Improving Ilford Lane
We want to make Ilford Lane a safer and more comfortable place to shop at, to live nearby and to visit. To do this we are seeking views on how you would like Ilford Lane to change, improving how it looks and works. We will note all the comments received to identify what measures people care the most about and use them to develop proposals for the area. To give your views please fill in the engagement form below. The survey closes on 31 March 2023.
We will also be carrying out various surveys and audits to collect data on the issues that face residents and businesses. These include counting traffic and pedestrian flows, examining where traffic accidents have occurred and looking at where people cross the road. We will be speaking to businesses and shoppers to understand how the vibrancy of the street can be improved. We will be talking to resident groups and community groups to understand the challenges of living next to such a busy area. We will be talking to the two schools (Uphall and Cleveland Road) to get input from young people on how they travel to and from school. All this feedback will be used to develop proposals for the area.
When we have looked at all this information we will identify solutions that will be presented in a public consultation in Summer 2023. The solutions will be based on the data collected, what local people have told us and good practice to:
- Improve the safety of pedestrians by reducing conflicts with vehicles and making streets easier to cross.
- Create a street where everyone will feel more able and confident to live, shop and visit
- Introduce measures to improve the look and feel of Ilford Lane and introduce greening and seating where appropriate.
The public consultation will show the data we have collected, how we have interpreted this information and will present our initial solutions using computer generated images that show how the street could look. The public consultation will allow everyone to tell us what they think of these ideas so we can understand how local people want Ilford Lane to look in the future. We want as many people as possible to be involved in this consultation to develop a consensus on what changes are the most acceptable.
When we have an understanding of what local people support we will seek to deliver these changes carefully. Some measures will be easier to deliver, some will take more work, and normal Council consultation processes will apply to any changes proposed.
Survey Information
In December 2022, Redbridge Council commissioned Living Streets to undertake face to face surveys with businesses and customers on Ilford Lane. In addition, to review the street environment using our Community Street Audit model with business staff and residents.
Between 9th January and 20th February 2023, we interviewed 147 small business owners and shop staff and 85 customers about their views of Ilford Lane. The interviews were carried out by 4 members of Living Street staff speaking with people face to face. These surveys were undertaken during weekdays before 6pm.
Our subsequent research on Ilford Lane has demonstrated that high levels of car usage and traffic are having a negative impact on the shopping experience for customers. In particular, residents and customers struggle to safely cross the road, further compounded by erratic and unresponsive traffic lights. Side road crossings are blocked by cars parked on double yellow lines and across resident driveways. Driving is aggressive, impatient and noisy, with frequent use of horns. Businesses have highlighted the issues they have with parking restrictions and the rigorous enforcement of the parking spaces. Businesses and customers have both identified antisocial behaviour and crime as priorities for improving the street environment and seek a more active presence of the Authorities (police and Council staff) to deter unwelcome groups and reassure the public.
You can view the Living Streets Report here.We have also summarised our learning from the report as well as other statistics around Ilford Lane into a key summary fact sheet which you can view here.
From the Living Streets Report the Council then looked to start tackling some of the issues raised, and one of the issues was the want for more crossing points.We have a separate consultation for this and you can view that as well as all associated designs here.
- There are no stories to display. Why don't you share one?
