BCA looking for support for new Mill Hill Road pedestrian crossing
Another opportunity to enable a pedestrian-first Barnes - story 136
The Barnes Community Association (BCA) is calling on residents to back plans for a new pedestrian crossing on Mill Hill Road.
The proposal follows footfall counts and speed checks carried out by the Travel Barnes Group, one of the working groups born from the association’s Barnes Ponder initiative.
Their findings showed the informal crossing near Cedar Road is dangerous, with poor sight lines and no formal priority for walkers.
A petition has already gathered more than 2,400 signatures. Organisers say they need more if they are to persuade Richmond council to act.
The crossing connects Barnes Green to the footpath across Barnes Common towards the railway station. It is, in other words, a key walking route.
The Group says,
The informal but well-used crossing close to Cedar Road is dangerous with poor sight lines.
The Council installed a dropped kerb here, recognising this is a pedestrians route to and from the station, but hasn’t yet made it safe for people to cross.
Speed checks carried out with the South West London Safer Transport Police Team recorded vehicles travelling between 26 and 44 miles per hour.
The BCA are asking Richmond council to put people first and to install a raised zebra crossing to give walkers priority over traffic and encourage drivers to respect the speed limit.
(Full disclosure: I joined the BCA Travel Barnes Group earlier this summer and am a member of BCA.)
Important instructions for completing petition
The petition requires your first and last name, an email address, and—critically—your postcode.
Campaigners stress that SW13 or SW14 postcodes will carry the most weight in showing local demand.
After signing, you will receive a confirmation email. You must click the link for your signature to count.
Click as requested in order to ensure your name is added to the petition.
Notes & thoughts
This crossing would be another important step in creating a pedestrian-first Barnes.
Until now the focus has been on creating the core route from Thames to Thames.
A safe Mill Hill Road crossing would extend that network, providing a vital spur to Barnes station.
This is less about infrastructure than about priorities. The choice facing Richmond council is simple: whether to keep Mill Hill Road tilted toward traffic, or finally give pedestrians the right of way.