South Hampstead Area new 20 mph zone
This area already has traffic calming in the form of existing speed humps and cushions as well as speed tables at some of the junctions.
Camden council proposes the following measures:
- 3 raised speed table junctions (road hump built across the whole junction).
• 3 raised entry treatments (road hump built from kerb to kerb).
• A new zebra crossing at the junction of Broadhurst gardens and Canfield Gardens.
Click here to see the consultation leaflet
CCC’s response
This area is a problem for cyclists due to the proliferation of narrow one-way streets. Broadhurst Gardens and Canfield Gardens/Cleve Road are particularly bad due to the presence of the C11 bus and the speed cushions. The latter are in the middle of the road, forcing cyclists too close to the parked cars. See photo below.
Canfield Gardens, looking west from the junction with Fairhazel Gardens.
We discuss the three main requirements for cyclists’ permeability through the area.
1. Fairhazel Gardens is key to cycling
- Fairhazel Gardens is on a signed cycle route crossing Belsize Road to Loudoun Road to link with Boundary Road.
- Camden’s LIP proposes a non-LCN+ link from Swiss Cottage to West Hampstead which will use Fairhazel Gardens.
We are therefore very strongly supportive of proposals 2, 5 and 7, all of which should help to reduce speeds on Fairhazel Gardens. In particular, traffic leaves the Belsize Road rounabout into Fairhazel Gardens at considerable speed endangering cyclists proceeding in the same direction – and, if it can, continues up Fairhazel Gardens in the same manner – especially endangering cyclists using the contraflow.
Although a southbound contraflow lane on Fairhazel Gardens is crucial to two-way travel for cyclists, it is neither very safe nor convenient as it is on the outside of the parked cars. Cyclists have regularly reported being forced to the side by overlapping vehicles and put at risk by vehicles moving out from the parking. See photo below.
The situation should be remedied, for example, by removing the parking from inside the contraflow cycle lane.
Fairhazel Gardens, looking south from the junction with Canfield Gardens. The main carriageway is one-way northbound, with a contraflow painted cycle lane for cyclists to go southbound.
2. East-west movements by cyclists
Cyclists need to be able to travel between West Hampstead and the east across Finchley Road, both at Swiss Cottage and near to the Finchley Road tube station.
The first requirement could be satisfied by a non-LCN+ link using Compayne Gardens, Fairhazel Gardens and Belsize Road.
The second requirement could be satisfied by a cycle link along Compayne Gardens. This would require:
- the addition of a segregated eastbound contraflow cycle lane along the short stretch of Canfield Gardens between Compayne Gardens and Broadhurst Gardens (taking out twelve parking bays).
- a facility to get cyclists across the junction of Compayne Gardens and Broadhurst Gardens, perhaps combined with the proposed new zebra crossing.
3. North South Movements through the area
Priory Road north of Abbey Road could be a very useful route for cyclists to by-pass West End Lane if the central one-way bits were made permeable for cyclists. This be a useful alternative to the nasty unsegregated Fairhazel Gardens south-bound contraflow.
