2-1-2000

MY REASONS FOR OPPOSING HOMLEWOOD GARDENS BECOMING A HOME ZONE:

I do not think that this area is suitable as a Home Zone for the following reasons.

• We have here a Road and Gardens of original, unspolit Victorian houses, most of which are well maintained and cared for. In the centre we are lucky to have a landscaped park/open space with play equipment for children and a separate area for people to exercise their dogs.

• Most of the residents have cars and, at present, those of us in Holmewood Gardens are able to park outside or near to our homes.

• Although, occasionally, we have irresponsible drivers speeding in the Road/Gardens it is not, as some people seem to imagine, an accident black spot or used as a racetrack. I do however believe that some method of speed restriction would be beneficial.

• Home Zones, I believe, are more suited to areas where roads suffer constant speeding or there is a danger to children because they have nowhere else to play but on the street and, also, areas where their appearance would be improved by a Home Zone scheme.

• I cannot possibly imagine how a Home Zone would improve Holmewood Gardens and Road as, from what I have seen (Duncan's video) and read about Home Zones, it would involve building road humps, bollards, road pinching, chicanes, lines painted, signs erected and road closures. A good example of this is the road narrowing at the junction of Holmewood Road and Brixton Hill. It has made it difficult to turn into or out of Holmewood Road and looks a complete mess and, I believe, has made it a more dangerous junction for motorists and pedestrians.

• A Home Zone here would possibly include more pedestrian areas with seats and play equipment but, I would remind parents, that we have the fenced in park/open space with a play area for children in the centre of the Gardens and this must surely be the safest place for children to play.

• It has recently been proven that pedestrianising some areas tends to create a place where undesirables congregate.

• At the last meeting it was mentioned that the project would have to be well maintained by the Council -as we all know, it is extremely difficult to get the Council to even sweep our streets regularly.

• It was also mentioned at the last meeting that a Home Zone would increase the value of our properties -I am sure the opposite would be true; a Home Zone would completely change Holmewood Gardens and Road, detracting from the original Victorian appearance.

• I have no doubt that a Home Zone would also include controlled parking; which would involve parking permits for residents and we all know that this is just another form of tax.

• Controlled parking would make it difficult for family and friends to visit.

• Parking permits do not guarantee residents a place to park as Councils sell more permits than there are places to park.

In conclusion I would say that I am all for improving our environment and making the area in which we live cleaner and safer but I do not believe that a Home Zone is the right course for us, as residents of Holmewood Gardens and Road, to follow.

TONY LITTLE

69 Holmewood Gardens