Council to lobby Transport for London to stop right turn on Keswick Road to West Hill


Google streetview - Keswick Rd jct with West Hill

People living in Keswick Road, East Putney that’s used as a busy cut through by motorists travelling between the A3 and the South Circular will soon see lower vehicle speeds outside their homes and improvements in air quality.

Councillors have given their backing to measures to curb vehicle speeds and deter rat runners using the road, following appeals for action from local residents.

Traffic calming infrastructure to slow and deter rat runners will be installed along the length of Keswick Road while Transport for London (TfL) will be pressed to agree to a council suggestion that vehicle traffic be banned from turning right out of Keswick Road onto West Hill.



Because West Hill is part of TfL’s strategic red route network this right turn ban cannot be enacted without its approval. Council transport chiefs hope that the prospect of fewer accidents at this junction will help persuade TfL to back the proposal.

If it is approved this right turn ban would be enforced by the use of mobile cameras – ensuring drivers complied with the change. The restriction would initially operate on a trial basis for six months while its effectiveness was evaluated.

Councillors who approved the changes at their meeting on Thursday (6 February) were told: “The proposals seek to encourage sustainable transport by reducing the dominance of motor vehicles and perceived safety concerns associated with high traffic speeds and volumes. Pollution from motor vehicles should also be reduced in the immediate vicinity with less congestion and queuing on Keswick Road.”

The council’s cabinet member for transport Cllr Paul Ellis said: “We think this is a sensible package of measures to improve traffic conditions in this busy cut through. It is designed to reduce overall traffic levels in Keswick Road and at the same time slow down vehicles that do access it.

“This should make it a safer and a quieter street that’s less attractive to rat runners, with a resulting improvement in air quality levels here as well.”

February 13, 2020