HOME ZONE

The aim of Home Zone is to remove traffic from the streets where people live. Years ago, when there were fewer cars were on the roads, kids could play in the street and when old enough, were taught about road safety. Many gained what was then called a 'Cycling Proficiency Badge' which demonstrated a working knowledge of road safety through bike riding. In those days all road users were expexted to follow certain set rules, cunningly compiled in a small booklet entitled 'The Highway Code'. Over the years things have changed however, and we now have more cars on the road.

Whilst this publication is still widely available, the only road users who it now applies to are the motorists. Advocates of these schemes claim the streets are dangerous for kids to play in and cars should, ideally, be banned. These are the same streets that are classed as 'Public Highways' which are designed for traffic and motorists pay to use. The main complaint is that drivers use these streets as 'rat-runs' which, in a way ALL roads are used as. Most drivers use the quickest or shortest route to get from A to B.

Work on the first stage of a £1m scheme to create a new look for streets in Normanton is set to begin. Derby City Council is to give the go-ahead for a specialist design company to draw up detailed plans for a Home Zone scheme in Havelock Road and Cameron Road. The Home Zone project is designed to improve the street environment for residents, pedestrians and cyclists, while maintaining access for motorists. The council was granted £1m from the Government to create a Home Zone area.

The city council's cabinet is expected to agree to appoint a Manchester-based design consultancy, Urban Solutions, at a cost of £63,960 to complete a detailed design and implement the scheme in Havelock Road and Cameron Road. This will form phase one, phase two will involve changes to Sutherland Road and Randolph Road and phase three will include Sackville Street, Brunswick Street, Duncan Road, and Lawrence Street. Phase two was also going to include Chatham Street but it was revealed that residents did not want to take part in the initiative.

Of the residents questioned by Derby City Council, 87% said they did not want to be included in the Home Zone scheme. Mark Murphy, of Urban Solutions, said, "The idea is to create streets where there's no differentiation between where vehicles and people go, so there's no road and no pavement. The layout restricts the speed of vehicles and there are different colours on the road. Another thing that will automatically reduce the speed of drivers is that when you turn into the street, you won't be able to see the end of it."

One Havelock Road resident, who did not wish to be named, said, "The area does need some development, as it's a bit run down. If they stick to what they said they were going to do, then it should be very nice." If the council agrees to appoint Urban Designs, it is hoped that the company will be able to create a 30-yard mock-up of how the streets will look.

Detailed plans will then be drawn up and the scheme will be put out to tender for contractors to carry out the work. There are currently nine Home Zones in Britain. The idea is to improve the environment for residents and make the street a community space, rather than just a place for cars to drive through.

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