LTN's in Peckham -Rye Lane Closure
Creating space for cyclists and walkers adds division within the local community
There are plenty of people who oppose this as well as welcome it. For some local debate see an article here from Southwark News.
I personally find the street safer and more welcoming now. I visit the shops more and it is easier to move between areas which I may not have done previously due to traffic and busy pavements. There are always work arounds for deliveries that can be made and generally I think people will get used to it and begin to like it! Let’s see.
Peoples main problem is that it moves the traffic to other streets so if you live on a LTN you benefit but if not you get more pollution. But I think the point of them are to try and make people reduce driving especially for short journey’s. It is not penalising those who need to drive but those who don’t need to and could either walk, cycle or use public transport.
There is a really good website for the Dulwich Village LTN’s with some insightful comments from locals here. Hackney have been doing LTNs for 10 years and the LCC have done a great article here.
Rye Lane has been closed since the 6 July to allow more space for social distancing for shoppers, cyclists and pedestrians, and to ensure the works around Peckham Rye station can be carried out safely at the same time.
The council have already installed a temporary footway between Holly Grove and Blenheim Grove to provide more space for pedestrians. Now that more shops are opening, there is an urgent need to increase the widths of footways, too. The safest way to do this was to remove all vehicle traffic by closing Rye Lane between Copeland Road and Hanover Park.
To help local retailers they will install loading bays on Bournemouth Road and Cerise Road to enable deliveries to be wheeled in by trolley to Rye Lane.
More info below.
