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Should people worry about Liveable Streets' effect on Roman Rd market area? What's the deal with parking?
I've heard a few worries, which can be dispelled.
Also, some thoughts on why the area does need a change.
(Go to https://talk.towerhamlets.gov.uk/lsbow to register your support
)
Should people worry about Liveable Streets' effect on Roman Rd market area? What's the deal with parking?
I've heard a few worries, which can be dispelled.
Also, some thoughts on why the area does need a change.
(Go to https://talk.towerhamlets.gov.uk/lsbow to register your support
)
Firstly, the Roman Rd/St Stephen's Rd corner car park is STAYING. There it is in the pic, that beautiful grey oblong.
Even after they nibble out a small section to widen the pavement, it'll still have more than enough space- some poor sod's been monitoring how full it gets.
Even after they nibble out a small section to widen the pavement, it'll still have more than enough space- some poor sod's been monitoring how full it gets.
The car park'll therefore be able to absorb many of the cars currently parking on Roman Road when the pedestrianisation increases from the current 3 days. 
The Roman Road Market pedestrianisation will only last till 4.30pm each day, so if you've got a parking permit, you can still park there after 4.30pm each day.
In fact, it'll only be pedestrianised just over a quarter of the day.
In fact, it'll only be pedestrianised just over a quarter of the day.
The pedestrianisation's taken on a new urgency with coronavirus. There are a number of caffs etc that may benefit from outside seating to keep them viable, while social distancing reduces indoor capacity. Covid'll probably be with us for a while yet. 
Still concerned about lack of kerbside parking? 48% of R. Rd firms say their customers live v. close (R Rd Trust). Encouraging people to drive in from a wider radius'd just jam up our streets even more. With the best will in the world, where'd they park? Even now? 
And the evidence of the last couple of decades suggests kerbside parking on R. Rd Market four days a week hasn't exactly delivered an exciting retail offer (with apologies to the Chicken Shops 
). It's been tried. Time for a different approach.
). It's been tried. Time for a different approach.
The council's promising to spend money tarting the market area up, if people support the plans. Let's unlock this cash! 
(A reminder of the link to support the scheme: https://talk.towerhamlets.gov.uk/LSbow )
(A reminder of the link to support the scheme: https://talk.towerhamlets.gov.uk/LSbow )
Bow can never be Westfield/Bluewater in terms of lavish parking capacity. But we can mimic one aspect - pleasant, non-car-dominated surroundings. Here's a before and after of Orford Rd, E17, (nicked from https://bit.ly/2DaPUtD ). Where'd you rather linger?
Because...
Two truths
Cars that are driven from one end of Roman Rd Market to the other without stopping: They ain't spending money.
Cars parked the whole day outside shops without moving: They ain't spending money.
Two truths Cars that are driven from one end of Roman Rd Market to the other without stopping: They ain't spending money.
Cars parked the whole day outside shops without moving: They ain't spending money.
Only 38% of households in Bow East ward even have access to a car (2011), lower than the London average, so while it's right to try to accommodate these cars, *particularly* those of blue badge holders, we have to think of the whole 100% of our residents.
And the needs of the 100% go way beyond parking. They include
Clean air: ours is poor right now
Less road danger, so kids can walk to school or their friends'
Linked to above, getting kids active, to fix their terrible obesity rate ( https://bit.ly/2At5PlZ )
Clean air: ours is poor right now Less road danger, so kids can walk to school or their friends' Linked to above, getting kids active, to fix their terrible obesity rate ( https://bit.ly/2At5PlZ )
If you want a rejuvenated Roman Road market area
PLUS an end to long-distance traffic using Bow simply as a cut-through
PLUS access to every property by car, just like you've got now
You MUST say so in this consultation:
https://talk.towerhamlets.gov.uk/LSbow
It takes 5 minutes. Go go go!
PLUS an end to long-distance traffic using Bow simply as a cut-through
PLUS access to every property by car, just like you've got now
You MUST say so in this consultation:
https://talk.towerhamlets.gov.uk/LSbow
It takes 5 minutes. Go go go!
