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A vision of Hampstead Tube Station pavements following the removal of ‘clutter’ that is currently being proposed |
Hampstead streets’ naked ambition
Vision of pavement without ‘clutter’ aims to improve safety by making pedestrians visible
“IF you treat drivers like idiots, they act as idiots.” This was the maxim of traffic guru Hans Monderman, whose pioneering thinking could be road-tested in Hampstead Village.
Following the launch of the Hampstead 2020 campaign last month, residents were invited to Burgh House on Friday to comment on radical plans to adopt the Dutch engineer’s concept of “naked streets” in their area.
Under the proposals, Hampstead’s streets would be stripped of traffic lights and road signs and transformed into shared-use spaces in a bid to force motorists to drive more safely.
Unnecessary bollards, bins and other street “clutter” would also be removed to recreate the appearance of a village.
Farokh Khorooshi, chairman of the Redington and Frognal Residents Association, who is spearheading the plans, said: “What we’re really saying is: What will Hampstead look like in the year 2020? We have our vision for the future about what can be done.
“Currently we’re living in a forest of hardware: there are 37 separate pieces of street furniture within 20 metres of the junction outside Hampstead Tube station, when all it needs is a single roundabout.
“The problem is Hampstead has become a place people drive through. We need to remind motorists this is a place where people live. By taking away the barriers between motorists and pedestrians we give the responsibility back to the driver to be more alert.”
Residents gave feedback on Mr Khorooshi’s vision. Popular ideas included the redesign of the traffic hotspot by Whitestone Pond to create a village green space for outdoor games and community activities.
The removal of street furniture “offences” such as multiple signs on Victorian lampposts, unnecessary controlled parking zone signs and three traffic light instalment units on Heath Street – dubbed the three bears – also won approval.
Ed Fordham, the Lib Dem candidate for Hampstead and Kilburn, who joined the debate, described the current situation as “madness”.
He said: “There should be a concept that says let’s de-clutter Hampstead.
“There needs to be greater confidence from the council in standing up to other public bodies and saying ‘this is going to happen.’
“We need a more joined-up approach.”
Hampstead resident Sarah Nicholl, who is a member of environmental group Transition Belsize, added: “I support the ideas but I think we need to go further, taking account of the effects of global warming. I’d like to see a vision with fewer cars, if any at all, and a lot more greenery around Hampstead similar to other European cities.” |
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