Proposals for a 20mph Zone for Heath Drive, Parkway, Gidea Avenue, Brook Road, and surrounding roads

Overview

Earlier this year, Havering Council consulted the public on proposals to introduce a 20mph zone and associated traffic-calming measures in the residential area between the A12 and Main Road, extending from Parkway to Heath Drive in Romford.

The scheme aims to reduce through-traffic, encourage lower vehicle speeds and improve the local environment for residents.

Thank you to everyone who responded to the consultation.

The responses included support for measures to address vehicle speeds, through-traffic and HGV movements. They also raised concerns about the number, type and location of the physical traffic-calming features originally proposed.

Council officers have considered the issues raised and discussed the consultation findings with councillors. We have now revised our proposals to provide a more targeted package of measures. The Council is now carrying out the statutory consultation required before deciding whether to make the relevant Traffic Regulation Order and proceed with the proposed measures.

What has changed?

The revised proposals continue to support a lower-speed residential environment. However, they reduce the number of physical traffic-calming features and focus measures on locations most affected by vehicle speeds, through-traffic or pedestrian activity.

The proposed 20mph speed limit would apply to the roads shown in yellow on the plans below.  Physical traffic-calming measures would be concentrated on Heath Drive and Brook Road, with targeted crossing and entry features at the locations shown on these plans:

The proposed package includes:

• A 20mph speed limit on residential roads within the proposed zone.
• A targeted series of full-width road humps on Heath Drive and Brook Road
• Raised crossings adjacent to the pedestrian entrances to Raphael Park on Parkway, to provide safer access to the park and help reduce vehicle speeds, particularly near the children’s playground.
• A raised section of road at the entrance to Heath Drive from Main Road, known as a raised entry treatment, to encourage drivers to slow down when entering the residential area.
• Advance warning signs on Main Road and the A12 advising drivers about the road humps and that the route is unsuitable for HGVs.
• Changes to existing signs and road markings where necessary to support the proposed 20mph speed limit.
• Limited lengths of double yellow lines at specified junctions to protect visibility and maintain access.

Why is the Council proposing these changes?

The original proposals were developed in response to concerns about residential streets being used as through routes, high vehicle speeds and larger vehicles using these roads.

The Council has considered these objectives alongside the feedback received during the earlier consultation. The revised design is intended to provide a more proportionate and targeted package of measures, while retaining the features considered necessary to support a 20mph environment and discourage speeding.

Why are physical traffic-calming measures proposed?

A 20mph speed limit alone would not meet all the scheme’s objectives. The targeted road humps are proposed to reduce vehicle speeds and make the route less attractive to through-traffic and HGVs.

Following the earlier consultation, the number of physical measures has been reduced. The remaining measures are focused on Heath Drive and Brook Road, where they are considered necessary to achieve the scheme’s aims.

Monitoring the scheme

If the scheme is introduced, the Council will monitor it after an appropriate period of operation. This will include reviewing vehicle speeds and traffic flows to assess whether the scheme is meeting its aims. The findings will help the Council decide whether any further investigation or action is required.