Harley Grove

Background

Tower Hamlets Council is committed to improving the look and feel of public spaces in your neighbourhood. By delivering a range of street improvements we can make the borough a safer and more pleasant environment for all road users.

In 2018 students, parents and teachers from Central Foundation Girls’ School on Bow Road asked us to change the road layout outside the school on Harley Grove as they were concerned about the number of parking, safety and congestion issues they experience daily, at drop off and pick up times.

Proposals to improve the traffic and safety issues, were created by designers in conjunction with students and parents of students at the school as part of the wider Tower Hamlets initiative to provide school streets in the borough.

The process

The first consultation was carried out in May – June 2018. An online survey was created and leaflets were delivered to the local area to ask for feedback, including the two local schools, the Gurdwara Sikh Sangat and the GP surgery. Students also distributed leaflets to parents and visits to the Phoenix School, Gurdwara Sikh Sangat and the GP surgery were undertaken by the designers. A phone line and email address were setup and queries answered by the engineers. The general results are summarised below.

• Good level of agreement on treatments to Harley Grove to transform its character, reinforce pedestrian areas and give more space to pedestrians.
• Some proposals were rejected due to their impact on restricting local movements.
• Some objections to one-way system on Benworth Street and Harley Grove.

This feedback was analysed and taken into account when producing recommendations to the council. From this feedback, the designers have amended the proposals to work in line with what will benefit the community most. We would now like your comments on the amended proposals.

Proposed Streetscape improvements

(Please click on the image to see the full version of proposed streetscape improvements.)

Tower Hamlets also want to use this opportunity to make the area more attractive and emphasise the presence of the school. The following design features are proposed to complement the traffic management changes:

The Design Brief:

• Footpath widened to give priority to pedestrians and to slow down the traffic
• Coloured paving accents increasing in density when approaching the entrance to the school
• The crossing is reinforced by the coloured blocks on the carriageway as a raised table
• Wire-frame bollards with human figure are proposed to raise awareness to drivers of the students crossing and to give a uniqueness to the scheme
• Thin bollards with ivy will help create a greener feel and improve air quality

Coloured paving example:

Coloured lamp column example:

Bespoke wire frame bollard concept:

Thin bollards with ivy example:

Coloured (paver) blocks example:

Revised Proposal

As a result of the consultation, we have revised our proposals and we would like to re-consult this area.
We have taken into account the objections raised and removed the proposal to make Coborn Street one-way and banning right turns onto Bow Road from Alfred Street and Harley Grove. We will not be progressing these ideas.

Based on feedback and comments made by residents and stakeholders in the previous consultation, we are proposing:

• A one-way system with narrower junction for exit only movements on Harley Grove and Benworth Street
• Wider footways and resurfacing of the carriageway
• No overall loss of disabled parking bays

One-way system proposed:

Although there were some objections to the one-way system, we believe it can help make Harley Grove area safer by:

• Reducing conflicts between vehicles travelling in both directions directly outside the school’s main entrance.
• Improving safety for cyclists on Bow Road by reducing left turns from Bow Road into Harley Grove.
• Improving the safety of pedestrians by reducing the traffic movements on Harley Grove.
• Keeping traffic moving during school drop off times. This means continuous access to the Temple and Doctor’s surgery.
• Reducing conflicts between vehicles travelling in both directions and parked vehicles on Benworth Street.

It is anticipated that the proposals will have a limited impact on the overall level of traffic on Alfred Street.

(Please click on the image to see the full version of proposed traffic improvements.)

Have your say

Your views are important to us. We want everyone who lives, works and studies in the area to have their say on the proposed changes.

Please view the plans and fill in the survey  by 11:59pm Sunday 17 November 2019.

If you have any questions about the plans please email towerhamlets.consultation@projectcentre.co.uk or call 020 3092 0401.

What happens next

The results of this consultation will be analysed and presented to Councillors for a final decision.

If the proposal is accepted work is expected to start in early 2020.

Privacy notice

This consultation is being carried out by Project Centre Limited for and on behalf of Tower Hamlets Council.

All personal data submitted in connection with the consultation is processed by Project Centre Limited on behalf of Tower Hamlets Council.

Tower Hamlets Council’s Privacy Notice, which explains how personal data submitted in connection with this consultation is used is available on their website.