Earlsdon to become 20mph zone under new pilot scheme
Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2023 9:43 pm
Under the Earlsdon Liveable Neighbourhood scheme, all roads in the area will operate a reduced speed limit
Roads across one of Coventry's most desirable areas will soon be subject to blanket 20mph speed restrictions. As part of proposals put forward under the Earlsdon Liveable Neighbourhood pilot scheme, all roads in the area will operate a reduced speed limit compared to the 30mph restriction in force on most residential roads.
A series of other road safety measures, including a toucan crossing on Albany Road and a zebra crossing on Earlsdon Street close to the Co-op, have also been put forward along with widening the pavement outside Earlsdon Primary School, with new seating and greenery. Widening the pavement on Earlsdon Avenue South, between the Elsie Jones Centre and the City Arms, to provide a better pedestrian route has also been listed as a final proposal though councillor Mattie Heaven (Cons, Wainbody) said there was some uncertainty around that particular proposal.
New benches and a new West Midlands Cycle Hire dock outside the library were also recommended in the scheme, which is designed to make Earlsdon an even nicer place to live. The plans were discussed at a meeting of residents at Albany Theatre on Tuesday.
Following feedback from a public consultation held during October and November, some ideas have been dropped or modified. A bus lane will no longer be introduced on Spencer Road and a one-way system will not be rolled out on Newcombe Road and Spencer Avenue. Likewise, a no-entry will no longer be enforced on Berkeley Road North.
"Instead, we will be introducing a raised table at the junction of Spencer Road and Dalton Road and at the junction of Broadway and Belvedere Road," the Earlsdon Liveable Neighbourhood Proposals webpage says. "A raised table means the road is raised to pavement level at the entire junction. This slows down traffic and creates a safer, step-free crossing area for pedestrians."
Several suggestions for the Beechwood Avenue area have also been altered. "We will not be introducing a no-entry at Warwick Avenue or Styvechale Avenue," the page says. "We will be introducing additional traffic calming features on Beechwood Avenue instead.
"This will be a raised table at the junction of Beechwood Avenue and Warwick Avenue / Stoneleigh Avenue. The proposed closure at Stoneleigh Avenue junction with Kenilworth Road will now be a no-entry instead. This will enable traffic to exit onto Kenilworth Road. The roads beyond the no-entry will remain two-way for all traffic. Cycles will be exempt from the no-entry.
"We will reduce the length of proposed yellow lines on Beechwood Avenue. This will still improve visibility out of Styvechale Avenue and Warwick Avenue, but will mean more parking is available between the golf club and Kenilworth Road.
"We will be installing traffic calming features along Beechwood Avenue, to reduce vehicle speeds including changes to road markings, enhancing the roundabout at Hartington Crescent and reducing yellow lines to help with parking."
Other measures affecting Earlsdon Street and the Arden Street and Shaftesbury Road area have also been amended. All of the final proposals can be found here. They are set to be implemented in the new year after the associated traffic regulation orders have been advertised.