Frequently Asked Questions

For more Frequently Asked Questions on Camden Council Schemes visit

Camden’s Safe and Healthy Streets Commonplace.

Contents
Why are we making changes? ................................................................................ 2
How are you telling people? How can I comment? ................................................. 2
How have you decided where to make changes? ................................................... 3
Won’t emergency services be delayed, risking lives? ............................................. 3
Will journey times be longer? .................................................................................. 3
Won’t these changes push drivers onto other streets and cause even more
congestion and pollution there instead? .................................................................. 3
Won’t this make it more difficult for older and disabled people? ............................. 4
Will this impact my business? ................................................................................. 4
I own a car and parking bays are being removed near my home. Where will I park?
................................................................................................................................ 4
Why are timed closures being introduced? Why can’t vehicle access be allowed at
all times? ................................................................................................................. 5
Why is a timed closure being proposed for Dryden Street? .................................... 5
Why is the scheme being carried out using an ETO? ............................................. 5
How will I access my street and receive deliveries? ............................................... 6
How will the changes be monitored? ...................................................................... 6
What is being proposed for Monmouth Street? ....................................................... 6
Can a Traffic Order be changed once it has been made permanent? .................... 7
Why are we making changes?

We have made trial changes to help reduce motorised traffic, cut carbon emissions,
improve air quality, encourage cycling and walking, enhance the public realm and
support local businesses in Covent Garden. The scheme has been funded by the
Mayor of London to help deliver a safer, healthier, cleaner and greener
neighbourhood, and supports both Camden and Westminster’s strategies to create a
sustainable and more inclusive environment for the local community. Camden’s
Transport Strategy and Plans can be found here Transport strategies and plans -
Camden Council. Camden also wants to support the 17 recommendations from
Camden’s Citizens Assembly on the climate crisis, which included requests for more
segregated cycle lanes/ car free zones. Read Westminster’s City for All Strategy to
find out about our plans to deliver a Greener and Cleaner city. Our Walking Strategy
and Cycling Strategy also provide information about measures to encourage walking
and cycling and create better neighbourhoods for residents. Click here to read the
Mayor’s Transport Strategy (The Mayor's Transport Strategy - Transport for London
(tfl.gov.uk))

How are you telling people? How can I comment?

We consulted across the Covent Garden area in August / September 2021 on trial
changes as part of a Neighbourhood Traffic Management Scheme. We invited local
residents, businesses and stakeholders to give their feedback on the proposed
changes through a questionnaire. We sent letters and emails to local properties and
stakeholders, and notices were put up on the street. We also promoted the
consultation on our websites, e-newsletters and on social media. Information on the
scheme was provided on the Commonplace website and we held two drop-in
sessions, providing the opportunity to meet our teams and share your views.
Camden Council and Westminster City Council reviewed all of the feedback received
and both councils made the decision to implement the neighbourhood traffic
management scheme as a trial, with several changes suggested by local residents,
businesses and organisations. You can read the decision reports here: Camden
decision / Westminster decision.
Following this decision, the trial started in December 2021 using an Experimental
Traffic Order (ETO). The ETO will be in place for up to 18 months. We have
collected comments and feedback during the ETO period via this commonplace. A
final consultation is now open for comment on our proposal to keep the trial changes.
The final decision will be made based on all of the monitoring data collected on the
scheme, the comments received on the Commonplace site, the final consultation
and relevant policies and plans held by the two councils.
How have you decided where to make changes?

An extensive traffic study was undertaken in 2019 to understand traffic volumes and
routes through Covent Garden. The study helped to identify a number of options
which would meet both councils’ strategies and aspirations for the neighbourhood,
complementing a traffic management scheme already introduced by the London
Borough of Camden Council in Seven Dials and a proposal to improve public safety
and security around the Piazza. We’ve held a series of meetings and conversations
with local residents and business groups to develop the proposals and ensure the
scheme benefits those who visit, work and live in the area.

Won’t emergency services be delayed, risking lives?

No. Well-designed traffic management schemes can actively reduce emergency

service response times. Like other local stakeholders, emergency services will be
consulted on these proposals. The Walking and Cycling Alliance has published
information on how these sorts of schemes can reduce response times for
emergency services. Under blue light regulations, Emergency Services can use
restricted streets which are signed as ‘No motor vehicle, Except for access’.
Ambulance trust responses to Freedom of Information requests have revealed that
no traffic management schemes like this were implemented without the relevant
trust’s knowledge and that no delays to emergency response times had been
identified.

Will journey times be longer?

One of the key aims of the scheme is to reduce traffic, helping to cut carbon
emissions and improve air quality. It will help to reduce traffic passing through the
area and create a safer and more pleasant environment for pedestrians and cyclists
whilst still providing essential access for residents, businesses, deliveries and
servicing. Some journey times may take longer, depending on the routes taken and
the time of day travelled. We have closely monitored the impact of the scheme and
further changes could be made if necessary.

Won’t these changes push drivers onto other streets and cause even more
congestion and pollution there instead?

Research shows that traffic volumes do not simply shift to the next available street.
As with any change, there will be a period of adjustment as drivers find new ways to
reach their destinations, using more appropriate streets. Drivers may also choose to
travel at a different, more convenient time of the day, or they might reduce the
number of trips they make in a day. A of the key aim of the scheme is to create a
safer, more attractive environment for pedestrians and cyclists, and some people
may decide to walk, cycle or use public transport instead. We have introduced the
scheme using an ETO so we can monitor its progress and local stakeholders have
had the opportunity to provide comments throughout the trial.

Won’t this make it more difficult for older and disabled people?

We have carried out an Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA) to look at the possible
impacts of the scheme on vulnerable people. All residents, including older people
and those with a disability, will continue to be able to drive or be driven into their
streets, and receive visitors and deliveries. A quieter, calmer street is more inclusive,
as people with different abilities can use the street safely. Research shows that
people on quieter, less busy streets are more likely to know their neighbours, which
helps to build neighbourhood support and trust. The EqIA was reviewed during the
trial period and it has been identified that the NTM scheme is likely to have an overall
positive impact on reducing inequalities. You can read the latest EqIA report.

Will this impact my business?

There is much documented evidence to suggest that schemes aimed at reducing

traffic and improving walking and cycling supports local businesses. Quieter, safer,
healthier streets can increase footfall, which can have a direct benefit to many
businesses relying on passing customers and visitors, and employees will benefit
from working in a more attractive area. Servicing and deliveries will remain
unchanged for most businesses, while those located within the proposed Pedestrian
and Cycle Zones will be provided with suitable time periods for loading or specific
dispensations/exemptions when necessary. Supporting material on how this type of
scheme can help businesses has been published by TfL and the Walking and
Cycling Alliance.

I own a car and parking bays are being removed near my home. Where will I
park?

Whilst we understand that some residents will have a preference for parking directly
outside their homes, this is not always an option. In trying to balance the needs of all
users, the Council cannot guarantee a parking space for residents on their street.
Some bays within the Seven Dials area have been removed by the ETO and we
have been monitoring these changes. The permanent proposals will improve access
to parking bays within Seven Dials as there will be entry points at both ends of
Mercer Street and the northern end of Monmouth Street. The scheme would result
in the loss of five resident bays on Henrietta Street. There is sufficient availability on
nearby Bedford Street to accommodate the proposed loss of resident parking from
Henrietta Street. Four new resident parking spaces have been introduced on
Burleigh Street as part of a separate scheme. This represents a total loss of one
parking space while the trial scheme is in place.

Why are timed closures being introduced? Why can’t vehicle access be
allowed at all times?

Reducing traffic access during busy periods will encourage more people to walk,
cycle and use public transport, helping to encourage healthier and enjoyable active
travel. It will enable us to deliver improvements in road safety and air quality, and
reduce noise, providing a more pleasant environment for residents and businesses.
The proposed time period for allowing servicing and delivery vehicles into the
Pedestrian and Cycle Zone is 7am-11am. This is subject to review during the period
of the trial and before any final decisions are made, taking comments from local
stakeholders into consideration. Traffic demand is expected to be light overnight
between 11pm-7am and the timed closures would only impact a small amount of
non-essential traffic. Alternative routes will also have less traffic during these times
and would therefore cause minimal disruption.

Why is a timed closure being proposed for Dryden Street?

The proposed time closure will allow improvements to the public realm in this area.
Access to Dryden Street from Endell Street via Shelton Street and Arne Street would
remain available, and suitable provision for servicing and deliveries would also be
maintained. A traffic study completed in June 2021 indicates that limiting access will
have little impact on traffic, with the majority of vehicles expected to leave Covent
Garden using Great Queen Street.

Why is the scheme being carried out using an ETO?

Using an Experimental Traffic Order to make these changes allows us to trial

changes on streets so we can see how they work before making any decision on
whether they should become permanent. Local stakeholders have had the
opportunity to provide comments throughout the trial. Experimental orders can
remain in force for a maximum period of 18 months. A formal decision on whether to
make the measures permanent is taken after the ETO has been in place for a
minimum of six months or for six months from any change. The ETO in the Camden
Seven Dials area was replaced by a new ETO to cover the wider changes being
trialled. We are now consulting on making these changes permanent.
How will I access my street and receive deliveries?

Most streets will remain open at all times and be fully accessible, and so deliveries
and servicing will be unchanged. Where Pedestrian and Cycle Zones are being
introduced, arrangements already exist for residents to receive deliveries of heavy or
bulky items in streets with restricted access, for domestic moves and for building
works or new utilities connections. These arrangements will continue under these
proposals. Special dispensation for access would be arranged with Westminster City
Council by emailing parkingservices@westminster.gov.uk).

How will the changes be monitored?

Throughout the trial, we have closely monitored the traffic volumes, vehicle routes
and specific localised issues. We have also considered comments received through
Commonplace. This has provided data to show how the scheme is working, overall
bus journey times on key routes, and if there are any significant impacts on
neighbouring streets or the wider traffic network.

What is being proposed for Monmouth Street?

If the wider Covent Garden NTM scheme is made permanent Camden Council would
like to improve the closure point on Monmouth Street between Tower Street and
Shelton Street. You can comment on this in our current consultation which closes on
Friday, 16th December 2022.
An image of what this space could look like is shown below. If approved this plan
would still be subject to detailed design.
This proposal includes:
• A cycle route
• Space for deliveries
• New paving area with new materials
• Planting and new trees
• Day time seating (will be managed and made unavailable at night)

Please note that whilst this new proposal is separate to the wider Covent Garden
NTM Scheme, it could only be delivered if the current trial traffic restriction measure
at this location is made permanent as part of those wider proposals.
Any feedback received on this Monmouth Street public realm proposal will not
influence the result of the wider Covent Garden NTM consultation.
If the Covent Garden Neighbourhood Traffic Management Scheme is made
permanent, Camden Council would also consult on further streetscape
improvements across the Seven Dials area in following months.
Camden has started developing ideas for what streets could look like and you can
see these here. These ideas were shown to the public at a ‘pop-up’ display in
Earlham Street on 28th & 29th September this year and you can still leave your
thoughts on those on our Commonplace webpage. We would use that feedback to
develop any proposals to be consulted on.

Can a Traffic Order be changed once it has been made permanent?

Any permanent Traffic Management Order relating to roads or streets can be

changed in the future. These changes may be necessary for many reasons but could
include the implementation of further highways upgrades, amendments to improve
public safety or to address a known safety issue, the introduction of a brand-new
highways or public realm scheme and to change parking or other kerbside
restrictions.
Should the arrangements being trialled in Covent Garden be made permanent, then
future changes required to Covent Garden roads to further improve the scheme, or
to address any issues that may arise in the future, would require a new traffic order
to be made. The legislation covering Traffic Orders would require the respective
Council to carry out a public consultation before any changes can be implemented.