Details
Nightingale Lane is an important route for walkers, runners and cyclists linking the lower part of Petersham Road, Petersham Meadows and the Thames Path to Richmond Hill and Park. Although other routes exist nearby via Terrace Field, Terrace Gardens and Petersham Common Woods, Nightingale Lane provides the most direct route and, for those with disabilities, has the additional benefit of being step-free, unlike others.
The lower part of the road provides access to the Petersham Hotel and a residential property, Wick Cottage, and is thus used in both directions. The upper part above Wick Cottage was designated as one-way in 1993 and allows up-hill traffic only with 'no entry' signs prohibiting the entrance from Richmond Hill. Parking is allowed on the lower part of the road on single yellow lines, and a small number of parking bays are provided on the upper part. Aside from this use, the road is more heavily used by through traffic travelling from the Petersham Road to Richmond Hill and Richmond Park. Although more suitable routes exist via the lower part of Richmond Hill from Richmond Bridge, and Star and Garter Hill from Petersham Village, the route is often used by motorists to avoid traffic on these sections.
Nightingale Lane has a moderate gradient on its lower part changing to a steep gradient on the upper part, therefore motor traffic using the road is inclined to use a lot of power to maintain progress up the hill, leading to excess vehicle emissions and a tendency to travel above the 20mph speed limit. Between the two parts at Wick Cottage there is a sharp blind bend in the road to the left which presents a significant hazard, yet motor vehicles often fail to slow down. A narrow footway runs alongside the highway, changing from the left to the right-hand side at the Petersham Hotel entrance. Approximately half-way up the upper part of the road the footway is constrained further by the presence of a parking ticket machine and several lamp posts.
Due to the narrowness of the footway it is necessary for pedestrians to frequently walk in the road in order to maintain social distancing from others and to walk around obstacles mentioned, this would also be necessary for many disabled users. The presence of motor traffic makes using the road unpleasant due to the noise and pollution, and unsafe due to the tendency of drivers to not want to stop on the incline despite not being able to see around the sharp bend, and the width above that point being constrained by the parking bays. At the top of the road vehicles can emerge quickly and come into conflict with the many pedestrians crossing the road at the junction or through-traffic using Richmond Hill.
At times the route is pleasant and quiet, and this was fortunately the case during the recent lockdown restrictions and brief closure to repair a water leak in December 2019, however the traffic has since returned. The peak usage by through-traffic usually occurs during the evening rush hour just as walkers, runners and cyclists come to take their exercise. This deprives local users of their enjoyment of the road and may put some off using it all together. Due to the one-way restriction, cyclists are also currently denied the lawful right to use the road to travel downhill from Richmond Park to the Thames Path, the only other alternatives being the much busier and more dangerous Star and Garter Hill or a long and poorly signed detor via Richmond Town Centre. It is proposed that the Council investigate ways to improve this situation for the benefit of local leisure users, and to encourage rather than discourage those activities which are likely to lead to improved health among the population such as walking, running and cycling.
The following specific measures are suggested:
* Installation of a fixed barrier or barrier(s) near Wick Cottage allowing unrestricted use in both directions by walkers, runners and cyclists. The barriers should not significantly restrict the usable width of the road by these groups in order to allow social distancing as needed and parking restrictions in the immediate vicinity of the barriers would be required also.
* Review of the lightly-used parking spaces on the upper section of the hill where the road is at its narrowest, and which would require access from the Richmond Hill end. Should it be possible to remove these spaces this will further improve safety.
* Removal of the one-way section and no-entry signs for cyclists (entry only for access if needed for parking spaces or Wick Cottage and to non-motor traffic) The Council should seek to implement at the minimum a trial solution using powers recently granted under recent amendments to the Traffic Management Act 2004. This will provide an immediate benefit to those who use the route for exercise and contribute to the Council's duty to seek to increase active travel in the borough which it is recognised is crucial in order to make best use of our streets going forward and to improve the health and wellbeing of local residents.
Started by: William Abson
This petition ran from 05/08/2020 to 05/11/2020.
Signatures
31 people have signed this petition.
