This is the response to your enquiry MEM16387
Thank you for getting in touch.
We will soon be contacting residents, businesses, and property owners in the Holmes Road area with an update on the Holmes Road Area Safe and Healthy Streets scheme. This update letter will include details on the construction of the scheme which is scheduled to restart in the coming weeks following earlier delays, information about exemptions and how to comment on the trial scheme.
Please find a response to each of your questions below:
1. I am in particular concerned about the double yellow lines that will extend along the whole Eastern side of Holmes Rd and create a “free”way racing course, and plenty of idling opportunities for drug dealers and UPS vehicles. Cameras along the route might help.
It should be noted that whilst some parking is being removed, we are also doing this to enable the footway widening on the south side of Holmes Road outside the entrance to St Patrick Catholic Primary School. This will maintain a similar amount of carriageway space while providing more room for pedestrians, particularly parents and pupils waiting outside the school gates. The section of Holmes Road between Kentish Town Road and Raglan Street will remain two-way. Whilst we do not envisage a speeding issue to arise, the traffic management measures, including the westbound only motor vehicle restriction on Holmes Road, will be introduced as a trial under an Experimental Traffic Order (ETO), which will provide an opportunity for us to monitor the impact of these measures on the wider road network and gather feedback from local residents and stakeholders to determine if any additional schemes or changes are needed.
Based on the above, we do not anticipate an increase in drug-related activities in the area, particularly given the proximity of Kentish Town Police Station. However, should any issues arise, we will liaise with our Community Safety Team to enhance patrols in the area if needed.
2. Will there be an impact on air pollution for residents living by the “turning circle” at the end of Willes Road near Inkerman Road? What is the impact on air pollution if vehicles are regularly turning down there, including delivery vans, builders vans and dustbin lorries?
3. Have other impacts like the increase in noise made by vehicles turning (will they need to do a three point turn or more) been considered?
The proposed motor vehicle restriction/bollard on Willes Road is intended to stop Willes Road from being used as a cut-through for motor vehicles travelling between Prince of Wales Road and Kentish Town Road and vice versa. The traffic data we collected in December 2022 and May 2023, during which the trial Healthy School Street on Holmes Road and the motor vehicle restriction on Raglan Street were in place, revealed that there were circa 1,000 vehicles travelling along Willes Road on an average weekday. It is envisaged that one of the key benefits/outcomes of the proposed motor vehicle restriction on Willes Road will be improved air and noise quality as a result of lower traffic volumes.
There are over 100 of these similar schemes/measures in the borough of Camden and the scheme was designed with consideration of the required turning movement of vehicles in mind. The designs include the removal of parking to enable some vehicles to be able to turn. Due to the low number of properties located between Holmes Road and Inkerman Road, we do not envisage the number of daily turning movements to be high. The air and noise quality improvements associated with the removal of through traffic are likely to outweigh the negatives of turning movements required. Again, however, we will be able to monitor the scheme and gather feedback from the local community during the trial and determine if any additional measures or changes are needed.
4. Residents who are not blue badge holders needing transport to hospital or doctor by cab or by car driven by friends and family (ie not therefore driving their own car) during relevant time restrictions?
Yes, further exemptions can be agreed on a case-by-case basis with the Council. Exemptions can be applied for in exceptional circumstances, such as when a resident may need essential health related transport during the restricted hours.
5. Confirmation that any resident with a car in the restricted areas is able to claim exemption. We look forward to having some answers.
Exemptions to the Healthy School Street (timed motor vehicle restriction) for residents located within these zones will be available:
– Willes Road between the junctions with Inkerman Road and Holmes Road.
– Cathcart Street between the junction with Holmes Road and 8 and 32 Cathcart Street.
We will shortly be sending out an update letter to residents/properties in the area with more information on the changes, including details about exemptions.
Tim Rigby
Consultant Project Manager