Hertford Rd

After considering traffic and air quality data, alongside responses provided by residents to this Commonplace page, the Council has made a decision to make the Hertford Road traffic filter permanent. See hackney.gov.uk/hertford-road-ltn for the full decision report, including the engagement report which includes the results from this Commonplace page.

We will continue to monitor the effects of the filter and listen to feedback about the scheme. You can email comments to: streetscene.enquiries@hackney.gov.uk.

We are committed in our Transport Strategy to make Hackney’s roads safer for everyone living, working and visiting the borough. We aim to create an environment that will encourage more walking and cycling, improve air quality and reduce emissions in the borough. For further background to these measures, see the About the project page. To find out more about how we're maintaining access to properties, why we're acting so quickly and more, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.

In Hertford Road, we know that levels of non-local through-traffic are at times too high. As a result, we have introduced a type of road closure, known as a traffic filter (planters or bollards on the road, which prevent motor vehicles from passing through), at the following locations (see attached drawings):

This will encourage walking and cycling, promote social distancing and reduce non-local through-traffic on these streets, including traffic trying to avoid queues along Downham Road and Whitmore Road/ De Beauvoir Road. Cyclists, emergency vehicles and refuse vehicles will be able to pass through the traffic filter.

If you are a resident or business in the area and you have a motor vehicle, you will still be able to drive to your home or business, but this may be via a different route.

We introduced these measures on week commencing 19 October 2020, using solid planters on either side of the roads to reduce the carriageway width. A lockable bollard has been placed in the middle of these planters.

Signs and road markings make it clear that regular vehicles cannot pass through. Like any transport scheme, there could be a couple of weeks of disruption before the full benefits to walking, cycling and traffic levels are seen. We thank you for your patience during this time.

The filter is being introduced using an experimental traffic order for a maximum period of 18 months, which means you can see how it works in practice before having your say.

The views of residents and businesses, including any suggested changes to how schemes operate, will be taken into account before any decision on whether or not to make the measures permanent. This process is in line with specific guidance from Transport for London, and the Department for Transport, whose guidance states that: 'authorities should monitor and evaluate any temporary measures they install, with a view to making them permanent, and embedding a long-term shift to active travel as we move from restart to recovery’.

The experimental traffic order was advertised in the London Gazette and the Hackney Gazette on 1 October 2020.

The initial engagement period on this scheme ran until 31 March 2021, however we are extending this until 19 December 2021 to allow as many people as possible to have their say.

To have your say, please complete the survey below or email streetscene.consultations@hackney.gov.uk . You can also write to us by sending your comments to ‘Freepost Streetscene’.