§ Mr. Iremongerasked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement about all red periods and pedestrian Cross Now signals at road junctions and crossroads controlled by traffic signals in London, with special reference to the junction of King's Road and Sydney Street, Chelsea.
§ Mr. Tom FraserAll red periods in traffic control signals are usually provided when it is frequently necessary to hold up entry of more vehicles into a junction for a few seconds so that vehicles already there can first get clear. Where this need 221W is not present they are not a satisfactory way of providing for pedestrians to cross the road.
Pedestrian "Cross Now" signals are appropriate where, through one-way working or banned turns, pedestrians can cross one area of a junction while vehicles are using the others. Otherwise they are satisfactory only where both vehicle and pedestrian traffic is heavy.
Technical details of arrangements for "Cross Now" phases in the signals at the junction of King's Road and Sydney Street have been agreed. This forms part of a scheme to widen King's Road between Sydney Street and Oakley Street, to install traffic signals at the latter junction linked with those at the former, and to ban the left turn from Sydney Street into King's Road.