I just don't get the Streestspace furore. At least in my immediate local area. We've had quite a few road changes off the back of it in Greenwich. I spent a bit of time talking to people protesting against it but after a while it became obvious, at least with the schemes very local to me, that most of the objections were based on absolutely nothing.
For example, they have blocked off about four roads leading to Royal Hill to reduce rat running. In the immediate aftermath local residents were screaming about lost trade to local businesses, difficulties of access for the disabled etc. This is bollocks. You can still drive to literally everywhere, you just can't drive down certain roads to get to where you want to go. There are still accessible parking spaces in front of all the shops. Everybody can still go where they want to go. They just might have a detour of a few hundred meters to do it. The biggest difference I can see is that there is no longer a steady stream of vans and cars driving above the speed limit on relatively narrow residential streets and bombing through recreation spaces.
Interestingly the local businesses in these areas seem to be in support of the changes as they realise that not much has really changed in terms of footfall and accessibility to their shops. It only seems to be wealthy locals who can no longer drive the 500m directly to little timmy's primary school without joining a main road who seem to be losing their shit.
I just don't get the Streestspace furore. At least in my immediate local area. We've had quite a few road changes off the back of it in Greenwich. I spent a bit of time talking to people protesting against it but after a while it became obvious, at least with the schemes very local to me, that most of the objections were based on absolutely nothing.
For example, they have blocked off about four roads leading to Royal Hill to reduce rat running. In the immediate aftermath local residents were screaming about lost trade to local businesses, difficulties of access for the disabled etc. This is bollocks. You can still drive to literally everywhere, you just can't drive down certain roads to get to where you want to go. There are still accessible parking spaces in front of all the shops. Everybody can still go where they want to go. They just might have a detour of a few hundred meters to do it. The biggest difference I can see is that there is no longer a steady stream of vans and cars driving above the speed limit on relatively narrow residential streets and bombing through recreation spaces.
Interestingly the local businesses in these areas seem to be in support of the changes as they realise that not much has really changed in terms of footfall and accessibility to their shops. It only seems to be wealthy locals who can no longer drive the 500m directly to little timmy's primary school without joining a main road who seem to be losing their shit.