Slade Gardens Low Traffic Neighbourhood

We are planning a low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) in Slade Gardens to make it safer and easier to walk, wheel, scoot and cycle by stopping cars, vans and other vehicles from using quiet streets as shortcuts.

Background information

We know that as we move into the future, the risks associated with our changing climate, such as flooding or extreme heat events, will increase. We aim to empower the local community to use more active travel methods with the implementation of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods.

LTN boundaries are usually determined by major roads, rail lines, and green spaces, with some exceptions for minor roads based on their characteristics.

In the Transport Strategy Implementation Plan Appendix B Low Traffic Neighbourhood Plan several factors are considered when prioritising Low Traffic Neighbourhoods. 

In prioritising the Slade Gardens LTN, factors included:

  • traffic and road danger
  • mode shift potential
  • population
  • health and deprivation
  • air quality and climate emergency
  • trip attractors.

For the next round of LTNs, including Slade Gardens, we wanted to engage more with local people to develop a trial proposal. We also broadened the scope of the project to go beyond traffic filters.

What is an LTN?

Low traffic neighbourhoods make it safer and easier to walk, wheel, scoot and cycle by stopping cars, vans and other vehicles from using quiet streets as shortcuts. 

Over time, LTNs can encourage people to switch from driving to more sustainable ways of travelling, like walking, public transport and cycling. This is one of the ways we can tackle the climate emergency in Lambeth. 

Two flower boxes filtering the width of the road. This is a trial traffic filter based in Oval LTN.

The plan for Slade Gardens

Lambeth Council places a strong emphasis on fostering collaboration, innovation, and creativity to engage with the local community and various organisations in the process of design. 

The Community Streets Design team focus on 5 fundamental principles to interact with the diverse set of stakeholders within the borough:

  • Identify: Scoping out a project area, conducting initial research, and identifying issues and opportunities with local people
  • Design: Collaborative process working with local people to develop imaginative ideas that can be tested to improve the public realm
  • Inform: Sharing clear information at regular intervals. Ensuring we are transparent on timelines and decision processes.
  • Learn: Evaluating projects and ideas including through ‘formal’ consultation
  • Empower: Upskilling individuals and community groups to take ownership of the development, use, and maintenance of different projects.

The Slade Gardens LTN has not yet been designed. We have been working with the local community to learn more about the local area as the engagement (alongside traffic monitoring data) will inform the LTN proposal.

As per the ‘identify’ phase we have completed the following engagements:

  • Slade Gardens LTN Walk and Talks – Community Street Design Officers delivered 8 walks over November – December 2023.  Attendees participated in a one hour walk across a designated route, open to 15 people per walk to inform Lambeth officers about the area and the praises/concerns they may have.
  • Violence Against Women and Girls Walk – On 31 January 2024 we held a two hour walk within Stockwell Gardens and Slade Gardens LTN’s.  The walk was delivered in collaboration with Lambeth’s Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) team. The aim of the walk, based on hotspots highlighted on the VAWG Live Map on Commonplace, was to learn more about why specific areas may be unsafe and suggestions on how to make them safer. The walk was held from 6:30PM-8:30PM to experience the area during darker hours.
  • School Engagements - Over November 2023 – March 2024, we met with the head teacher of St Helens R C Primary, we visited Van Gogh Primary School and the Slade Gardens Community Play Association, engaging with both parents and staff.  We emailed and followed up with hand-delivered engagement invitations to Abacus Nursery, Reay Primary School, and Platanos Secondary School.
  • Business Drop Ins - In November 2023, our market research team dropped into businesses to inform them of the incoming LTN, whilst encouraging them to contribute to an online survey for a meeting to discuss any further queries. In February – March 2024, more specific visits occurred with businesses near well-known through routes. Feedback was gathered on loading bay usage, delivery routes and schedules, parking, main method of transport for customers etc. 
  • Extra Care Housing Outreach - On 12 March 2024, we visited Helmi House during their weekly shared lunch to learn more about needs of the facility, staff, residents, and guests.
  • Lambeth’s Transport Strategy Accessibility Working Group – On 26 April 2024, The Community Streets Design Team worked with members of Lambeth’s Accessibility Working Group and MP Smarter Travel to identify the challenges that may be posed to those with additional needs when travelling through specific areas within the LTN. This AWG group comprises individuals who possess a wealth of expertise by virtue of their personal experiences living with various disabilities. Route locations included the Stockwell Group Practice, Sidney Road, Robsart Road, Brixton Road, Lorne Road, and Stockwell Park Road.
  • Commonplace Online Live Map - Online interactive map launched on 24 November 2023, allowing residents and other LTN users to identify issues and opportunities within the LTN. Visitors were invited to indicate locations on the digital map with associated comments.

As per the engagement phase, we will now collate quantitative and qualitative data to inform the LTN trial design. 

There will be further engagement opportunities during the implementation of the LTN. Feedback collected during engagements will be published in the Slade Gardens LTN Engagement Report. 

Monitoring the impact

The LTN will initially be introduced as a trial, and we will monitor the impact.

As with our existing LTNs, we intend to make any changes to vehicle through-access as a trial and monitor how those changes work within the LTN area and on surrounding streets. This allows us to make changes if needed, and for you to give detailed feedback on the scheme when it is live. 

Alongside changes to through-access for vehicles we want your ideas on what other measures could be included in Slade Gardens to make it easier to walk, wheel and cycle, to have nicer spaces to stop and rest, and to help deal with the climate emergency. Some of these changes may also be temporary but some could also be made permanent.

Robsart Street improvements

Lambeth Council is making a series of improvements to Robsart Street after residents, businesses, and ward councillors reported a number of road danger concerns including, high volumes of traffic, speeding vehicles and pedestrian and cyclist safety.  

Planters have been placed as initial temporary improvements to reduce road danger and enable people to travel safely through the area on foot, wheeling, or by cycle. They have been introduced at key locations, points where vehicles have been overrunning the pavement, to protect pedestrians. 

These changes are not part of the LTN design or consultation.  However, once installed, they will be monitored and reconsidered during the design of the LTN.