<\/video><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nLast week we saw the through-traffic here for ourselves, and the lack of places to sit and relax. We saw two people who had bought cheesecake having to lean against a car, which is, we think you\u2019ll agree, not ideal. Plus we were shown a number of empty units. Residents told us that there were two lovely coffee shops here that closed down last summer- Le Pain Quotidien, and Abasto, and that both brought a real feeling of community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nA local residents association, Hyper, drew up plans for a piazza in 2020 that would go right across Connaught Street here, and locals have said they think one-way traffic that could loop down Kendal street here would really help – and that they need more space on the pavement for pedestrians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/video><\/figure>\n\n\n\nA local architect has come up with this imaginative plan, which would treat people to a sumptuous visual feast and could also span across Connaught Street (allowing traffic to still loop onto Kendal street).<\/p>\n\n\n\nSo what is the council proposing? Sadly, nothing like this. They plan to keep traffic two-ways on both Connaught Street and Kendal Street to the right here:<\/p>\n\n\n\nThey do, however, want to remove these three car parking bays:<\/p>\n\n\n\nAround this area they\u2019re proposing some planting, seating, and a water fountain is in the mix, amongst other things:<\/p>\n\n\n\nBut in terms of the flow of motor traffic, there\u2019s very little – just some proposed raised tables to slow it down. We wanted to know what locals thought of the plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Olivier Bouan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Olivier Bouan lives a stone\u2019s throw from Connaught Street. He told us that he\u2019s \u201cPleased that Councillors agree that the area needs attention\u201d. But he\u2019s feeling \u201cunderwhelmed and disappointed with this first effort\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n
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He feels that these proposals don\u2019t solve the core problem of the high street- the traffic. \u201cThe traffic IS the problem here\u201d, Olivier tells us. \u201cIt\u2019s an unpleasant, loud, and unsafe place to be – because of the motor traffic- which is mainly through- traffic\u201d. He says that because drivers are often just using this as a through-route, they want to get through as fast as possible. \u201cWe\u2019ve got lots of antisocial driving, speeding, and not giving way to pedestrians. And as a result, you don\u2019t want to spend any meaningful time outside on this street\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA piece this week by the Editor-in-chief<\/a> of the Evening Standard says \u201cSadly, Connaught Village was actually far more alive 25 years ago; these days it is in decline, its only relevance being as a rat-run for local traffic\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOlivier said that as this is a shopping hub, pedestrians would want to zig zag across the road and back, but that here this is dangerous and difficult. \u201cIt\u2019s just really hard to get across the street at all\u201d, he said. \u201cIn a five-minute period last week, I saw two incidents\u201d he continues. \u201cA woman was hit on a zebra crossing- she was okay but it was still hairy, and a cycling delivery rider was hooted loudly by a driver behind them for slowing them down- ironically coming up to this same zebra crossing. Who\u2019d want to come and hang out and shop here after seeing things like that?\u201d He has taken photos and videos from his flat where the noise keeps him up at night, and then \u201cstarts up again at 5 AM\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n
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Olivier loves the Piazza idea, and likes Wyndham Place in nearby Marylebone. He also likes the creativeness of the architect\u2019s design, and loves the colourful areas for people in Barcelona. He says, \u201cthere\u2019s a whimsical nature about the shops here – it\u2019s a colourful street and we should have a colourful public space\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nHe also thinks St John\u2019s High Street is a good template. It has just one way traffic now, wide pavements and plenty of space for pedestrians, and areas for eating outside and sitting down too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n