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Green light for £30m scheme to transform museumland
Benedict Moore-Bridger, Evening Standard26 Sep 2008
The first stage of an ambitious £30 million plan to transform London's museum district into a "shared" space for cars and pedestrians has been given the go-ahead.
Plans to redevelop Exhibition Road in Kensington were boosted after the local council gave the green light to unwinding a one-way system around South Kensington Tube.
It is the first part of a huge project which will see safety barriers, street signs and traffic lights removed to force traffic to share space with pedestrians and create a world-class streetscape.
The pedestrian tunnel from South Kensington Tube station to the museums will be renovated, a 20mph speed limit is also likely to be introduced and even the kerb will go as part of the scheme to create Britain's first "shared space".
Councillors hope the area, which attracts millions of visitors a year, will improve access to the Natural History, Science and Victoria and Albert museums and Royal Albert Hall.
At a meeting of Kensington and Chelsea council's cabinet yesterday, councillors agreed the figure-of-eight one-way system around South Kensington Tube should be scrapped.
They also agreed building contractors should be invited to put forward costing proposals for the rest of the project, including a huge crisscross paving scheme along Exhibition Road designed by Dixon Jones architects.
The Conservative borough's deputy leader Daniel Moylan said the decision was very important.
He said: "It is a very, very significant step in us pushing this forward. The one-way system was put in in the Sixties and has blighted the area. It could be a great village centre, instead it is an urban motorway.
"The cabinet also agreed to go to tender on the Dixon Jones paving works. It does not commit us to accept the tender but it does help us pricing up."
The council, which is pressing ahead with the scheme with partner Westminster council - which looks after a part of the road - and Transport for London, has made £7 million available so work can begin in the new year.
It is now hoping Boris Johnson can help secure the remaining millions needed to complete the project.
Mr Moylan said: "We are making £7million available as a contribution to the project. To deliver the scheme we are looking for the thick end of £20 million as an external funding package.
"The visitor numbers are greater than that of Venice. There are many, many arguments in favour of this and there are various pots in which to look for funding. We are having discussions with the Mayor of London to see if he has any ideas.
"He is a good man to talk to, given the importance of the site and the opportunities to transform the whole area into a tremendous cultural quarter."
The idea was first devised under former mayor Ken Livingstone's 100 Spaces for London project, which has already seen the successful transformation of Trafalgar Square.
It follows successful European experiments to slow traffic. Planners found that creating the feeling that all street users are "equal" forces drivers to slow down.
Shadow culture secretary Ed Vaizey, who has campaigned for the Exhibition Road plans, said: "It is fantastic that Kensington and Chelsea are going ahead. I know the Mayor supports the scheme and I am sure that Wesminster Council will also get on board."
Reader views (1)
As someone who works in this area and commutes in by bike, I have to say I won't miss the one way street.
If they sort out the pedestrian crossing at Cromwell road and Exhibition Road that would also be fantastic news.
I'm not so sure about diagonal paving slabs though. In wet weather that sounds like a recipe for disaster for cyclists and other 2 wheeled road users. Hopefully they'll think that one through carefully.
- Alex Ball, London, UK, 26/09/2008 16:56
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