Hi Neighbours,

Amazing news!

Last Friday (26/6/2020) Harrow council published designs for 9 low traffic neighbourhoods and 3 school streets.  One of these low traffic neighbourhoods is Headstone South!

Your help is urgently needed to show your support for Harrow's Headstone South Low Traffic Neighbourhood proposal.

You can view and comment on the specific proposal at the link below - please make reference to 'LTN-02 Pinner View area, Headstone South'.  It takes only a couple of minutes to do so.

I would strongly encourage you to make a positive comment in support of the scheme of modal filters that has been proposed.  It is critical that we get as much positive support around this as possible to get it implemented, otherwise we risk ending up in a terrible situation as more and more people get into their cars as lockdown ends and our local roads are overrun with even more rat running vehicles than before.

In my opinion, the design for Headstone South is 'gold standard' and will make it completely impossible to rat run through the area.  You will still be able to access all areas of the neighbourhood with a car, and the scheme will also be reviewed and approved by the emergency services before it is implemented.  Remember, although you will no longer be able to drive through the neighbourhood, you will certainly be able to drive to the neighbourhood.  Traffic counts following similar schemes in other parts of London have shown they do not increase congestion on main roads - so you are also less likely to get stuck in traffic when you do have to drive as there will be fewer people out and about in cars overall, as many will have decided it is more convenient to walk or cycle for shorter journeys.

That Headstone South has been chosen as one of the first neighbourhoods to be considered for this emergency funding is a huge success, and entirely down to your support.

Please spread the word to your local friends and neighbours that their support is needed to give the positive feedback that Harrow Council need to hear to implement this and other low traffic neighbourhood schemes.

Thank you once again for all your support, please remember to comment as soon as possible and be as positive as you can!

Stay safe,

Emma

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I've provided a bit of additional background information for you below to remind you how Low Traffic Neighbourhood schemes work, and why there is now suddenly funding for them, not just in Harrow, but elsewhere in London:

Both the Government and the Mayor of London have committed to rapidly improving walking and cycling for the COVID-19 recovery,  to reduce the risk of overcrowding on public transport and prevent an increase in car use, congestion and pollution. To that end they have provided emergency funding to support the provision of interventions like Low Traffic Neighbourhoods that are known to be a relatively cheap and incredibly effective means of empowering neighbourhoods to walk and cycle.  (Note, this funding cannot be used for other Council purposes, it must be used ASAP to improve walking and cycling infrastructure or lost). 

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods are networks of minor streets from which through motor traffic is excluded. When applied across a whole area, they discourage short car journeys and reduce traffic overall. They lead to an increase in walking and cycling, cleaner air, less noise and sociable, friendly streets. Traffic counts following similar schemes in other parts of London have shown they do not increase congestion on main roads, and often will decrease traffic in the area overall as drivers adjust routes and behaviour.

Width restrictions, speed bumps, and one way systems are known to be less effective interventions, although they are often easier for residents to accept.  One way systems in particular have been known to increase overall traffic speeds which is very dangerous in residential areas, speeds bumps cause noise pollution and brake dust pollution, and width restrictions will only prevent access by very large vehicles - smaller commercial vehicles and cars that make up the majority of rat running vehicles will still be able to do so. 

Interested in knowing more?  I found the document below to be really good at addressing the key questions that are asked about these schemes.

https://www.livingstreets.org.uk/media/3844/lcc021-low-traffic-neighbourhoods-detail-v9.pdf