Centralised discussion space for TfL plans and cycling in London

The highway code is being changed so pedestrians waiting to cross will have priority over turning vehicles. (Peds already have priority if they've started to cross - the change gives them priority while waiting to cross.)

So the new junction treatment reflects the new rules. Pedestrians should be able to wander across at will.

Yes, but in practice that won't happen quickly.

Would be even better if they painted a zebra crossing at every junction, but you'd have years of uncertainty before the massive painting project was completed - what does it mean if a junction has no zebra crossing, yet?

Well, I'd rather the law was such that crossings wouldn't have to be painted. On main streets, yes, but the more signing and lining and complication you introduce into non-main streets, the more you increase the impression of a motor traffic environment. The best thing is simple streets that just look like simple streets.

My experience is that car drivers crossing pavement level junctions (like the one at Magee St to the A3) behave more politely than they do at other junctions.

The problem with continuous footways isn't the effect on the side street, but that on the main street. It increases motor traffic capacity and reduces driver attention. The caution when turning is dealt with by the filtering, no further measures required, and the impression of side street junctions is important for the functioning of main streets.