Walton Street consultation starts

The County Council has now issued the experimental traffic order closing Walton Street. This comes into force on Monday 18th November 2019. It will operate for a maximum period of 18 months. This will create an ‘Experimental Low Traffic Neighbourhood Area’.

This measure is “As a result of concerns over safety and the adverse environmental impacts of motor traffic on Walton Street, Kingston Road and neighbouring residential roads.”

At the same time, the Council has opened a six-month window of consultation which will last until Friday 29th May 2020.

The closure proposal emerged rather unexpectedly after the protracted repair works, and has produced much discussion in Jericho and beyond. Many people have appreciated the calmer, safer and cleaner environment for pedestrians and cyclists. But there are also concerns about the diversion of traffic along side streets, and the manouvres of reversing trucks particularly if this happens near the school.

Early next year the Jericho Community Association will hold a public meeting on the issue, inviting councillors and council officers. This will be after the closure has run for several months over school holidays and Christmas so people have a clearer idea of the impact.

In the meantime, the My Jericho series of meetings will hold informal discussions on this issue on December 11 and January 8 at 5.30 pm.

You can get further details and complete the online questionnaire on the County Council website by clicking here.