Improvements ahead to ongoing road closure trial

Organisers of a pilot scheme to make a Croydon residential road safer and quieter are removing the northern half of the street closure as the trial project continues.

In June Croydon Council and sustainable transport charity Sustrans launched a three-month trial shutting Norbury Avenue to non-resident drivers in response to concerns over speeding traffic and to encourage more cycling and walking.

The trial scheme, with closure points by the junctions with Sandfield Road and Kensington Avenue, is funded by Transport for London under the Mayor’s proposals for a quietway between Waterloo and Croydon.

Following doorstep feedback and meetings, organisers plan to lift the northern closure point by Kensington Avenue and make other improvements, and are urging residents to attend a drop-in session this Wednesday.

Council and Sustrans officers have met residents and local headteachers to discuss the trial’s effect on the area, from driver speeds to parking. Organisers are working with Norbury Manor Business & Enterprise College to ease school run congestion for when the autumn term starts in September.

At a drop-in session attended by around 75 local people on Thursday, suggestions included setting up a local working group with representatives from each nearby street and creating a neighbourhood watch. Organisers have also met neighbouring residents on several other occasions to discuss the trial.

“Before this trial started Norbury Avenue was a notorious rat-run, so finding the right solution for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists is an evolving process for everyone.

“The top priority for us and Sustrans has been to engage with residents, listen to them and act on feedback. As well as hearing understandable concerns we’ve also had plenty of support for the scheme, which is all about making the local area safer and more attractive.

“After listening to local people we’ve decided to remove the Kensington Avenue closure point as we continue to find the solution that works best for them. We’ve already suggested some school run changes for September and want as many residents as possible to attend our next drop-in session.”

Councillor Kathy Bee, cabinet member for transport and environment

The next drop-in session will be on Wednesday, 29 July at St Oswald’s Church in Green Lane from 5-8pm.

The council’s traffic management advisory committee is due to review the Norbury Avenue trial this autumn, with a final decision expected next spring.

2015-07-27T16:00:11+01:00 July 27th, 2015|Recent news|