Streets for People

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I have my say on travel in the borough?

In autumn 2023, we will begin an extensive engagement programme speaking to people about what they would like to see in their streets and neighbourhoods to define a set of local priorities. Information about how to get involved will be shared here and on our Consultation Hub in early September.

Where have changes been made to streets in the borough?

Find out about Streets for People projects in your area.

The largest Streets for People scheme is in Walworth, where measures have been in place since 2020. We’ve made a short film about the Walworth scheme and nearby Comber Grove.  

How do the Streets for People measures make air quality better?

Motor vehicles are responsible for more than half of air pollution in cities. Our aim is for residents to have the best quality of life and one of the ways we are doing this is by encouraging residents to walk, cycle and use public transport to reduce the number of cars on the road and decrease air pollution. According to Southwark Council’s July 2021 ’Health and Wellbeing monitoring report’, Public Health England (PHE) suggests that 6.6% of adult deaths in Southwark in 2019 may be due to particulate air pollution.

What is the council doing to make roads with the measures in place more accessible for people with disabilities and elderly people who need to use their cars?

The needs of residents across the borough are varied and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. We do continuously review each individual measure, and we continue to talk with residents about how we can make improvements. In developing the Streets for People strategy, in-depth research to explore and document barriers to movement that people with accessibility requirements experience when moving in Southwark was carried out. Many of our camera-controlled traffic constraints have exemptions for blue badge holders.

Has the council considered emergency services in the Streets for People plans?

Council representatives meet monthly with the emergency services across the borough, and this has been in place since September 2020. We've made a number of changes to the Streets for People measures to provide access for the police, ambulance and fire services.

Is public transport use, such as buses, encouraged as part of Streets for People?

A majority of households in Southwark (60.3%) do not own a car. Buses are an essential part of travel in our borough. Research in the borough found that buses are used by 58% of people with disabilities, 66% of children and young people, 65% of the elderly and 65% of Londoners from ethnic minority backgrounds. We continue to work closely with Transport for London and listen to feedback from residents to find more ways to make public transport easier to use for people travelling in the borough.

What is a cycle hangar?

A cycle hangar is a secure on-street cycle storage unit that replaces an on-street parking bay. One cycle hangar can store six bicycles. Southwark has installed over 600 cycle hangars in the borough, giving cycle storage to 3,600 cycles. Find more information on cycle hangars in the borough on our Cycle parking and security  page.

What are School Streets?

School Streets are schemes that close roads outside schools generally at opening and closing times, to support children to walk and cycle to school safely and improve air quality outside the school gates. School Streets usually involve temporarily closing one or more sections of road outside a school to vehicles not belonging to residents. In some cases, such as Comber Grove, permanent measures are in place. There are more than 25 school streets in the borough. Find more information on School Street Road closures. 

Page last updated: 14 November 2023