We the undersigned request the repurposing of the Lennox Gardens two-way stretch of road (“Lennox Gardens Roadway”) between Pont Street and Lennox Gardens, into a fully pedestrianised road.

The Lennox Gardens Roadway is directly located between Knightsbridge School and St Columba’s Church of Scotland (see map) and is used as a primary walking path for the children of Knightsbridge School to be dropped off, picked up, and cross the road during the school day to their lessons at St Columba’s. The St Columba’s Church Hall is exclusively used Monday to Friday from 8:00 am - 5:30 pm as an extension of Knightsbridge School for physical activity, music, library, and other lessons, as well as for after school clubs.

Over the last number of years there have been many unfortunate and unsafe events that have been directly related to the Lennox Gardens Roadway continuing to be a 2-way vehicle road:

1.     Traffic incidents involving children due to cars using the road as a ‘rat run’ shortcut and from cars dangerously parked on Lennox Gardens reducing visibility of pedestrians crossing.

2.     Pedestrian muggings / stabbings with the Lennox Gardens roadway as an escape route for offenders, as there are very few CCTV cameras in this area

3.     Pollution and poor air quality due to idling cars on the Lennox Gardens Roadway and static traffic (the result of the frequent log jams of cars).

4.     Threat of COVID-19 now requires schools to provide a safe and socially distanced way to drop-off and pick-up children.

We feel that the current post-lockdown climate provides an opportunity to make permanent changes for the better that will address a number of the issues raised.

Increasing the ease and safety of non-vehicular access to Knightsbridge School through pedestrianising the Lennox Garden Roadway will help reduce traffic congestion, improve the safety and well-being of KS children, and encourage active and sustainable modes of travel. It will also enable KS to put in place measures to ensure safe and socially distanced movements of children in and out of school.

While the Council has already started the trial to turn the Lennox Gardens Roadway into a ‘School Street’, with timed school-day closure to motor traffic, the full pedestrianisation of the roadway will allow for effective social distancing at drop off and pickup times and it will create a safer neighbourhood and no-emission community resource the children of Knightsbridge School and local residents can enjoy.