Key Points
- There will be a controversy related to a £1.7 million “Safe and Healthy Streets” traffic scheme to be introduced in Fitzjohn’s Avenue in Hampstead, North London, according to Josef Steen from MyLondon.
- In particular, there are plans to introduce segregated cycling lanes, zebra crossings, rain gardens, the reduction of parking spaces, the move of several bus stops, and a temporary School Street traffic ban at College Crescent during school hours.
- The majority of the local population opposed these measures during a public consultation, where the number of supporters did not reach 23%, whereas three out of four people who live outside the borough were in favor of the initiative.
- There is a petition signed by 1,100 residents of Camden, who think that the plan is harmful to vulnerable groups of people and that the chosen location is much safer than others such as Arkwright Road.
- Some opposition councillors representing Belsize, Frognal, and Hampstead Town wards officially challenged the decision due to safety concerns of the elderly, disabled, and school children earlier this year.
- Camden Council explained their position by saying that feedback was taken into consideration and these changes are crucial for reducing pollution and accidents, according to Josef Steen from MyLondon.
London (Extra London News) August 29, 2026 — Fresh road upgrades and traffic control measures are officially moving forward in North London despite fierce local opposition and a petition signed by over a thousand residents.
As reported by Josef Steen of MyLondon, a new ‘Safe and Healthy Streets’ scheme located at Fitzjohn’s Avenue in Hampstead was initially greenlit by Camden Council in March. The upcoming £1.7 million project involves constructing segregated cycling lanes, introducing new zebra crossings, planting rain gardens, stripping away designated parking bays, and moving multiple bus stops. Additionally, a trial School Street will enforce a traffic restriction on College Crescent during peak school drop-off and pick-up hours.
The initiative aims to curb air pollution and decrease traffic collisions by discouraging car journeys in exchange for active travel alternatives, forming a core part of the local authority’s broader transport blueprint. Transport for London (TfL) previously marked Fitzjohn’s Avenue as a medium-priority corridor regarding casualty risks. Even so, the scheme has stoked intense local debate, pitting neighborhood consensus directly against municipal policy and wider borough ambitions.
Why Are Local Residents Objecting to the Hampstead Traffic Scheme?
The vast majority of people living directly adjacent to the affected corridor have voiced severe reservations. According to findings highlighted by MyLondon reporter Josef Steen, roughly 950 individuals engaged in the public consultation process, with local residents rejecting the overhaul by a margin close to three to one. Only 23 per cent of local respondents endorsed the plans, contrasting sharply with roughly three out of four respondents residing outside the borough who backed the changes.
Critics of the project have questioned its practical necessity, arguing that adding rain gardens and cycle lanes will squander public funds and erode the neighborhood’s historic architectural character. Other prominent worries center around the steep uphill climb of Fitzjohn’s Avenue, which locals fear will encourage speeding e-bikes to flout traffic signals and present a severe hazard to young schoolchildren.
Furthermore, community members and opposition politicians have raised alarms regarding the removal of regular parking spaces and the implementation of ‘floating’ bus stops—where cycle tracks run between the pavement and the passenger waiting area—which disability advocates argue place elderly and disabled commuters at grave risk. These exact anxieties prompted Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors representing the Belsize, Frognal, and Hampstead Town wards to formally call in the decision earlier this year. Although council chiefs ultimately dropped proposals to merge certain bus stops due to the immense backlash, they pushed the core framework through regardless.
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What Does the Local Community Petition Argue?
The dissatisfaction among residents has manifested into an organized petition titled “please think again,” which has successfully accumulated 1,100 signatures.
As detailed by MyLondon journalist Josef Steen, the petition asserts:
“Our neighbourhood urgently needs better air quality and streets that are safer to walk and cycle along. The busy junction with Arkwright Road is unsafe and improvements are vital. But the current scheme instead seeks to push through a cycle lane onto Fitzjohn’s Avenue in a way that does not put pedestrians, children, older people and access to vital public transport first”.
The petition further highlights community apprehensions regarding the narrowing of pedestrian footways near local primary schools, the elimination of critical bus stops relied upon by pupils and senior citizens, and what organizers describe as the council’s oversight of more dangerous intersections, specifically the junction connecting Arkwright Road and Prince Arthur Road.
How Has Camden Council Responded to the Backlash?
In defense of the local authority’s stance, municipal leaders have insisted that the design changes underwent rigorous evaluation and that active travel investments remain non-negotiable for public health.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) on Friday, August 28, Cllr James Slater, Cabinet Member for Planning and a Sustainable Camden, stated:
“Following a consultation which had over 950 responses from residents, we made the decision to move forward with the Fitzjohn’s Avenue scheme to make the streets…”
As quoted by MyLondon, Cllr James Slater added:
“Among many improvements, the scheme includes a new cycle lane, new and upgraded crossings, bus journey improvements and a Healthy School Street. We are aware of the concerns that some residents have raised and want to assure that feedback from the consultation was carefully considered and reflected in current proposals.”
Council project officers have consistently maintained that structural layout shifts can effectively alter driver habits over time, doubling down on institutional commitments to prioritize cyclists and pedestrians. Comprehensive information outlining the final project specifications remains accessible via the official Camden Council web portal for public review.
