We ask that the ward’s walking and cycling environment be improved by:

  • reducing the speed limit on Asylum Road from 30mph to 20mph, and installing a simple barrier at the junction with Meeting House Lane to stop motor traffic using Asylum Road as a fast through route avoiding nearby major roads
  • closing Bird in Bush Road to through motor traffic

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The problem Livesey ward includes several tower-block social housing units, three community primary schools, and is sliced in half by, in places, six lanes of the Old Kent Rd, a major part of the Transport for London Road Network (TLRN). There are also some traditional residential roads in the area, composed of a little remaining Victorian housing stock, interspersed with some local authority and ex-local authority provision. Lots of families with young children, high density of population.

These roads are nominally 20 mph, but are used as rat runs by fast motor traffic trying to avoid the bottlenecks that can occur on the major roads to the north (A2, Old Kent Rd) and south (A202). Closing off Bird in Bush Road to this fast moving through traffic, which routinely exceeds the speed limit, would vastly improve walking and cycling in this ward.

In addition, Asylum Rd on the border of Livesey ward and Nunhead ward, has a speed limit of 30mph, as this photo taken at the junction of Meeting House Lane and Asylum Road shows.

30mph speed limit sign at junction of Meeting House Lane and Asylum Road

Junction of Meeting House Lane and Asylum Road, with 30mph speed limit

This increased limit on Asylum Rd makes it even less likely that traffic on adjoining roads keeps to the 20mph limit which operates there. There is no good reason why Asylum Rd should have a higher speed limit and we would recommend it be reduced to 20mph, in line with the surrounding roads. It is residential and has a popular park alongside, as well as being a route to local primary schools.

At this junction with Meeting House Lane we would also like to see the installation of a simple barrier to stop traffic using it as a fast through route avoiding the main roads which run parallel on either side. This would instantly make this road safer to walk, cross and cycle, as well as having a calming side effect on the residential roads that have junctions with Meeting House Lane and Goldsmith Road in the neighbouring ward.

Bollards closing off a street to through traffic

Simple, cheap and effective use of bollards to close off a street in Hackney to rat-runs

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LCC policy area 2: Areas without through motor traffic

Areas where motor traffic cannot cut through side streets, while walking and cycling are encouraged. Through point closures (using bollards, planters, or trees), a residential area can be filtered, so that all parts can still be reached by motor vehicle (for deliveries, or to start or end journeys) but direct routes across quiet zones are only possible by non-motorised modes. When an area is made safer, quieter, and more pleasant, walking and cycling become more attractive choices.