one of Hackney’s wards. This is NOT a solution and will solve nothing apart from adding more traffic to the already congested main roads, who are they kidding?? This will only create longer queues and even more fumes.The ‘Fume Free Streets’ group also kidding no one with their desire for more people to cycle etc when ever single house on their quieter streets has a car parked in front of it. I say let’s all work together to solve the real traffic issues on our main roads and only then will we see benefits for everyone in the ward.



  16. mary on Sunday 8 November 2015 at 21:17

    As far as I can see no one is worried about not using their cars – they are worried about the existing through traffic on other roads which is a nightmare and this scheme does nothing at all to address that
    BTW how are all these cyclists (incl. me) on Middleton supposed to cross the very dangerous Queensbridge Rd? This is a problem not spoken about at all.
    There is no rat-running on the roads to be closed??? most absolutely deserted in fact – meanwhile Richmond is a over busy dangerous back route – I counted 64 cars in 5 mins today (sunday) thats 768 per hour… sorry but I’d really like to see a traffic scheme that tries at least to look at that.
    I know its bizarre but I just think it would be better to think about all the kids, parents, pedestrians, cyclists that need to use these roads first???



  17. Oswald Granger on Monday 9 November 2015 at 12:01

    One simple reason why this scheme should be considered a CRIMINAL act;

    NO PUBLIC CONSULTATION/VOTE on a proposal which likely will result in concentrated higher levels of air pollution right next to our local schools (Gayhurst,Queensbridge,Haggerston,The Bridge Academy) due to increased traffic volumes on main roads which are already heavily congested.

    Surely the results of this study should be considered before any possible “trial” of the scheme;

    http://www.kcl.ac.uk/lsm/research/divisions/aes/impact/EXHALEExplorationofHealthAndLungsintheEnvironment.pdf

    Please read and take note;
    http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jan/08/air-pollution-will-scar-londons-children-for-rest-their-lives

    There are many more related articles!

    So has the appropriate pollution monitoring and analysis taken place prior to assessing the potential impact of the scheme on our children?

    Simply disgusted by the self-serving individuals who are supporting this proposal.



  18. Hackney Citizen on Monday 9 November 2015 at 13:01

    Both petitions were hyperlinked in the article. We’ve now amended the linked text to make it more visible.

    -Ed.



  19. simon on Monday 9 November 2015 at 22:03

    how exactly will it result in higher air pollution next to gayhurst school? please explain



  20. Oswald Granger on Tuesday 10 November 2015 at 12:44

    Hello Simon,

    Gayhurst school is very near the junction of Lansdowne Road and Richmond Road, two roads that will highly likely get an increased level of traffic flow if this scheme goes ahead. They are two of the residential roads (+Queensbridge) on which displaced traffic traveling west-east (due to side road closures) will end up.

    Of course, I cannot say for sure what the outcome of this scheme will actually be, nor can anybody else unless we have the relevant CURRENT AND TRIAL OUTCOME pollution data on which to base or judge any scheme by. Everything is pure speculation, unless we have the hard data on where the existing areas of high pollution are now and how any “trial” scheme effects this distribution of pollution in the area. Measuring simple traffic volumes alone do not give the true picture of where pollution is concentrated, as there are many factors which effect the distribution of pollution.

    What I find unbelievable is that the council has tried to force this plan through without consulting with local residents as to possible alternative schemes to reduce traffic pollution in the area and without being transparent about what data has actually been collected and what exactly is the CRITERIA by which a judgement on the success or failure of the scheme will be made.

    Perhaps we should be thinking more radically? not just implementing a “solution” which quite likely does not address the real problem of pollution in the area.

    I’m all for cleaner air, for cyclist & pedestrian safety, but for everyone, not just a few select roads that will most likely benefit to the detriment of other roads. After all we all live in the same ward & borough and pay council tax!

    Bottom line, how can a scheme be called a “success” unless the bigger picture is considered?

    Just show us the multitude of data that surely must have been collected! If it hasn’t been, then isn’t this proposal based purely on a negligence of duty to our community? We just need the data first, before wasting our money and commencing a “trial”.



  21. Joe on Tuesday 10 November 2015 at 20:33

    This scheme is bizarre. It seeks to address a non-problem (the streets they seek to block are already quiet) and to make worse an existing one (Richmond and Lansdowne are already frequently congested). It makes no sense whatsoever. Ive signed the petition against.



  22. Shrubland on Tuesday 24 November 2015 at 00:04

    Traffic travelling down Shrubland Road from Queensbridge Road will divert on a very large council estate ‘Grand Union Estate to access Lansdowne Driveas it wil by-passes the ‘block’ This will put the children/families on the estate at extreme risk. Also access to Homerton Hospital will be severely restricted.



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