Barnes High Street improvements move forward – a chance to have your say
The BCA has been campaigning for improvements to the High Street after the issue was first raised at the Big Barnes Ponder of 2013. At this event, residents said that they wanted to make the High Street a more pleasant place to shop. More recently it has become clear that we also need to address the terrible congestion caused by traffic pinch points. Last year the BCA won a grant of £100,000 for improvements to the High Street and we have been working with Council officers and local ward councillors to shape the best proposals to deliver a more attractive and functional High Street for everyone. The proposals include the movement of parking spaces to stop traffic congestion, the creation of a new eastbound bus stop and the widening of pavements. These proposals for improvements open for consultation from Friday 23 October until Friday 20 November: https://haveyoursay.citizenspace.com/richmondecs/barnes-20.
In the last few weeks we have polled our members to understand what you think about some of the proposals and we are delighted with the levels of support. Out of 81 members who responded to our survey, 79% support wider pavements, 68% support the re-allocation of parking spaces to enable better traffic flow and 70% support a new bus stop. We also asked residents from across Barnes and Mortlake what they thought about the proposals and over 200 responded with similar views. Members and residents raised a number of issues which we have responded to below:
Re re-allocating parking bays
· Members were concerned that re-allocating parking bays would reduce the number of local people using the shops and damage local businesses. Response - We actually think that reallocating parking bays will make the High Street more attractive to residents and visitors and so will encourage them to spend longer and spend more so supporting the local economy.
· Members expressed concern that reallocation of parking bays onto side roads would result in challenges finding parking spaces for residents of these streets. Response - We’ve been listening to feedback from residents living on roads north of the High Street and recognise there’s no scope for parking restriction changes there. We’ve asked engineers to find alternative parking bays south of the High Street only.
· Members said that drivers will ignore new restrictions and block the road. Response - We know some driver ignore the current parking restrictions on the High Street. The traffic engineers that we have been working with believe the current parking bay layout encourages drivers to do this. We hope that creating a clear westbound lane will eliminate this problem.
Re new bus stop
· Members asked whether we need an extra bus stop? It's not far to walk from Barnes Bridge or (former) Barclays Bank stop. Response - We hope a new bus stop on the High Street will make it easier for some residents to stop and shop. We know that for some elderly residents the long walk with shopping bags to the existing bus stops is a major issue.
Re supermarket deliveries:
· Members were concerned that deliveries to the supermarkets should be made late evening only. Response - We have explored the option of out of hours deliveries with local supermarkets but unfortunately at the moment this proves too much of a logistical problem for stores of the size we have in Barnes but this may change in the future.
Re pavement widening:
· Members asked if pavements are widened, how are rogue cyclists and electric scooters prevented? It would just invite them to encroach the pavements more. Response - cyclists should not use footways. There’s no evidence to show wider pavements “invite” more cyclists to break the law.
· Some members said that there is no need for change as the pavements are fine as they are. Response - the issue of narrow pavements along the High Street was first raised in the Big Barnes Ponder of 2013 and is still one of the issues residents keep mentioning in conversations with us.
· Members said that it would be good to have a cycle lane. Response - unfortunately there is not enough carriageway space for a 1.5m cycle lane and a general 3m running lane in neither direction. We have agreed with the Council that engineers will include repeater cycle logos along the westbound lane.
