Consultation On Wandsworth One Way System Redesign

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Cars and lorries to be diverted away from the main shopping area

Residents are being urged to register their views on proposals that could see major changes to parts of Wandsworth town centre.

Transport for London (TfL) has launched a public consultation into outline proposals for a radical overhaul of the Wandsworth one way system.

Under interim proposals drawn up by TfL’s highway engineers, traffic would be re-routed away from Wandsworth High Street onto Armoury Way, which would become two-way.

The changes would result in a significant reduction in traffic between Fairfield Street and Putney Bridge Road and provide more space for pedestrians and cyclists, while still allowing buses to service the area. 

The aim is to end the dominance of cars and lorries in the town centre, leaving it free for buses, bicycles and pedestrians. Many footpaths could be widened substantially and be improved through extensive tree planting and landscaping, along with other environmental improvements.

TfL say works would represent a major boost to local businesses and the local economy with the town centre transformed into a much more attractive and vibrant shopping and leisure destination. Removing through traffic from the gyratory has been a long term strategic aim of Wandsworth Council, although the works can only be approved and carried out by TfL.

TfL’s consultation, which runs until Friday December 5th, seeks support for the principle of these changes. Detailed design of the new highway layout would then be undertaken, taking into account the  results of this initial consultation. Further public consultation would then be carried out in late 2015 into the detailed plans and if these are approved construction could begin in 2017.

People can find out more about what is being proposed by attending two drop-in sessions that are being held at the Southside shopping centre on Saturday November 15th between 10am and 5pm and also on Wednesday November 19th from 4pm to 8pm.

Mayor Boris Johnson said: “This car-clogged one-way system has made the area particularly hostile to pedestrians and cyclists. These major improvements will see the junction completely transformed and turned into a much more civilised place for everyone, encouraging more people to use the local high street and driving wider regeneration of the area.” 

Leon Daniels, TfL’s managing director of surface transport, added: “We have been working with Wandsworth Council to develop this long-standing ambition to return the Wandsworth Gyratory to two way traffic. These changes, which will reflect the findings of the Mayor's Roads Task Force, will improve facilities for all road users by simplifying the road network through the area and diverting through traffic away from Wandsworth High Street.”

Wandsworth Council leader Ravi Govindia said: “Redesigning the one way system and removing the traffic that’s had such a negative effect on the town centre’s fortunes has been a key aim of the council for many many years and so I’m delighted that these ambitions are now gathering pace.

“This consultation seeks the public's views about the general principle of making these changes. We are not yet in a position to say what the detailed designs will be but these will be produced for the next round of consultation if this process moves forward. At the moment it is important that TfL gauges the views of local residents and businesses to see if they support this strategic objective."

 

November 12, 2014