Clapton Square and Clarence Place - Environmental and cycle improvements

Overview

This consultation seeks to gather your views on proposals to implement further improvements to the environment for cyclists and pedestrians along the Quietway 2 route that runs through the Clapton Square area. The Quietways are a network of cycle routes throughout London.

Why are these changes being proposed?

The Council is committed to making Hackney’s roads safer for everyone living, working and visiting the borough. These changes aim to create an environment that will encourage more walking and cycling, improve air quality and reduce emissions within the local area.

Our Transport Strategy includes a Liveable Neighbourhoods Plan, which recognises that local streets are not just places to park vehicles or drive, walk and cycle on. They are places where we socialise and live our lives. An aspiration is to reclaim Hackney’s streets from motor traffic congestion and transform them into the most attractive and liveable neighbourhoods in London.

One key objective for this proposal is to create a safer, more pleasant environment for cycling and walking along the Quietway 2 route between Bloomsbury and Walthamstow.

Back in July 2016, as part of the Quietways cycling scheme, Hackney Council consulted Clapton Square residents and the local community on proposals which included the closure of the eastern arm of Clapton Square at Lower Clapton Road.

Following consultation, the eastern arm of Clapton Square was closed to through traffic, which allowed a parallel zebra crossing linking Quietway 2 to St Johns Church. Subsequent feedback has highlighted problems with traffic congestion and poor visibility for drivers on the western arm at Lower Clapton Road.

Further measures are therefore proposed to improve the environment for walking and cycling in Clapton Square.

The proposals aim to encourage the use of cleaner and greener transport options, particularly cycling and walking, which is a key long-term objective for the Council due to the wide range of benefits these can bring, including;

• Reducing road danger and accidents
• Creating safer, cleaner, and quieter residential neighbourhoods
• Achieving a successful balance between pedestrians and other modes of transport, in order to improve the environment for walking and cycling

More information regarding Quietways can be found on TfL’s website at the following location: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/cycling/routes-and-maps/quietways

What are the proposals?

The following measures are proposed:

• Introduction of a road closure at the junction of Clarence Place with Clapton Square, similar to the one shown below
• Landscape improvements by creating new areas for the planting of new shrubs and trees

Please download the location plan and detail layout using the links at the bottom of the page for details.

What happens next?

Your feedback will help us to reach a decision on whether to proceed with these proposals. We will publish the response to the consultation as well as the decisions made on this page.

To keep up to date with this and other plans, please visit hackney.gov.uk/street-consultations

Should the Council agree to proceed with these proposals, a further statutory consultation will need to be carried out to make the legal Traffic Management Orders and Public Notices and, subject to this, residents will receive a letter to inform them about the start date for the scheme. Public notices advising the changes will also be displayed in the street at that time.