Overview

Tower Hamlets Council is committed to making the borough’s streets safer and more pleasant for all road users by delivering a range of street improvements in the area.

A review of the Cheshire Street North 20mph zone has been undertaken and a number of improvements have been suggested making the roads safer and encouraging more walking and cycling in the area. The proposals include new cycle facilities, a one-way system on Wood Close, road closures and new crossings, as well as planting new trees in the area.

The plan below provides an overview of the changes. The tabs to the left show the proposals in detail for each area.

You can have your say by filling in the survey at the bottom of this page.

Sclater Street

Sclater Street has been identified as requiring immediate changes, particularly as there is high footfall in the area. Changes include:

• renewing the pavement
• improving the condition of the road
• installing a high quality raised table at the junction with Brick Lane
• painting 20mph roundel road markings to reinforce the speed limit
• introducing new cycle facilities

Please click on the image below to see a map of the area.

Bacon Street west and Cygnet Street area

This area has seen recent improvements to the pavements and public space, and businesses are thriving here. There is a high volume of vehicles using these roads and the Council would like to make these roads more cycle friendly. Proposals include:

• introducing a road closure at the junction of Bacon Street and Brick Lane, which will be closed to vehicles but allow cyclists through.
• extending Richmix Square across Cygnet Street and Bacon Street

Please click on the image below to see a map of the area.

Please click on the image below to see an example of filtered permeability closure.

Bacon Street east

Traffic calming measures are proposed in this area to help slow vehicles on this street, making it safer for all road users. Proposals include installing:

• two sinusoidal humps along Bacon Street
• sinusoidal ramps to replace the existing raised table ramps at the junction with Chilton Street where three parking spaces will be removed
• a raised table with sinusoidal ramps at the junction with Kerbela Street

Please click on the image below to see a map of the area.

Please click on the image below to see an example of a sinusoidal road hump.

Cheshire Street

The review highlighted that given the long, straight nature of the road along Cheshire Street a large number of vehicles exceed the 20mph speed limit. Improvements to make the area look nicer and slow traffic are proposed along Cheshire Street. These include:

• raised tables at four junctions along Cheshire Street, these are at the Chilton Street, Kerbela Street, St Matthew’s Row and Wood Close junctions.
• removing the raised table near Kerbela Street and replacing it with a raised table at the junction
• redefining the public space with tree planting within the carriageway to create a chicane-like traffic calming measure

Please click on the image below to see a map of the area.

Please click on the image below to see an example of a raised table.

St Matthew’s Row and Wood Close

St Matthew’s Row provides a vital north-south route. The review highlighted that the width restriction on the St Matthew’s Row junction with Wood Close is integral, and if relocated or removed this would increase the number of larger vehicles driving along here.

The pavements next to William David Primary School are narrow and connections with surrounding roads are poor. The narrow road and parked cars can often make it difficult for cars to pass.

To combat these issues the proposals include:

• Making Wood Close one-way from St Matthew’s Row to Cheshire Street
• Widening the pavements on Wood Close around William Davis Primary School
• Installing raised tables on St Matthew’s Row, and at the junction with Wood Close
• Planting trees outside of the school on the widened pavement

Please click on the image below to see a map of the area.

Please click on the image below to see an example of a raised table.

Dunbridge Street

The review showed that Dunbridge Street has the highest levels of traffic and the highest speeds within the Cheshire Street North 20mph zone. It is part of a key east-west route though the area.

Some of the existing traffic calming measures, such as speed cushions, are in need of repair, and there is currently no crossing facility along here. Therefore the proposals are to:

• Install a raised zebra crossing, near to Ramsey Street
• Remove the existing speed cushions
• Install a sinusoidal road hump

Please click on the image below to see a map of the area.

Please click on the image below to see an example of a speed cushion.

Please click on the image below to see an example of a sinusoidal road hump.

Derbyshire Street

To encourage cycling in the area a road closure is proposed on the Derbyshire Street junction with Vallance Road, this would allow cyclists to access Vallance Road but not motor vehicles. Other improvements include:

• Installing a parallel crossing on the junction of Derbyshire Street and Vallance Road, connecting the eastern and western sections of Derbyshire Street
• Derbyshire Street becoming two-way but with no access to/from Vallance Road apart from cyclists. A turning area will be provided.
• Reducing the parking bay length on Buckfast Street to improve sight lines when turning the corner
• 20mph signs on one lamp column and road markings

Please click on the image below to see a map of the area.

Please click on the image below to see an example of filtered permeability closure.

Cycle storage

Five cycle storage lockers are proposed in the area.

Please view the plan below to see the locations.

Have your say

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

Fill in the survey at the bottom of the page to give us your feedback on the traffic calming measures.

And if you have ideas for future improvements in the area plot them on the map below, this could be anything from more bins to better street lighting.

If you have any questions about this survey please email towerhamlets.consultation@projectcentre.co.uk

If you have any questions please 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 late 2018.