After the Kingston and North Kingston Committee decided to limit the Crescent Road "exit only" restriction be made permanent between 7.30am and 9.30am on weekdays and the one-way schemes on King's Road and New Road to be made permanent back in January, a Scrutiny Panel meeting last Thursday (5 March) now says that this will take a couple months to be put in place.

The changes also include an expansion of exemption area to include Cumberland House, Kingsnympton Estate, Havering Close and upper Crescent Road be approved.

Furthermore, the committee agreed that the situation be monitored and a report brought back one year after the permanent order is implemented to report on the impact of these changes.

These restrictions are part of changes made to an Experimental Traffic Management Order (ETMO), introduced in March 2025, which made Crescent Road "exit only" for non-residents travelling towards Richmond Park, while retaining one-way systems on King's Road and New Road.

The measures were brought forward as part of the council's Active Travel and Healthy Streets agenda, aimed at reducing through-traffic and encouraging walking and cycling.

However, out of 636 responses from local residents to the Crescent Road restrictions, only 199 supported them whereas 406 did not.

The number of objections against the restrictions was enough for the Committe's decision to be called in for review by the Scrutiny Panel.

At Thursday's Scrutiny Panel meeting, Cllr Jamal Chohan said: "I want Crescent Road to reopen fully. That's what residents are asking for and I agree with them."

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He explained that while he supports walking, cycling, and safer streets, "the council has handled this badly".

He added: "Crescent Road feel a decision has been done them not with them."

Moreover, a petition against the restrictions by the Kingston Independent Residents group received 505 signatures.

All these objections to the restrictions have led to the changes.

The Scrutiny Panel with the Neighbourhood committee's decision, but recomended the monitoring and report be brought back six months after the permanent order is implemented.