Streatham Hill low traffic neighbourhood has launched – some cars are ignoring the signs but won’t be fined as cameras are not operational yet. 

It follows the Oval Triangle, Railton, and Ferndale LTNs, which aim to reduce through-traffic and encourage walking and cycling.     

Five signs for camera enforced barriers have been placed in the LTN, which includes all the streets within the boundary of where Streatham High Road, Leigham Court Road, Leigham Vale, Norwood Road, and Christchurch Road link up.   

One is in Palace Road, just before the junction with Daysbrook Road.   

Two are located in Amesbury Avenue where it meets Emsworth Street and Faygate Road – the latter is currently closed off with traffic cones. 

One is located at the junction of Downton Avenue, Wavertree Road, and Hillside Road, while another is on Hillside Road just down from the junction.  

Signs were put up previously warning people the LTN would be up and running on August 15, though on Tuesday morning (August 18) drivers could be seen ignoring the new rules.  

However, some signs were covered in black bags – it unclear who is responsible for the coverings.

Wandsworth Times: Wandsworth Times:

The cameras are not up and running yet to give people time to get used to the changes, while planters will be introduced to make them more obvious. 

A spokesperson for Lambeth Council said: “The Streatham Hill low traffic neighbourhood project launched on Saturday (August 15), and we will be issuing warning notices in the first weeks of operation as people adjust and adapt to the new safer road layout.

“Planters will also be added to the new signage to make the new restrictions more obvious.

“The cameras aren’t on yet, but they will be switched on and enforcement will follow in due course.

“At this stage we are focussed on engaging with our residents as we improve air quality and encourage people to make as many journeys as possible in environmentally friendly ways.

“We thank people for their feedback and look forward to working with the community on next steps.”

The council said it chose Streatham Hill as residents living east of the A23 “raised issues of traffic volumes and speed” during its ‘Our Streets’ consultation in 2018.   

“Traffic surveys show that a high proportion of traffic using local roads are taking short cuts through, with over 6,000 vehicles a day using some streets.   

“The majority of households in the neighbourhood do not own a car and the vast majority of residents, 64 per cent, use public transport to travel to work, whereas only 14 per cent travel by car.   

“When we looked at the collisions per household this neighbourhood ranked highly.   

“There are also a lot of schools and schoolchildren who live in the neighbourhood,” according to the council.   

Its data showed that Hillside road can have more than 250 vehicles travelling northbound at the busiest hour, with more than 230 vehicles going southbound – 85 per cent is through traffic.  

Part of the aim of the Streatham Hill LTN is to create a “high quality ‘healthy route’” on Hillside Road for people making local trips on foot and by bike, “particularly to and from schools in the area, and as part of a wider link between Herne Hill and Streatham”.   

Lambeth is bringing in a host of LTNs across the borough, funded by the Mayor of London’s Streetspace scheme.  

The council was awarded £2.6 million, the highest out of all London boroughs.   

The TfL funding aims to help councils bring in emergency transport measures in the wake of Covid-19 to aid social distancing and to promote active travel.