As a result of TfL banning the left turn from Camden Street onto Camden Road, traffic on Georgiana Street, Lyme Street and Royal College Street has increased significantly. We opposed the left turn ban for precisely this reason.
To address this, Camden propose to install point closures of Georgiana Street and Lyme Street at the Royal College Street end and to close Pratt Street between Mandela Street and College Place to motor traffic. This would prevent motor traffic using these streets to get back onto Camden Road via Royal College Street. If it means that motor traffic takes an entirely different route it will also remove the additional traffic on Royal College Street but this is by no means clear.
The closure of Pratt Street will have additional benefits as it is part of the planned cross-Camden cycleway.
Additionally, Camden propose to make the rest of Pratt Street plus Mandela Street and College Place into Healthy School Streets (no motor traffic 8-9 am and 3-4 pm).
It is unclear whether this proposal will merely shift motor traffic further south to Plender Street, but if it does, this will also need to be managed.
We believe that motor traffic should be put onto the strategic road network at the earliest opportunity, not routed along residential streets, and that Camden should be putting pressure on TfL to remove the left turn ban that caused the problem.
Excerpt from Camden’s consultation document:
Consultation on Camden’s website
https://consultations.wearecamden.org/supporting-communities/camden-street-area/
CCC’s response
CCC Response to Consultation on Camden Street Area
