Lache Action Plan
Hawthorn Road / Poplar Place Traffic Management
The proposal has been to consider options to better manage traffic, making it safer to walk or cycle, and improving the way the area looks and feels on Cliveden Road, Downsfield Road, Hawthorn Road and Poplar Road.
Where are we now?
Initial engagement events were held in 2023, and further engagement with schools, have identified concerns over congestion and pavement parking on Hawthorn Road which can discourage parents from feeling it safe to let their children walk to school. The large speed pads which result in cars/cyclists weaving on highway and the large ugly roundabout junction at the heart of Lache are other concerns that have been identified.
The Council’s Transport and Infrastructure Team have appointed transport consultants, following some initial traffic and parking surveys, to look identify options which would address these issues whilst also considering needs of local businesses and maintaining a safe road network.
What happens next?
A task and finish group was established and they met with consultants to share initial views. These included:
- suggestion of crossing on Cliveden Road near to shops
- potential to replace roundabout with a cross-junction to ‘reclaim’ some of the road for planting and improving the appearance, whilst also retaining space for loading and short-stay parking
- exploring option to create a one-way loop along Downsfield Road, Hawthorn Road and Poplar Road, with marked parking bays on Hawthorn Road, to reduce congestion and parking in front of residents’ driveways and making it feel safer to walk or cycle to local amenities.
- replacement of ‘speed pads’ with road wide/lower humps - to discourage speeding or traffic weaving whilst also making it safer for bus, cyclists and pedestrians.
February survey
In February 2025 a survey was carried out alongside a few community engagement sessions in Lache Community Centre open to all.
You can read the brief summary of the surveys completed:
Thank you to everyone who responded to the survey and came along to the drop in events on proposals for Cliveden Road, Downsfield Road, Hawthorn Road and Poplar Road.
Responses from people through the online survey found that 72% strongly agreed or agreed to the proposal to replace the existing cushions on Cliveden Road with ‘sinusoidal humps’ to discourage speeding and weaving between the humps, making it safer for buses, cyclists and pedestrians to use the road.
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