This campaign was started by Norman Beddington of Transport 2000 London. Camden and Westminster Cycling Campaigns are involved, together with representatives from Friends of the Earth and Living Streets.

The proposal

The proposal is to remove through traffic and to improve pedestrian facilites as shown in the plan below.

It is proposed:

• to place barriers at three points on the outer circle, which will prevent through traffic, but at the same time allow access to all points within the park including the zoo and the open air theatre.
• to enhance pedestrian facilities. The majority of park users are on foot.

The document describing this proposal can be seen in:

Regents Park Proposal

Progress

The group met William Weston, chief executive of the Royal parks Agency in July 2004. He is interested and in principal thinks the proposal is a good idea. He was busy with problems concerning Richmond Park, where a backlash has resulted from the closure of a gate which cuts out a lot of traffic. He has suggested that the Royal Park will address their attention to this proposal in early 2005.

Support

The campaign has support from a group of local residents and letters of support from the Royal College of Physicians and Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Some of the residents of the surrounding streets are however concened about the displacement of traffic into their roads.

Next Steps (October 2004)

The campaign is looking into funding for a study on the potential effect of the the scheme on traffic on the surrounding roads.

A full consultation of residents will be carried out when the results of this study are available