- The deadline for objecting to width restrictions in Connaught Gardens, Munster Gardens and Hazelwood Lane is Wednesday 29th March
- Consultation on Quieter Neighbourhood measures for these streets is still running - so why the rush to install width restrictions?
- Better Streets for Enfield say width restrictions are hazardous and want to see more effective measures to cut through traffic
- The Quieter Neighbourhoods survey also ends this week - on Friday
- To object to the width restrictions email
Enfield Council's plan to install width restrictions on three roads that fall within the proposed Connaught Gardens Quieter Neighbourhood has been criticised by a group which campaigns for residential streets to be made more people-friendly. Members of the public have only until Wednesday 29th March to object to the plans.
The council is planning to install the width restrictions at the northern ends of Connaught Gardens and Munster Gardens (ie close to their junctions with Hedge Lane), and also at the point where Hazelwood Lane crosses the New River. They are intended to prevent lorries driving through the future Quieter Neighbourhood to reach the North Circular Road. There is already a width restriction where Oakthorpe Road crosses the New River.
Pre-empting the Quieter Neighbourhoods consultation
Better Streets for Enfield are, of course, in favour of keeping lorries out of this residential area, but they have two objections to the plan. The first is that engagement with the public about the Connaught Gardens Quieter Neighbourhood is still in the initial phase (the deadline for comments is Friday 31st March). The idea is supposed to be to devise a set of measures that will work as an integrated whole to improve conditions for residents, but by doing this work now, Enfield Council will be pre-empting the future development of this holistic approach.
Hazardous
The second objection is that width restrictions present a danger for cyclists. Clare Rogers of Better Streets for Enfield says "They are a known hazard for cycling, causing road users to share a narrow space and often affecting driver behaviour to intimidate cycists and speed up to get through the restriction first. Even for an experienced cyclist who takes primary position, this behaviour is intimidating. For a less experienced or child cyclist it is even more dangerous.
"Even width restrictions that allow passage for cycles near the kerb are not ideal, as cycles are then pushed into secondary position and have to wait to regain primary position or end up in the door zone."
Rat-running along Connaught Gardens
In any case, the width restrictions will do little or nothing to alleviate the main problem affecting the area - high frequency rat running along Connaught Gardens, turning right into Hazelwood Lane then accessing the North Circular via Arnold Gardens or Callard Avenue. The vehicles involved are cars, not lorries, and the problem is best fixed by changes nearer to the North Circular rather than at the Hedge Lane end.
Hazelwood School
Another big problem is the amount of through traffic using Hazelwood Lane. A width restriction would not stop cars go right past Hazelwood School, exposing pupils to danger and polluted air. Better Streets would like to see an effective measure to reduce traffic, such as a ban on cars (except residents) during school hours. Otherwise heavy traffic will continue to discourage parents and students from walking or cycling to school.
What is proposed?
Information about the plans was published in local papers earlier this month (see the box below).
To comment send an email to quoting reference TG52/1340, by 29 March 2017.
NEW DISABLED PERSONS' PARKING PLACES — CONNAUGHT GARDENS N13 and CRESCENT WEST EN4
REVOKED DISABLED PERSONS PARKING PLACES — CLIVE ROAD EN1, CONNAUGHT GARDENS N13, GORDON ROAD EN2, HASELBURY ROAD N18, HEDGE LANE N13, SHELDON ROAD N18 and TITCHFIELD ROAD EN3
Further information may be obtained from Traffic and Transportation, telephone number 020-8379 3632.
1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Council of the London Borough of Enfield propose to make the Enfield (Prescribed Route) (No.') Traffic Order 201*, the Enfield (Free Parking Places) (Disabled Persons) (No. ') Order 201' and the Enfield (Waiting and Loading Restriction) (Amendment No. ') Order 201' under sections 6 and 124 of and Part IV of Schedule 9 to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended.
2. The general effect of the Orders will be to -
(a) introduce 2.3 metre (7 feet 6 inches) width restrictions in Connaught Gardens N13 south-west of its junction with Hedge Lane N13;
(b) introduce 2.3 metre (7 feet 6 inches) width restrictions in Hazelwood Lane N13 on the New River bridge located between Nos. 99 and 101 Hazelwood Lane N13;
(c) introduce 2.3 metre (7 feet 6 inches) width restrictions in Munster Gardens N13 south-west of its junction with Hedge Lane N13;
(d) introduce "at any time" waiting restrictions in the vicinity of the above proposed width restrictions in Connaught Gardens N13, Hazelwood Lane N13 and Munster Gardens N13;
(e) designate disabled persons' parking places in Connaught Gardens N13 and Crescent West EN4 in which disabled persons' vehicles which display a valid disabled person's badge Blue Badge") in the relevant position, issued by any local authority, may be left therein; and
4. A copy of the proposed Orders, a map indicating the locations and effects of the proposed Orders, of the Council's statement of reasons for proposing to make the proposed Orders and other relevant documents can be inspected at the Reception Desk, the Civic Centre, Silver Street, Enfield, Middlesex, EN1 3XD during normal office hours on Mondays to Fridays inclusive.
5. Anybody wishing to object to the proposed Orders, or make any other representations in respect of the Orders, should send a statement in writing to that effect, and in the case of an objector stating the grounds thereof, to the Head of Traffic anc Transportation, the Civic Centre, Silver Street, Enfield, Middlesex EN1 3XD, quoting the reference TG52/1340, by 29 March 2017 or by e-mail to Note: Should you wish to discuss the proposals in more detail with a Council officer, please ring the above-mentioned telephone number to arrange a mutually convenient time.
6. Under the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, any letter you write to the Council in response to this Notice may, upon written request, be made available to the press and to the public, who would be entitled to take copies of it if they so wished.
Dated 5 March 2017
DAVID B. TAYLOR Head of Traffic and Transportation
