We know there is significant interest in the future of our traffic reduction trials in the parks and in whether we are going to make them permanent. The aim of the trials was to reduce the impact of cut-through traffic, create new car-free spaces and enhance the park experience for visitors. We previously stated that we would undertake a detailed assessment of both the benefits and potential issues, and report back our findings in March 2022. We are currently in the final stages of traffic analysis and deliberation, working closely with both TfL and the relevant local councils, but we have made the decision to delay any announcement until after the local elections on 5th May. We believe this is only fair as local councils will be entering the pre-election period from the end of March, meaning they will be subject to strict restrictions on their communications activity until after the elections.
Trial closures of North Carriage Drive and South Carriage Drive
North Carriage Drive is closed to traffic for up to six months of the year due to the occurrence of events that take place in Hyde Park. We propose to trial a full-time closure of this park road. South Carriage Drive is currently closed to vehicle traffic every Sunday. We propose to trial extending this closure by closing the road from Prince of Wales Gate to Hyde Park Corner / Queen Elizabeth Gates on Saturdays (in addition to the current closures on Sundays).