London shopping street pavements to be widened to help social distancing

Coronavirus: Hammersmith & Fulham Council reduces two-lane roads to single lanes on temporary basis

A west London council has introduced measures to create wider pavements on two busy streets, enabling shoppers to comply with social distancing rules.

Pavements in King Street and Uxbridge Road are to be temporarily widened to help with social distancing. The move follows feedback from residents.

The widening measures will be fully operational by Friday and will take roads down from two-lane to one-lane for vehicles.

The width of the roads will be temporarily narrowed using a mixture of barriers, weighted cones and water-filled bollards. Signage will be put in place to inform drivers and pedestrians of the changes.

The extra width of the temporary pavements will allow pedestrians to queue safely for essential supplies from food stores and pharmacies, and to pass each other while social distancing.

Installation of barriers and weighted cones will began on 23 April from Hammersmith Broadway along King Street to the west, and in Uxbridge Road between Bloemfontein Road and Shepherds Bush Green.

Civil enforcement officers will be allocated to both locations and will monitor use to ensure people are complying with social distancing requirements.

“We are determined to do everything we can to keep residents safe during this crisis,” said Cllr Wesley Harcourt, H&F Cabinet Member for Environment. “People have told us they want to be able to queue safely when doing essential shopping. These temporary measures will do just that and put their health first.”

During the coronavirus pandemic the council has been posting public health messages such as a lamp column banners and posters campaign across the borough promoting social distancing and message “Stay home, Save lives”.

The council and the Metropolitan Police recently restricted the use of the Thames Path for cyclists or joggers between 10am and 6pm – extending from Chiswick Mall in the north of the borough to Putney Bridge in the south – in order to improve social distancing. A queuing system, backed by marshals, is also enforcing social distancing on Hammersmith Bridge.