COUNCIL TEXT
The Council is proposing measures to improve safety on Haverstock Hill between its junction with Prince of Wales Road and Belsize Avenue. These proposals will form part of a local safety scheme, funded by Transport for London (TfL).
Haverstock Hill is bounded by Haverstock Ward, Gospel Oak Ward, Belsize Ward and Hampstead Town Ward. Due to its close proximity with Camden Town, the Royal Free Hospital and Belsize Park Underground Station, it attracts high pedestrian activity and is also heavily used by emergency vehicles.
During the period between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2004, there were in total 44 recorded collisions (1 fatal, 4 serious and 39 slight). 32% of these collisions involved motorcyclists of which 64% were the result of right turning manoeuvres (into and out of Haverstock Hill). 23% of the total collisions involved pedestrians and 16% involved cyclists.
The Council is therefore informing you of its proposals for improvements to Haverstock Hill as shown on the drawing. The proposals include the following:
• Pavement widening and raised entry treatment on Eton Road at its junction with Haverstock Hill. A traffic island and right turning lane will be provided on Haverstock Hill at this location
• Raised entry treatment on Steele’s Road at its junction with Haverstock Hill. The existing traffic island on Haverstock Hill will also be improved as an uncontrolled pedestrian crossing point. A right turning lane will also be marked on Haverstock Hill.
• Pavement widening and raised entry treatment on Parkhill Road before its junction with Haverstock Hill. The existing uncontrolled pedestrian crossing on Parkhill Road will be relocated closer to the junction.
• A right turning lane will be marked on Haverstock Hill at its junction with Antrim Grove.
• Pavement widening on Haverstock Hill (southern side) at its junction with Belsize Grove and providing a raised entry treatment on Belsize Grove. Pedestrian guard railing will also be provided to direct pedestrians to cross at the uncontrolled pedestrian crossing on Haverstock Hill north of this junction.
• Pavement widening and pedestrian guard railing on Haverstock Hill (outside Belsize Park Underground Station).
• Pedestrian guard railing on Haverstock Hill, north of its junction with Aspern Grove to direct pedestrians to use the existing pelican crossing south of this junction.
CCC’s response
I am writing to you on behalf of the Camden Cycling Campaign (CCC) in response to the consultation of the Local Safety Scheme in Haverstock Hill -Prince of Wales Rd to Belsize Ave . CCC has 600 members and this proposal was widely discussed on our mailing list.
CCC notes that there have been a high number of incidents on this road and we welcome the intention of the London Borough of Camden (LBC) to adopt measures to improve safety.
CCC notes that the majority of the new infrastructures are designed to improve the safety of pedestrians and this is commendable. We have the following comments to the scheme:
CCC approves:
- the introduction of footway built outs and raised entry treatments at all the junctions indicated in the consultation document.
CCC rejects:
- the introduction of guard railings. There is no evidence that these increase safety for pedestrians . Rather in several studies they have been shown to encourage increased speed by motorists. There have also been incidents where cyclists have been trapped onto them by motorists. (Incidentally, there are inconsistencies between the text and the drawing on the position of the railings).
CCC regrets:
- this proposal aims at patching dangerous spots rather than addressing the issue from the point of view that safety is achieved by giving priority to pedestrians , then cyclists, before motorised vehicles.
- no new pedestrian crossing is being proposed.
- improvements are only proposed for junctions where casualties have occurred while other junctions are ignored
- nothing is proposed for the Belsize avenue junction which is very difficult to cross for pedestrians walking along Haverstock Hill.
- nothing is proposed to improve the flow of cyclists along Haverstock Hill during peak traffic.
CCC proposes:
- the raised junction treatments should also include pedestrian crossings
- as a minimum, one pedestrian crossing across Haverstock Hill should be located just south of Belsize Grove (other zebra crossing would also be welcomed).
- improvements should be considered for all other junctions independently on whether there has been a casualty.
- A painted cycle lane in the northbound lane should be introduced to facilitate the flow of cyclists during peak traffic times. (A lane on the south bound lane may also be useful).
Regards
Stefano Casalotti