We know that traffic on the Hyde Park Estate has increased since the reworking of the Lancaster Gate gyratory. Hyde Park Ward Councillors and residents warned Transport for London (TfL), Mayor Khan's transport agency, that this would happen. TfL's assurances that changes in traffic phasing would ensure this was not the case have not materialised.
So we as ward councillors drew on our ward budget to fund a feasibility study to look at how to calm traffic and improve pedestrian safety. We consulted with residents' associations on the measures and are very pleased to have secured £378,000 from the Community Infrastructure Levy to design and implement the amended proposals.
The aim of the measures is to provide better and safer crossing facilities for pedestrians and vulnerable road users, improve motorists’ lane discipline and deter the cutting of junctions.
Proposals
- Strathearn Place junction with Sussex Square – Zebra Crossing
- Connaught Street/Hyde Park Street/Hyde Park Square – Junction Improvements
- Zebra crossing on Hyde Park Street, north of junction with Connaught Street.
- Improved crossing over Connaught Street at junction with Hyde Park Square.
- Adjustment of pedestrian refuge islands to tighten the approach for northbound vehicles on Hyde Park Street
- Clarendon Place – pedestrian refuge islands
- Hyde Park Crescent, pedestrian islands at junctions
- Improved ‘No Through Road’ signage at Oxford Square/Titchbourne Row
- Double Yellow Lines at dropped kerbs and corners
We invited the TfL Cycling Commissioner to see the bottlenecks at Lancaster Gate and asked him to look at changes to lanes and signage for eastbound traffic which would deter rat-running along Stanhope Terrace. We are asking TfL for their proposals.
The requests from the Hyde Park Estate Association and the Church Commissioners, backed by our own surveys, show support for a 20mph limit throughout the Hyde Park Estate, following its success in Connaught Square and other areas piloted near schools. The Hyde Park Estate is top of the list for consideration of more schemes across Westminster.
