FAQs

There will be a range of assessments that will need to be balanced when judging the overall success of the trial. Assessments will include:

• Residents views on how the benefits of the scheme compare against the disbenefits
• Data on the number of cycle journeys that make use of the route
• Data on the volume of motor vehicle movements in the area
• Data on the speed of motor vehicles in the area
• Impact on the primary roads surrounding the area
• Air quality considerations
• Bus journey time considerations through discussion with Transport for London
• Outcomes of ongoing dialogue with the Emergency Services

Reporting on the trial will also consider whether the scheme supports the delivery of the Enfield Council Plan.

An Experimental Traffic Order (ETO) is a legal document, made under Sections 9 and 10 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, which imposes traffic and parking restrictions or changes the way existing restrictions function. ETOs enable the Council to implement the scheme on a trial basis, while a formal consultation takes place, and the scheme’s effects are monitored and assessed.

An ETO can only stay in force for a maximum of 18 months, after which a decision must be made on whether to remove the trial or make the scheme permanent. There is no minimum length of time following the initial implementation after which the scheme can be changed or removed. However, the Council would like to ensure an appropriate amount of time to assess viability of the scheme before any decisions are made.

The Council, including ward councillors are committed to undertaking a meaningful consultation that will inform our decision making for the scheme. A report will be written to summarise the feedback. Monitoring will also inform any decision made by the Council.

Yes. This is the benefit of taking a trial approach. Owing to the urgency that the Covid-19 situation has presented, rather than spend months and even years modelling multiple scenarios and potential impacts, we are trialling an approach and can then monitor the actual impacts.

The scheme is implemented using an Experimental Traffic Order (ETO) enabling the Council to make temporary changes and consult with community and stakeholders during the trial. This gives the Council an opportunity to review feedback and see how the scheme operates and either make changes to the trial, remove the scheme or make it permanent.

Before a decision is made whether to make the scheme permanent, feedback and monitoring will be reviewed, and a formal report produced and published on our website.

Once the trial is delivered, feedback received during the trial period will be reviewed in combination with evidence such as traffic monitoring data. A decision will be then made whether or not to make measures permanent or make changes and conduct another trial.

We are aiming to commence a trial starting in winter 2020/2021.

A parallel zebra crossing has been constructed as part of the A1010 South project on Fore Street just south of the junction with Park Road. Southbound cyclists will be able to make use of this facility to cross safely and enter Park Road, where the proposed route starts. 

Due to the current low traffic volumes of most of the roads through which the cycle route is running, and the further reduction in traffic that the proposed measures will achieve, a segregated cycle lane will not be needed. Instead, provisions will be made for safe on-street cycling. This will be supported by junction and crossing improvements as well as traffic reduction measures, in the form of modal filters and banned turns, to create a safe and pleasant cycling experience. In addition, the part of the route from the junction of Victoria Road with Park Road to Sweet Briar Walk will run through Pymmes Park.

Yes, the shared footway through the park which this route makes use of is open 24/7. It also has existing lighting provisions to improve visibility and enhance security during the hours of darkness. 

A modal filter is a road closure for motor vehicles, which continues to enable people to walk and cycle through the closure point. Two main types of modal filters will be used:

• Standard modal filter:

Large bolted-down planters and bollards typically placed within the traffic lanes to close the road to through motor traffic. People cycling are allowed to travel between the planters, but all motor vehicles, including mopeds and motorcycles, cannot proceed through the filter.

• Camera-enforced modal filter:

Large bolted-down planters typically placed at the side of the traffic lanes to reduce the width of the road. There is no physical barrier, such as a bollard or gate, placed between the planters to stop the general traffic passing through the modal filter. Instead, a closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera is used to enforce the ‘Motor vehicles prohibited’ signs which are placed on each side of the modal filter. Sufficient gap is provided between the planters to allow through access for cyclists and exempt motor vehicles such as emergency services. Any other motor vehicles travelling through this modal filter would be captured by a CCTV camera and issued with a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) for not obeying the traffic restriction.

The camera-enforced modal filters will make use of suitable signage as prescribed by the Traffic Signs Regulations and directed by the Traffic Signs Manual. This consists of:

‘Motor vehicles prohibited’ signs
‘Reminder to drivers that traffic enforcement cameras are in use’ signs

As per the Highway Code, signs with red circles are mostly prohibitive. Specifically, the Highway Code mentions that “Red rings or circles tell you what you must not do, e.g. you must not exceed 30 mph, no vehicles over the height shown may proceed”. Therefore, the ‘motor vehicles prohibited’ signs indicate that motorised vehicles (including cars, vans, lorries, motorcycles, and mopeds) are not permitted to drive past them. Emergency services are exempt from this rule and are therefore permitted to drive past the ‘motor vehicles prohibited’ signs.

Road users have an obligation to know and apply the rules contained in the Highway Code, which includes, among others, the signs that will be used for camera-enforced modal filters. Please refer to the Highway Code at the following link for more details: https://www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/road-signs-giving-orders.html

‘Motor vehicles prohibited’ signs
‘No entry for vehicular traffic’ signs

The purpose of the camera-enforced modal filters is to prevent drivers from travelling through them, whilst allowing emergency vehicle access.

The ‘motor vehicles prohibited’ signs give effect to a Traffic Regulation Order that prohibits the use of a road by motor vehicles except for the emergency vehicles. On the contrary, the ‘no entry for vehicular traffic’ signs prohibit all vehicles, including emergency vehicles. This is in compliance with the legal requirements of The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016, Schedule 3, Part 3, Paragraph 11.

'No entry for vehicular traffic’ signs could for example be seen at entry points to one-way streets, where access to all vehicles, including emergency vehicles, would not be permitted. Hence this type of sign would not be appropriate for camera-enforced modal filters.

No. Vehicle access will be maintained to all roads within the area. Vehicle access may be limited between opposite ends of the road, but none of the roads will be completely closed to motor traffic, enabling access and deliveries to continue. For instance, the proposed closure to motor vehicles at Park Road will not allow drivers through access to Fore Street from Victoria Road and the other way around.

Emergency services will continue to be able to access all residential streets, in some cases using different routes. The emergency services have been engaged in discussion on the proposals for this project. This has led to the design of modal filters which allow emergency access. Within the traffic orders necessary to support enforcement of closures, emergency vehicles can be exempt from these closures, enabling improved circulation in the area. The only proposals which will lead to a change of direction, are the banned right turns from Sweet Briar Walk into Denton Road and from Denton Road into Sweet Briar Walk.

Yes, refuse vehicles will continue to be able to collect refuse from all residential properties. This was an operational requirement of the design. Discussions have already taken place with Officers responsible for Waste Management at the Council. Whilst they will need to maintain access, they are also clear that the number one risk to their operatives is from car drivers who are trying to pass through as they collect waste. To this end, they welcome measures to reduce traffic speed and volume.

Residents may be required to take a different route to access their homes, depending on where they live within the area. For example, residents living on the east side of Park Road will not be able to drive to their homes from the west end of Park Road (junction with Victoria Road). Similarly, residents living on the west side of Park Road will not be able to drive to their homes from the east end of Park Road (junction with Fore Street).

This can lead to a slight increase of individual motor vehicle journey times. However, this is only a minor inconvenience in comparison to the benefit of having quieter and safer residential roads with improved local air quality. Moreover, one of the objectives of the project is to reduce the overall number of motor vehicle journeys by encouraging more active and sustainable transport choices.

Measures have been included in the design to physically prevent drivers from not complying with the proposed banned turns. Where that was not possible, closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras could be installed at those areas to ensure compliance.

The camera-enforced closure at Park Road will be in place at the request of the Emergency Services, to enable them to continue to pass through the area unhindered.