A detailed explanation of the scheme

The key finding of the previous experiment is that while the temporary closure of Harwood Terrace ended rat running in the road, it caused extensive traffic delays in surrounding streets, including to buses. We also learnt that the majority of traffic came from outside H&F.

The new experimental scheme aims to reduce traffic significantly by changing the behaviour of drivers from outside our borough.

It will use smart camera technology to read and recognise licence plates at strategically positioned control points. Harwood Terrace will re-open and non-residents who rat run through this or other South Fulham streets will be subject to penalties.

The scheme will reduce traffic to below what it was before the experimental closure of Harwood Terrace. Buses on Bagleys Lane will be able to run better than ever. Noise, air pollution and carbon emissions should decrease in keeping with the council’s climate emergency strategy.

The new experimental scheme puts Hammersmith & Fulham residents first. The aim of the scheme is to reduce significantly the through traffic east of Wandsworth Bridge Road, including through Harwood Terrace, and improve bus journey times at the Bagleys Lane junction. The expectation is that traffic previously able to cut through to New Kings Road will be eliminated.

The key points of the scheme are:

The scheme extents are outlined in the figure below. Access restrictions will be introduced at the short triangular cross-section between Imperial Road, Bagleys Lane and Harwood Terrace. Five smart cameras will enforce this at:

There are no restrictions on Carnwath Road and no changes to the access to Broomhouse Lane which has an existing width restriction gate at just North of Daisy lane. Signs appear at these junctions and others to warn drivers that they are entering an area with some restricted roads east of Wandsworth Bridge Road.

We will soon be meeting with residents of Harwood Terrace during the trail to discuss whether any additional traffic calming measures are required.

The scheme includes a southbound restriction on Imperial Road. This is felt necessary to address the problems of evening traffic travelling southbound and queuing at the Townmead Road and Wandsworth Bridge Road junction, and of traffic trying to get around queuing vehicles on Townmead Road by diverting through Stephendale Road in order to join Wandsworth Bridge Road. The southbound restriction will also support the aim of reducing total traffic volumes in the area.

Residents will be unaffected by the access restriction and can drive through all control points. All areas such as the Sainsbury’s supermarket and Harbour Club will remain accessible for non-residents by using Townmead Road.

The problem of rat running through Stephendale Road, Broughton Road and Hazlebury Road existed before the experimental scheme on Harwood Terrace. Although the Harwood Terrace experiment did not increase total traffic across the SW6 area, 25% of traffic that had previously used the terrace instead used the Bagleys Lane junction, which then had an impact on these residential streets.

The access restrictions at Bagleys Lane will mean that out-of-borough traffic will no longer be able to drive through Stephendale Road or any side roads to exit via the Bagleys Lane junction. As a result, total traffic through Stephendale Road, Hazlebury Road and Broughton Road is expected to reduce to levels lower than before the experimental closure of Harwood Terrace.

We do not expect traffic to be more likely to drive into these roads just to rejoin queueing traffic on Wandsworth Bridge Road at busy times as this would hardly improve journey times.

However, we will tackle the possibility of this happening by introducing additional control points on Hazlebury Road and Broughton Road, enforced by smart camera technology.

Our aim here is to reduce the rat running and through traffic from which this area has suffered for many years. We do not expect the above measures to push traffic to the western side of Wandsworth Bridge Road, which saw a net reduction in traffic after the Harwood Terrace experimental closure.

However, the out-of-borough traffic in this area has been a problem for a long time and needs to be addressed on its own merit. We will therefore install a camera to monitor traffic in this area. The aim is then to consider how rat running and through traffic in the area can also be addressed, including through controlled access.

H&F residents will be able to drive around the area as now. Smart cameras will recognise vehicle number plates so that they and other “permitted vehicles” can go freely through control points.

Non-H&F residents can still access any road in the area but not by rat running through Harwood Terrace and other streets. They’ll incur a penalty if they:

Whilst the scheme is implemented, we will be monitoring traffic across the area and gathering residents’ views. This will allow us to make make any adjustments needed prior to any sort of permanent scheme being implemented.