Beech Street, much of which runs under the Barbican Estate, will now be restricted to zero emission vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians by Spring 2020. This new initiative is subject to final approval by Transport for London (TfL).
Emergency vehicles will be exempt from the restriction and there will be access to the car parks off Beech Street and for refuse collection and deliveries. Bus route 153, which is fully electric and runs down Beech Street, will also be unaffected by the changes.
The experiment will run for a maximum of 18 months, during which time the impact on air quality and traffic will be monitored.
Beech Street experiences high levels of air pollution, the trial is expected to improve air quality, resulting in health benefits for the many pedestrians and cyclists that use the street. The trial will be used to consider whether similar measures are suitable for other streets in the City of London.
This is not the first time that the CLC has put in measures to tackle the climate emergency. The City Corporation’s Planning and Transportation Committee has backed proposals to turn parts of the Square Mile into zero-emissions zones by 2022 and cut the speed limit to 15mph as part of its new Transport Strategy.
