Cavendish Avenue & Fairlawn Drive: Vehicle Exemption Consultation

Motor vehicles are currently banned from driving through part of Cavendish Avenue and Fairlawn Drive from 7.30am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm, Monday to Friday. This is to help prevent rat-running through residential roads during busy peak traffic periods. While this ban has been in place for 40 years, it was only in 2015 when the locking of the barriers was decommissioned and replaced by enforcement cameras.

In more recent years, the Council has received requests from local residents and Ward Councillors asking for an exemption from the enforcement cameras. This would allow local residents to pass freely through the road lengths where the ban currently applies without penalty. In response to these requests, the Council is now considering whether properties near the ban should be eligible for an exemption. Before any final decision is made, we would like to know your views.

HOW WOULD A VEHICLE EXEMPTION WORK?

If exemptions to the motor vehicle bans in Cavendish Avenue and Fairlawn Drive were given, they would be given to all eligible properties. The plan on this web-page highlights the properties that the Council is proposing could be eligible for this exemption.

Local properties within this eligible area would be required to register their vehicles with the Council in order for the exemption to apply. All vehicles that have been given an exemption would be recognised and ignored by the enforcement cameras. Physical permits would not need to be displayed in the vehicle. We would write to all eligible properties with further information on how to apply for an exemption if this scheme is approved.

The exemption would only apply to vehicles registered at the eligible home address. Any other vehicles, such as those belonging to visitors or tradesman, would not qualify for any exemption (the ban would continue to apply).

By granting local properties an exemption and allowing their registered vehicles unrestricted entry through the local motor vehicle bans, this could:

• improve local air quality due to less time spent driving
• reduce traffic congestion on surrounding roads
• improve journey times on local roads for all users

Residents would be required to reapply periodically, showing proof of continued vehicle ownership, in order for the vehicle exemption to continue to apply. It is intended that the renewal process would be quick and easy to keep any inconvenience to a minimum.

HAVE YOUR SAY

We are now inviting any written feedback, objections or other representations to allowing vehicle exemptions for those properties within the proposed exemption area (as shown in the plan on this webpage). A public notice is also being advertised in the Wanstead & Woodford Guardian to raise wider awareness.

Please have your say by completing the online questionnaire below.

A final decision on whether to proceed with allowing vehicle exemptions will only be made after full consideration of any feedback that is received.