Agenda item

Report of the Interim Executive Director Environment.

Members considered a report of the Interim Executive Director Environment concerning options for Old Jewry and whether to make changes to the previously approved scheme to mitigate Members’ concerns raised about the impact on people who needed to travel by motor vehicle.

An Officer stated that Officers considered that the changes had resulted in improvements for people walking and cycling and data supported this.

A Member stated that changes towards pedestrianisation were made to this area during the pandemic but there were unintended consequences to certain closures including increased congestion and increased travel times by motor vehicles. He commented that Old Jewry was not a welcoming environment for pedestrians and was misused by service vehicles. He suggested that, once opened up, Ironmonger Lane would be a more welcoming cut through and suggested an experimental traffic order be put in place to open up Old Jewry southbound. He added that this would lower congestion around St Paul’s Gyratory and ease congestion and at the end of the experimental traffic order, if successful, street works could create a more pleasant environment for walkers and cyclists. He stated that the Mercers’ Company, a large stakeholder in the area, were in principle, broadly supportive of Jewry Street being opened up southbound and Ironmonger Lane having time closures. He added that they wanted the street works to be undertaken and that they still had concerns around Frederick’s Place as highlighted in the Officer report.  He suggested that Option 2a be selected with an additional piece of work undertaken on the intent around Ironmonger Lane.

A Member commented that vehicle numbers were small compared to the numbers of people cycling and walking and therefore an increase in driving times did not align with the Transport Strategy, He commented that changes would need to resolve other issues e.g. congestion caused by three-point turns.

A Member noted that Option 2B would preserve Old Jewry pedestrian exclusivity between Poultry and Frederick’s Place for part of the day. Another Member was in support of this option as this would enable servicing to take place.

The Chairman raised concern about three point-turns and stated that Ironmonger Lane should be open for pedestrians.

Officers were asked to outline the differences between Options 2a and 2b. Members were informed that when the assessments took place, the numbers of people using Old Jewry were large for a constrained space. Option 2a would enable the whole street to be one-way which could open up more opportunities for improvements in the future. Option 2b recognised that there were large spikes of people using Old Jewry during peak hours. Under Option 2b, the street would remain a two-way street as when the restrictions were not in place, vehicles would go in and out. Three point-turns issues would remain under Option 2b.

The Officer confirmed that Ironmonger Lane was expected to reopen in Autumn 2024.

In relation to three-point turns, a Member stated that some drivers would know the hours the restrictions were in place and would plan their journeys accordingly. A Member stated that service vehicles were an issue. An Officer stated that the vehicles currently on the street were either there to serve the buildings or use the parking spaces. An Officer stated that currently there were more three-point turns taking place as a result of increased servicing traffic for the construction and fit-out work the Mercers’ Company was undertaking.

The Chairman asked whether, if minded to, Members could indicatively support Option 2a with a caveat that it would not be implemented until Ironmonger Lane was reopened. An Officer stated that Members could indicatively support Option 2a with Officers submitting to a future meeting, a report for final decision along with detail on plans for Ironmonger Lane.

RESOLVED – That Members of the Sub-Committee indicatively support Option 2a to initiate a traffic experiment to reopen Old Jewry to all traffic in a southbound direction at all times and pause any work on potential improvements until the conclusion of the experiment, with Officers submitting to a future meeting, a report for final decision along with details on plans for Ironmonger Lane.