Kingston Council members are set to discuss the introduction of traffic management measures on Kingston's Manorgate Road at a Kingston and North Kingston Neighbourhood Committee meeting next Thursday, 15 January at 7.30pm.

The discussion will relate to a petition the council received seeking a solution to congestion, conflict, speeding and through traffic on Manorgate Road., which has been a Home Zone for over 20 years, meaning it should not have more than 50 cars going per hour going through it.

However, according to the Manorgate Road and Carlisle Close Residents Association (MACRA), which started the petition, this 50 car rule is being ignored.

Thus a main reasoning behind MACRA's starting the petition is to protect pedestrians who use Manorgate Road as a key route to the station, cyclists using the interchange between the Go cycle infrastructure on Kingston Hill and the station, and kids walking to nearby primary schools.

The association and residents of the road also like to host community events onsite and the amount of traffic on the road is prohibiting this.

Kingston Council received the petition, which had 60 signatures, on 11 July 2024.

The petition asks the committee to resolve:

1. The introduction of traffic management measures on Manorgate Road at the existing width restriction and Wolverton Avenue using an experimental traffic management order (ETMO) under sections 9 and 10 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984(a), with Manorgate Road to be made one-way Northbound (towards Kingston Hill/roundabout) and Wolverton Avenue to be made one-way between Kingston Hill and Coombe Road, be approved;

2. A report be brought back to this Committee after 6 months from the implementation of the scheme outlining the outcome of the scheme and the impact on the surrounding roads;

3. Approval be granted to proceed with the implementation of a green man phase at the junction of Galworthy Road/Coombe Lane West/Gloucester Road/Coombe Road once funding is secured. 

According to MACRA, "The proposed measures will enhance the movements of all road users, encourage more walking and cycling and improve road safety". 

In response to the petition, Kingston Council previously approved the implementation of an experimental traffic management order.

According to the council, "This order would allow a trial of the proposed options, with a follow-up report to be presented to this Committee six months after implementation.

A council report says: "This report also responds to a repeated request for pedestrian facilities at the junction of Galsworthy Road/ Coombe Lane West/Gloucester Road/Coombe Road.

"The junction straddles two neighbourhoods. The New and Old Malden Neighbourhood will consider a similar recommendation in relation to this junction on 22 January 2026. The approval of both neighbourhoods is required."

The report added: "For several years, residents in Manorgate Road have expressed significant concern about the volume and type of traffic using this road.

"It is the residents' perception that current traffic patterns are incompatible with the characteristics of a "home zone", which they understand to mean a residential area designed for shared use by pedestrians, cyclists and motorists featuring traffic calming measures to prioritise safety and community above through traffic.

"Residents cite conflict between road users and an unacceptable level of risk to all road users and pedestrians.

"To address this, the Manorgate Road residents ask the Council to implement new measures to reduce through traffic and better reflect the existing "home zone" designation. A formal petition, with 60 signatories, has been submitted to Kingston Council.

"This petition asks the Council to resolve the joint issues of through traffic and excessive vehicle speeds in Manorgate Road.

"Residents have asked the Council to implement traffic calming measures which will improve safety, reduce noise pollution, and contribute to a better quality of life for residents in the Manorgate Road area."

 The council claims it has had "aspirations to improve pedestrian facilities at the Galsworthy Road/Coombe Lane West/Gloucester Road/Coombe Road junction for some years".

It added: "Modelling has been undertaken for the Galsworthy Road area using Transport for London's "ONE model" to project conditions for the year 2026.

"The study evaluates how different road management strategies, such as the closure of Manorgate Road and the implementation of all-round pedestrian phases, can influence vehicle routing and congestion during morning peak hours.

"Results indicate that shutting specific routes forces traffic to re-route towards major thoroughfares like Kingston Hill and Coombe Road, often leading to increased queue lengths on surrounding streets.

"However, the authors caution that these findings are indicative rather than absolute, as the model's accuracy has not been specifically verified for the immediate vicinity of the local junctions.

"Ultimately, the data serves as a preliminary guide for the council to understand potential shifts in traffic flow and network pressure."

Council officers in discussion with local Ward members and the Residents' Association have discussed solutions which may address the current concerns and improve safety in Manorgate Road.

The proposal will need to address the following issues:

• Through traffic volume
• Excessive traffic speed 
• Parking congestion 
• Pedestrian and cyclist safety
• Noise and air pollution

The committee said: "A thorough review of potential solutions to the traffic problems on Manorgate Road was undertaken and the following options have been discussed."

The committee is offering two proposal options.

Option A proposes the introduction of a one-way system

The committee is proposing a one-way system (Credit: Kingston Council)

The effects of specific closures, based on TfL's ONE model, are detailed below:

Manorgate Road Closure (Northbound) 

• Closing Manorgate Road Northbound (NB) (either alone or in conjunction with Wolverton Road Southbound(SB)) forces a substantial volume of traffic to find alternative routes through the local network.
• Traffic Flow & Route Choice: Significant flow reductions (often exceeding 400 vehicles per hour) are observed on Gloucester Road NB and Coombe Road WB leading into Manorgate NB. Drivers reroute primarily via Kingston Hill, Coombe Road EB, Homersham Road, and Cambridge Road.
• Queueing Impacts: This closure causes a new, full-length queue to form on Galsworthy Road NB. Increased queuing is also noted on Coombe Lane West WB, Manorgate Road SB, and Norbiton Avenue.

Manorgate Road Closure (Southbound) 

• The impact of closing Manorgate Road SB is generally similar whether or not Wolverton Road NB is also closed, primarily because traffic flow on Wolverton Road is naturally low.
• Traffic Flow & Route Choice: Flow on Manorgate Road SB reduces by approximately 200–300 vehicles per hour. Reductions are also seen on Gloucester Road NB and Coombe Road EB. Vehicles typically reroute via Kingston Hill, Coombe Road, and Galsworthy Road.
• Queueing Impacts: Queues in these scenarios remain largely similar to existing models. However, there is a minor increase in queuing at Coombe Lane West WB and a reduction in the queue along Kingston Hill NB.

Option B proposes Manorgate Road One-Way (Towards Kingston Hill) with Wolverton Avenue One-Way.

Recommendation

Based on the indicative traffic assessment, implementing a one-way system on Manorgate Road toward Kingston Hill (Northbound) appears to have a less significant negative impact on the wider network compared to other closure directions.

Specific Proposal

Manorgate Road to be made one-way Northbound (towards Kingston Hill/roundabout).

Wolverton Avenue to be made one-way between Kingston Hill and Coombe Road.

Justification

• The modelling for Manorgate Road Southbound closures showed reductions in flow on Manorgate Road (200-300 vph) with queueing impacts being largely similar to existing models or resulting in a minor reduction on Kingston Hill NB. While the NB closure was detailed separately, a one-way system (implying closure of the SB direction) aligns with the objective of reducing through-traffic while potentially managing displacement more effectively than a full closure, according to the available data. This option should be trialled to balance resident concerns with network stability.
• Experimental TMO: This combined measure is recommended for trial under the Experimental Traffic Management Order to rigorously test its impact and gather real-world data before seeking a permanent solution. All Round Pedestrian (ARP) Scenarios at the junction of Galsworth Road/Coombe Lane West/Gloucester Road/Coombe Road 11. A dedicated pedestrian phase (green man aspect) is proposed to be incorporated into the existing signal cycle at the Galsworthy Road/Coombe Lane West/Gloucester Road/Coombe Road junction. This pedestrian facility will be activated when all vehicular arms are at red.
• Assessments of "All Round Pedestrian" phases at junctions show more moderate impacts compared to full road closures. 
• Traffic Flow: A reduction in flow of 200–300 vehicles per hour is seen on Gloucester Road NB. This traffic is redistributed to Homersham Road, Dickerange Road, Traps Lane, and the A308 Kingston Hill.
• Queueing: Queueing remains very similar to the "future base" models, though there is a slight reduction in the queue length on Coombe Lane West Westbound .

The council began an experimental TMO of a one-way system on North Kingston's Upper King's Road and New Road in March last year.

Everyone is invited to attend the meeting on Thursday.

You can find out more information about the meeting's agenda here.