Now that construction of cycle lanes is finally under way, Enfield Council will shortly be making announcements about the other important aspect of its Cycle Enfield/Mini Holland project - measures to set up a network of Quieter Neighbourhoods throughout the borough.
Two of the planned Quieter Neighbourhoods in Palmers Green. Click on the map to enlargeWork on developing Quieter Neighbourhoods - involving measures to reduce the amount of traffic in residential side streets, and in particular to eliminate "rat running" and high speeds - began in late 2014, but was put on hold the following year because of uncertainties as to whether legal challenges to cycle lanes would jeopardise the provision of TfL funds for Cycle Enfield.
The approach to creating Quieter Neighbourhoods has changed in some respects. There will be more - 42 in total, covering the entire borough; the original bottom-up approach, using ideas generated by residents at workshop events, has had to be abandoned because it would take too long; creation of Quieter Neighbourhoods will be aligned with progress on cycle lanes along main roads.
This does not mean that the work done in workshops in 2014/15 was in vain. It will be fed into the design work as it resumes.
Work on neighbourhoods close to the A105 - the first in line will probably be Fox Lane - will start this month or next with a "perception survey" in the form of a leaflet sent to residents asking them about what they see as the relevant issues.
Initial plans will be drawn up and feedback invited in April and it is hoped to start construction work this summer - presumably after going through a formal statutory consultation phase.
