The Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) scheme in the suburb has been controversial in the past, with the use of modal filters, which keep through traffic from certain streets, fiercely splitting opinion.
The council has said it wants to reduce traffic in residential neighbourhoods through the project and make it safer for people to walk and cycle in the area.
But the local authority has admitted that the scheme has been “controversial” and acknowledged there are “strong feelings both in favour and against”.
Addressing the debate, it said in a report: “For residents within the scheme area, the impact of longer routes and journey times is offset by the improved environment, reduced risk of road harm, and conditions more conducive to active modes of travel”.
Birmingham City Council House. Photo: Alexander Brock
The scheme was launched back in 2020 as part of the city council’s ‘Places for People’ strategy which aims to make it nicer to be outside and safer for children to play in residential neighbourhoods.
So far, it’s seen modal filters introduced to the west of Kings Heath High Street as well as the pedestrianisation of a section of York Road.
But amid tension over the changes, one problem the council has encountered is the theft of bollards and modal filters being “vandalised”, which has led to ongoing costs for replacement and repair.
In the recently-published report, it says the planned phase two of the scheme would address this issue by reducing the use of removable bollards in the area going forwards.
It would also deliver the “planned full expansion” to the east of Kings Heath High Street and into south Moseley while also mitigating traffic displacement caused by “previous partial implementation of the scheme”.
According to the report, the second phase of the scheme would be split into four ‘packages’:
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Package one: revision and consolidation of the temporary measures located mostly to the west of the High Street.
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Package two: new measures to the east of the High Street including new modal filters, one-way streets, and traffic calming.
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Package three: 20mph speed limit across the project area, including all ‘boundary’ roads, and traffic calming measures along Coldbath Road.
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Package four: introduction of a bus gate on Addison Road and reinstatement of the right turn from Vicarage Road onto A435 Alcester Road.
The council has said however that the ‘design principles’ have been revised to address road safety concerns and take feedback into account.
This means it would minimise the number of modal filters, make greater use of one-way streets and introduce traffic calming measures to reduce speeding on wider roads.
Cabinet members have been recommended to approve the full business case for packages one and two at a meeting next Tuesday, July 22.