Decision details

This report seeks approval from the Director of Environment and Sustainability, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and a Sustainable Camden, to make permanent the trial Healthy School Streets (HSS) scheme for St Christopher’s School on Belsize Lane, and Maria Montessori School and Devonshire House Upper School on Lyndhurst Gardens. The trial scheme was implemented under an Experimental Traffic Order (ETO) which came into force on 25th May 2023 for up to 18 months, as part of Phase 5 of the Council’s Healthy School Streets programme and a decision is sought before the ETO expires on 24 November 2024.

In addition, and in response to feedback received during the trial period, this report seeks approval to bring forward additional permanent measures, subject to Traffic Management Order (TMO) consultation. These include installing a zebra crossing on Lyndhurst Road and keep clear zig zag markings on Belsize Lane to improve road safety for children and amending the times of the HSS restrictions for both schools to better align with school drop off and pick up times and ensure optimal benefits of the restrictions when most children are arriving or leaving the school building. 

This decision report sets out the reasons it is proposed to make the trial scheme permanent and the options available to the decision maker. This report also includes a review of the public engagement responses and feedback received during the trial period, objections to the ETO and monitoring conducted during the trial period which have informed officers’ recommendations.

This report follows the ‘Camden Transport Strategy (CTS): Review of Progress since 2019 and Proposed Three Year Programme 2022/23 to 2024/25 (SC/2022/34) report. The latter includes a delivery plan for achieving goals set by Camden Transport Strategy which in turn seeks to deliver the outcomes set in the Mayor’s Transport Strategy to provide Healthy Streets – streets where more people walk, cycle and use public transport.

The proposals in this report align with our key strategies and plans, including We Make Camden, the CTS, the Climate Action Plan and Clean Air Action Plan.

THAT, having considered the stakeholder feedback provided and monitoring carried out during the trial period, set out in the Monitoring Factsheet (Appendix C), the Trial Feedback Report (Appendix B) and the results of the Equality Impact Assessment (Appendix D), and having due regard to the needs set out in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, the Director of Environment and Sustainability, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and a Sustainable Camden, approves:

1. Making permanent the current, trial timed healthy school street restrictions in place on Belsize Lane between the junctions of Wedderburn Road and Ornan Road, and on Lyndhurst Gardens between the junctions of Lyndhurst Road and Wedderburn Road.

2. Progressing additional elements proposed in response to engagement during the trial period, through further statutory TMO consultation. These measures include a zebra crossing on Lyndhurst Road, installing keep clear zig zags in front of St Christopher’s school on Belsize Lane, and amending the times of the HSS restrictions.

3. Delegates to the Chief Engineer the authority to take any further decisions required for these schemes, including consideration of any objections to Traffic Management Orders (where required), detailed design and implementation and in compliance with statutory requirements.