Dunlace Road - Proposed Traffic Management Improvements

Overview

We are seeking your views on the proposal to help reduce the volume of traffic and queuing on residential roads during the evening peak period.

Why are these changes being proposed?

The Council has received comments from local residents regarding motor vehicles using Dunlace Road to access Chatsworth Road. The main issue raised was how difficult it is for traffic to enter Chatsworth Road, which results in the buildup of queuing traffic in Dunlace Road. From this the main concerns for local residents have been the noise and pollution generated by stationary vehicles, and road safety.

The Council’s Transport Strategy recognises that roads and streets in our neighbourhoods are not just places to drive, walk and cycle. They also make up the largest element of the public realm in the borough and are places where we socialise and live our lives. We would like to transform our neighbourhoods into the most attractive and liveable neighbourhoods in London. This can only be achieved by reducing the dominance of vehicles, primarily through the management and reduction of traffic to make our streets safe and easy to walk and cycle on and improve air quality.

Therefore, in response to residents’ comments the Council made arrangements for surveys to be carried out to assess the extent of the issues being raised. The results of the surveys showed that there is a queuing issue along Dunlace Road, which predominantly occurs during the evening peak period. This traffic cuts through the Dunlace Road area from Lower Clapton Road and then turns right into Chatsworth Road and continues on to Homerton High Street. The surveys also showed that the traffic in Dunlace Road finds it challenging to enter the traffic queuing southbound, as well as cutting across traffic flowing northbound along Chatsworth Road. It is safe to assume that a significant portion of the traffic using the Dunlace Road area throughout the evening peak period is attempting to avoid travelling along Urswick Road and Homerton High Street.

From this study five proposals were drawn up to help mitigate the volume of traffic. These measures ranged from the introduction of a yellow box marking at the junction of Dunlace Road with Chatsworth Road to the introduction of diagonal road closures and an additional one way system. From these five proposals, three were chosen to take forward to a meeting with local residents, which due to the coronavirus pandemic was held online. To help get a wider understanding of residents’ views, the meeting was open to residents throughout the area who could be impacted by the proposals, and not just residents of Dunlace Road.

These residents were invited to make comments during the meeting and/or via email or post over a 21-day period. It was mentioned at this meeting that the Council is also investigating options to address traffic concerns on Chatsworth Road. However, this is still in its early stages, so it was said that the Council still considers it worthwhile pursuing the more immediate short term measures presented in this document. Comments were received following the meeting and were considered alongside comments raised during the meeting. From these comments and taking into consideration the investigations for Chatsworth Road, we are proposing to take a phased approach to this issue, starting with lower impact measures.

What is the proposal?

We are proposing to introduce a right turn ban at the junction of Dunlace Road with Chatsworth Road to prevent drivers from heading south along Brooksby’s Walk from Dunlace Road.

What happens next?

Your views will be taken into account as part of the detailed design process. We will publish the consultation responses as well as the decision made at consultation.hackney.gov.uk.

Subject to a positive consultation outcome, the Council would be required to carry out its legal statutory consultation, at which point you would be entitled to make further comments and representations. To keep up to date with this and other plans, please visit: hackney.gov.uk/street-consultations

Permanent works

If the proposal goes ahead, following consultation, we would expect the measures to be in place in early June 2022. Further information regarding the works would be sent out closer to the time.