Newham Council has approved upgrades to Junction 3 on Romford Road, aiming to significantly improve safety and accessibility for cyclists and pedestrians. The decision, made by Sean McDermid, Acting Corporate Director of Environment & Sustainable Transport, follows community engagement and aligns with the council's broader strategy to enhance sustainable transport connections across the borough. The relocation of access restrictions from Richmond Road (junction with Windsor Road) to the junction with Romford Road aims to reduce vehicular conflict and improve visibility at critical points.
The approved measures target the junction of Romford Road with Richmond Road and Green Street, as well as Richmond Road between Windsor Road and Romford Road. These improvements are part of the Romford Road Public Realm Improvement scheme, which has secured £1.2m in funding from Transport for London (TfL) and £1.0m from the council, with a further £0.4m provisionally agreed from TfL. The total estimated cost for advertising the Traffic Management Orders (TMOs), design fees, and implementation of Junction 3, as outlined in Appendix A - Junction 3 Traffic Management Orders proposal, is approximately £955,000. Funding secured from TfL will be sufficient to cover these costs, posing no financial risk to the Council.
Key changes include:
- Relocating access restrictions on Richmond Road to the junction with Romford Road.
- Improving pavement accessibility.
- Adding new trees and planting.
- Introducing safer waiting, loading, and unloading restrictions.
- Upgrading traffic signals.
- Introducing separated cycle tracks.
- Implementing give way priority at the Richmond Road junction with Windsor Road.
- Changes to parking restrictions.
The council consulted with residents, businesses, and TfL during the development of the proposals. A community engagement exercise revealed that 68% of respondents felt that creating shorter, more direct crossings for cyclists and pedestrians, and introducing new paving and planting while removing old street furniture was 'important'.
The decision report states that the changes are designed in accordance with the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, Section 1(1). The report also states the reasons for the changes:
The relocation of access restrictions from Richmond Road (junction with Windsor Road) to the junction with Romford Road aims to reduce vehicular conflict and improve visibility at critical points.
The introduction of safer waiting, loading, and unloading restrictions will reduce obstruction and enhance pedestrian and cyclist safety near at the junction.
Alternative options, such as the do nothing
approach and retaining existing access restrictions, were considered but rejected. The do nothing
option was deemed contrary to the Mayor's Manifesto and TfL objectives. Retaining existing access restrictions was rejected due to its limited impact on collision reduction.
The decision aligns with Newham Council's Building a Fairer Newham (BaFN) corporate priorities and the Sustainable Transport Strategy, specifically Active Travel Action 1A: Borough-wide cycle network
, approved in December 2024.
For more detailed information, refer to Appendix A - Junction 3 Traffic Management Orders proposal and Appendix C - Statement of Reasons.
The approved measures include changes to parking restrictions. According to the letter sent to residents and businesses regarding the Romford Road junction with Green Street and Richmond Road, There will be less than 2 parking bays loss
. Access to private driveways will remain as existing.