An active travel scheme introduced in Sydenham to increase walking and cycling, reduce car journeys and improve road safety is set to be made permanent following consultation with local residents.

Modal filters in Bishopsthorpe Road and Silverdale will be retained and converted into camera-enforced restrictions, with access for emergency service vehicles.

Modal filters prevent through-traffic on certain streets in order to reduce the number of car journeys made in the area and encourage walking and cycling. This helps to reduce air pollution, lower carbon emissions and improve road safety, supporting Lewisham Council’s work to improve people’s health and wellbeing, tackle the Climate Emergency and make Lewisham a net-zero borough by 2030.

Bishopsthorpe Road and Silverdale

Several modal filter schemes were introduced in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. These measures originally aimed to help people make more journeys on foot and by bike while public transport capacity was reduced due to social distancing, as well as supporting wider plans to reduce unnecessary car journeys, lower carbon emissions and improve air quality.

As part of a review of the trial scheme in Sydenham, local residents were asked to share their views on the modal filters. The results of the consultation survey showed that:

• Respondents tended to agree that modal filters had a positive impact on walking and cycling (48% agree vs 42% disagree), improved road safety (48% agree vs 37% disagree) and helped reduce unnecessary car journeys (45% agree vs 44% disagree).
• 43% of respondents said they thought modal filters helped to reduce traffic and congestion, compared to 45% who disagreed.
• Respondents tended to agree that retaining the modal filters with camera-enforcement would have a positive impact on road safety (46% agree vs 37% disagree), reduce noise pollution (44% agree vs 38% disagree) and improve air quality (44% agree vs 38% agree).
• 43% of respondents agreed that retaining the modal filters with camera enforcement would help encourage people to walk and cycle and reduce unnecessary car journeys in the area, compared to 43% who disagreed.
• 43% of respondents indicated that they thought retaining the modal filters with camera enforcement would help reduce traffic and congestion, compared to 44% who disagreed.

Taking into account the consultation survey responses and the Council’s broader strategic aims to reduce the number of car journeys made in the borough and encourage walking and cycling, the Council has decided to make the modal filters permanent and convert them into camera-enforced restrictions.

Converting the filters into camera-enforced restrictions will help reduce issues for emergency service vehicles, as well as preventing the filters from being tampered with and reducing the cost of maintenance.

Cllr Louise Krupski, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Action, said: “Reducing unnecessary car journeys and supporting more people to walk and cycle is a vital part of our mission to tackle air pollution, reduce carbon emissions and improve road safety. Retaining and improving this active travel initiative will help support a continued shift towards more sustainable modes of transport, helping tackle the Climate Emergency and improve air quality in the borough.”

The consultation also showed that some residents and local councillors were concerned about traffic displacement and congestion in the wider area. In response to these concerns, plans are being developed to improve traffic management and road safety at the junction of Sydenham Road and Mayow Road, including changes to the traffic lights system, with the aim of reducing traffic and congestion on the surrounding roads. Proposals for improvement works at this junction will be shared with residents, ward councillors and other local stakeholders later this year.

As part of the Council’s wider transport strategy, work will continue to secure funding for other schemes to support active travel and reduce traffic and congestion, working in partnership with local ward councillors and Transport for London. Plans are also in place to expand air quality monitoring in the area, as part of the Council’s work to reduce pollution and improve air quality in the borough.

Traffic orders to make the modal filters on Bishopsthorpe Road and Silverdale permanent will be issued later this month and works to convert the physical filters into camera-enforced restrictions will take place this summer. Residents on these roads will be notified via post when these works are due to take place.

Glenbow Road

Residents in Downham were also asked to share their views on the modal filter installed on Glenbow Road. This modal filter has been subject to repeated vandalism since its original installation, meaning that the scheme has not been in effect for large periods of time.

Depsite this, survey respondents tended to agree that modal filters had a positive impact on encouraging walking and cycling, reducing car journeys and congestion, improving road safety and reducing noise and air pollution. 51% of respondents also indicated that they believed traffic calming and school safety measures would help to create safer streets and encourage active travel in the area.

Since this consultation was carried out, plans for a new School Street for Rangefield Road Primary School have been developed, incorporating Glenbow Road. This scheme will mean Rangefield Road and Glenbow Road are closed to non-residential vehicles at pick-up and drop-off times on school days, helping improve road safety for school children and encourage more parents and children to walk or cycle to school.

As it would not be possible for both of these schemes to be implemented at the same time, the Council has decided to replace the Glenbow Road modal filter with the new School Streets scheme, which went live earlier this month. The planters at this location will be retained as a traffic calming measure, with the rising bollard removed.

Find out more information about  School Streets programme.

Read the delegated decision making report in relation to these filters.