Work starts next week to install road humps and cushions, along with signs, to make much of Wanstead a 20mph zone.
Redbridge has announced that work will begin next Monday, 2 November, on adapting the roads in roads around Wanstead Park and Aldersbrook. Most of the roads affected are residential, but the plan also includes Blake Hall Road, which will inevitably cause drivers to emit a hollow laugh that the chance of getting up to 20mph would be a fine thing.
A parallel plan would see the same restrictions being adopted for the Snaresbrook end of Wanstead. But these are the roads in the initial plan:
Wanstead 20mph zone
Zoom in to explore the council’s mapped zone.
The plan follows a consultation which took place last year. 364 people, the majority of whom were residents, responded to the consultation. More than three-quarters said they “had concerns about road safety” in Wanstead. But only 12% supported the plan. Objections included that:
- speed humps could increase noise pollution and cause vehicle damage
- traffic calming would cause congestion
- council resources would be better spent elsewhere
- 20mph should not apply to main roads
- 20mph should be increased to 30
- the plan would not be effective without enforcement.
The council responded to those objections in the following summary of points:
Conclusion of consultation
The Wanstead Area Road Safety Zone consultation revealed strong community concerns about road safety, particularly on Blake Hall Road, with 18% of respondents expressing this sentiment. While there was broad recognition of the need for interventions, many residents had concerns over the effectiveness and impacts of the proposed traffic calming measures. Residents felt that the proposed measures would increase pollution levels and fail to positively impact road safety in the area.
Residents’ concerns about road safety in the Wanstead area are acknowledged, and it is anticipated that the proposed scheme will make a significant impact in improving road safety through reduced traffic speeds, resulting in fewer and less serious collisions on all roads in the area, including Blake Hall Road. Experience of introducing similar schemes in the Borough, as well as research on similar schemes nationwide, suggests that the proposals should be effective in achieving improvements in road safety. Current research on the effects of air pollution as a result of the introduction of traffic calming measures is inconclusive. Although there may be small increases or decreases in pollution levels locally, it is felt that the overall effects are likely to be minimal.
In addition to the proposed measures, residents called for alternative and complementary approaches, such as speed cameras, increased police presence, and additional pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure to be introduced in the area.
The Council has acknowledged these concerns and reassured the community that all feedback is being carefully considered as part of a wider review of road safety improvements. It is committed to exploring additional measures to reinforce the proposed scheme and ensure a more comprehensive response to the issues raised.
An FAQ provided by the council points out that any revenue from enforcement (ie fines from drivers who break the new 20mph limit) would not go to Redbridge but would rather go to central government.
It is not known when the plan will extend to other parts of Wanstead.
A detailed plan of where exactly speed humps will be installed is provided by the council, below. Click or tap for a detailed view.
- And anyone wanting to keep track of when work will be taking place in a particular road can now consult the new Roadworks in Wanstead page, available from the top navigation of this site.
