Published: Thursday 30 July 2020
New measures to encourage walking and cycling to help people get back to life safely have been confirmed in Kensington and Chelsea.
The Council is investing £343,000 in new cycling infrastructure and 20mph speed limits to help boost safe, active travel. This will bolster a £185,000 contribution from Transport for London and £100,000 from the Department for Transport.
The funding will pay for:
- A 20mph speed limit to be introduced across the borough
- Temporary protected cycle lanes on Kensington High Street and Queen’s Gate
- New cycle parking for residents and visitors
- Upgrading Chelsea Bridge Road’s cycle lanes to light segregation
- Temporary pavement widening in Notting Hill Gate, High Street Kensington and King’s Road
- Up to 10 new School Streets: closing roads to motor traffic outside schools during drop off and pick up times
- Extended closures to streets to support the famous Portobello and Golborne Markets
- Closures to Bute Street and Pavilion Road for safe shopping and a café culture
Cllr Johnny Thalassites, lead member for transport, said:
“Helping people get around is absolutely vital if we’re going to get back to normality, whilst protecting lives and protecting livelihoods.
“Cycling’s an option people might not have considered before and we are doing all we can to instil confidence in both new and experienced cyclists. For pedestrians, safer speed limits and trial road closures can also bring about new, local walkable neighbourhoods.
“These measures are an investment that we hope will pay off, as people return to our unique and characterful borough to shop, work and socialise.”
Justin Abbott, Chair for Better Streets 4KC, said:
“It’s great to see positive steps being taken. We’re really supportive of these measures, which feel like a fresh start for active travel in the borough. The 20mph limit is transformative and I look forward to that being implemented and enforced.
“No10’s recent publication Gear Change confirms the importance of protected cycle lanes, so we’re keen to see the first protected lane in our borough now happen quickly in Kensington High Street.”
Plans to introduce a temporary cycle lane on Kensington High Street are underway, with designs worked up in partnership with Transport for London.
The closure of Portobello Road, Bute Street and Pavilion Road are already in place, creating a safe and friendly shopping and socialising environment.
The Council announced initial ambitions for active travel on 18 May 2020 and plans for a temporary cycle lane on Kensington High Street in June. The Council submitted applications to the value of £1.5m to Transport for London and Department for Transport active travel funds.