Council's Traffic Reduction Scheme Meeting Moved Online
Residents asked to watch and contribute from home due to Coronavirus concerns
Concerns over coronavirus prompted H&F Council to hold an interactive online meeting, with on Thursday 12 March, concerning its Traffic Reduction Plan for Fulham
The council said on its website: " Due to concerns about Coronavirus, and after discussions with residents from the SW6 working party and wider, we're changing the format of Thursday night’s 7pm SW6 Traffic Reduction Plan meeting.
" The meeting will still go ahead – but virtually. We'll live stream proceedings using a platform called Slido.
" Residents will be able to watch and contribute online. People should not come to the council's offices. The meeting will be online."
The council said of its plans, to install cameras with number-plate-recognition at entrances to Fulham's Imperial Road, Bagleys Lane and Harwood Terrace: " We've received more than 100 emails at sw6traffic@lbhf.gov.uk following our recent letter to residents.
" We'll start with the most asked questions from these and then go to questions in real time from people participating online. Please do join in if you can so we can make sure the new scheme works in the best way for everyone.
" There will also be further opportunity for residents to feed in views after the meeting.
" To join us on Thursday at 7pm, please go to Slido and enter code HTSW6. The Slido platform is easy to use and can be accessed from mobile, laptop or desktop. You don't need to download an app.
" We ask that people no longer attend the meeting in person but online."
The council is proposing its 'pioneering new traffic reduction scheme' amid ongoing controversy over the closure of Harwood Terrace in Fulham.
The council wants to install cameras with number-plate-recognition, or NPR technology at entrances to Imperial Road, Bagleys Lane and Harwood Terrace.
Fines would be issued to motorists who enter these roads if they do not hold a Hammersmith and Fulham residents’ parking permit.
Other drivers, such as residents’ guests and delivery drivers, would be able to apply online for temporary permission. Taxis, buses and emergency services vehicles would have automatic permission.
The council has sent out letters about the plans to all local residents and you can also see the full details on its website.
You can also download a large version of the map here and see updates
Comments or questions about implementation of the new plan can also be sent to sw6traffic@lbhf.gov.uk.
After what the council calls 'two full and frank public meetings', the proposal was unveiled at a cabinet meeting on March 2,
which heard that the trial closure of Harwood Terrace has had
mixed effects on traffic in surrounding streets.
Explaining the proposal, chief officer for public realm, Bram Kainth, said: “You would have four control points: at Imperial Road next to the pedestrian crossing, on the eastern end of Harwood Terrace, and in Bagleys Lane…
“This would significantly reduce the traffic in the whole area as well as the SW6 area.”
The six-month trial closure of Harwood Terrace, which began in October, will officially end in late April. It is all but certain to remain closed until a new trial of this NPR scheme commences, which could take up to six weeks, Mr Kainth said.
He then explained that 92% of traffic in the area comes from people who live outside the borough, and said the idea was to prevent “rat running” by drivers who are not local.
Council leader Stephen Cowan said "mistakes" had been made in the run-up to the closure. Campaigning residents have repeatedly claimed only 40 households were consulted before the closure, but the council said letters were sent to 300 households in early 2019 and information was published on its website.
Harwood Terrace road closure. Picture: Owen Sheppard
Hundreds of residents in the Sands End area of Fulham complain that congestion and air pollution increased as a result of closing Harwood Terrace.
Replying to comments from James Spokoini, who coordinates the SW6Traffic campaign, Mr Cowan said: " We don’t agree with everything you have said but we absolutely accept that this has not been handled well from the beginning, but once a trial experiment began it needed to be followed through in order to get the data."
Mr Spokoini urged Mr Cowan to carry out a new public consultation with hundreds of residents before committing to a trial of the NPR system.
One councillor who wished to be anonymous said he didn’t think the NPR scheme would make a big difference to the increased congestion in Bagleys Lane, because less than 10% of its traffic is from local drivers.
Harwood Terrace resident Nick Smith argued the closure had been "a success" and quoted council traffic surveys which suggest seven local streets have seen a net reduction of thousands of vehicle journeys per week.
Mr Kainth added: " What we’ve found from looking at the data is around 12,000 extra cars a week in Bagleys Lane going northbound and southbound.
" We have seen considerable extended bus journeys times, and actually there’s been a positive effect on traffic reduction in Wandsworth Bridge Road and in King’s Road."
Cllr Wesley Harcourt, Cabinet Member for the Environment, said of the new plans: " Residents have told us they want to see a general reduction in traffic across SW6. We have a way forward which will put our residents first by stopping commuters from outside of the borough using the south Fulham neighbourhood as a rat run. We're reducing congestion, making our streets safer and improving air quality.
" The new traffic plan means that sections of Imperial Road and Bagleys Lane will be closed to all motor vehicles except permit holders, buses, taxis and bicycles. Permit holders will include H&F residents and their visitors, emergency services, electric vehicles, delivery drivers and refuse vehicles.
" Harwood Terrace will reopen and will no longer be a rat run. We'll be measuring the impact and making any adjustments as the scheme progresses."
The council says updates will be placed on its website at SW6 Traffic Update.
Written with contributions by Owen Sheppard - Local Democracy Reporter
March 13, 2020