Forum topic: Quieter Neighbourhoods/Cycle Enfield briefing at Winchmore Hill ward forum

The Winchmore Hill ward forum held on 9th January included a briefing on Quieter Neighbourhoods by Richard Eason from the Cycle Enfield team at Enfield Council.  The bullet point summary below is taken from the official minutes of the meeting, available on the council website.  The discussion evidently relates mainly to the Fox Lane and Fernleigh Road QNs.  Many of the points appear to be comments made by members of the public at the meeting and Richard Eason's responses to them.  Some of the points raised by the public relate to the Cycle Enfield scheme along Green Lanes, rather than to Quieter Neighbourhoods.

• Traffic should be using the primary network of roads and Quieter neighbourhoods scheme (QNs) aims to encourage it to do that and not use residential roads.  In time, all parts of Enfield will be offered schemes like this.
• The Fernleigh QN and much of the Fox Lane QN are in Winchmore Hill ward.
• Residents give their thoughts on their roads through a perception survey and this, together with traffic management expertise is used to develop some alternative proposals.  In Fernleigh and Fox Lane QNs, previous information gathered through workshops has also been available. 
• The consultations are now closed for these QNs although there must still be a statutory consultation for the Fernleigh QN because the different options available in Fernleigh Road and Woodberry Avenue prevented this being done at the same time as the perception survey.
• Data are still being analysed.  80% of the responses received have been from residents living in the QNs, the remaining 20% lived just outside.  The reports will be published on the Council web site.
• It is hoped to implement whatever is decided by the spring.
• Issues raised by residents and not included above:
• If a road does not want traffic calming but most others do, residents will be informed so that they can say if this affects their decision.
• Additional calming measures have been proposed in Hoppers Road and the effect of being in a 20mph zone should make this more effective than the current measures.
• Speed cameras are very expensive and need to be positioned in specific places to be effective.
• Access / delivery only signs cannot be enforced.  Cameras cannot be used to do this.
• The council has no objection to flashing signs showing when motorists are speeding.  However they are very expensive.
• The diversion signs to allow work on the Bourne Hill, Hedge Lane junction are causing problems in some residential roads especially Woodberry Avenue.  
  The diversions were changed as a result of this. DB
• Blue discs displayed on bus stops in Green Lanes indicate that cyclists do not have the right of way.
• Signs are designed to be effective for those who need to see them and not to distract with clutter.
• Pollution levels on Green Lanes continue to be monitored.  Walking and cycling do not use pollution.
• The number of pedestrian crossings has increased (nearly doubled).
• Inconsiderate / dangerous driving is an offence and a matter of the driver’s behaviour.
• Cycling courses are available for children and all Enfield schools can access free cycle training for their children.
• Many pedestrians find the lights at Sainsbury’s difficult to use even though the refuge is larger so two stage crossing is easier and the traffic lights make the flow of traffic more predictable.  Suggestions made to improve it:
• The left hand filter light coming north is difficult to read - you think you are safe when you aren’t.  Changing this could decrease the capacity of the junction.
• The left filter is the problem - removing it would help the traffic flow.
• The lights are in the wrong place. Pedestrians cannot see the lights.  The problem is the same at Station Road.
• Fords Grove is to be re built to improve the crossing for pedestrians and especially those using wheelchairs or pushing buggies.
• Richard Eason said he would look into the points raised.