Neighbourhoods in Hammersmith and College Park are beginning to experience the benefits of quieter, less congested streets due to new protections implemented by H&F Council. From 7 October, trials employing smart camera technology are targeting out-of-borough traffic using two residential roads: Weltje Road in Hammersmith W6 and Letchford Gardens in College Park NW10.
These trials were initiated in response to requests from local residents seeking to improve road safety and reduce congestion and pollution on these streets. The neighbourhood improvement schemes are part of a broader initiative by the council to combat congestion and air pollution, while also enhancing conditions for pedestrians and cyclists.
Cllr Nicole Trehy, H&F Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency and Travel, stated: "These two new neighbourhood improvement trials – designed with and by residents – tackle long-standing congestion, noise, pollution and safety issues. They use the latest smart camera technology to discourage out-of-borough motorists from using residential streets as cut-throughs while allowing residents and their visitors full access." She added that the aim is to significantly reduce traffic and improve residents' quality of life, citing similar schemes across the borough that have achieved substantial reductions in through-traffic by non-H&F drivers.
The trial cameras in Weltje Road and Letchford Gardens will identify and penalise drivers from outside the borough who use these residential roads to bypass main routes, a practice that has become more common with the rise of satnav technology. H&F residents with permits, Business Permit holders, emergency services, carers, Royal Mail drivers, and registered council contractors can pass through the cameras without penalty. Black cabs are automatically exempt, and private hire vehicles and local taxi firms can register with the council to pick-up and drop-off passengers. Visitors and delivery drivers can also avoid fines by registering via the RingGo app, and local businesses can register their staff, shoppers, and deliveries.
The neighbourhood improvement trials are set to last for up to 18 months. During this period, residents and businesses will be consulted before a final decision is made on whether to make the schemes permanent. Approximately 90 per cent of vehicles using Weltje Road and Letchford Gardens daily are reportedly from outside the borough.
David Bartlett, a resident of Weltje Road, described the daily impact of the traffic, saying: "Every single day there's car horns, littering and shouting from the cars and lorries. It starts to become traumatic, exhausting, nerve-shredding."
These schemes are part of wider efforts to enhance H&F as a stronger, safer, and kinder borough. New rain gardens will be created in both neighbourhoods to help mitigate flooding and pollution. Dr Angela Aramburo, a paediatric consultant and resident of Weltje Road, highlighted the health benefits, stating: "Traffic pollution harms children's lung development. Cutting through-traffic here is a straightforward way to protect their health and safety."
The trials follow the successful implementation of similar neighbourhood improvement schemes in South Fulham and Rivercourt Road, which have now become permanent. A trial is also currently underway in Wormholt.
