Southwark council’s controversial Streets for People scheme is dividing the quiet town of Dulwich Village.

It is a quiet Tuesday afternoon. Children are running around Calton Avenue playing hide and seek. Posted on the colourful benches they are hiding behind are the initial ideas for phase 2 of the councils highly debated streets for people initiative. Despite the noise outside the five shops lining the street are nearly empty.

“It affects business” hairdresser Sophie from HG Dulwich Village told Southlondonlines.

“It definitely affects business. Traffic has been reduced meaning less people see our business, and for current clients there is now nowhere to park”, her college Maria agreed.

This is a common concern for the small business owners along the street who fear the proposed pedestrianisation will significantly affect their profits.

Southwark council introduced phase one of their initiative in 2020, placing a permanent traffic filter at the junction between Calton avenue, Court Lane, and Dulwich Village. Now in phase three the junction has been permanently shut for everyone except pedestrians and cyclists.

With the Streets for People initiative the council aims to provide “cleaner air, safer and quieter streets with less traffic and fewer accidents, healthy travel options like walking, cycling or wheeling, greener, and more pleasant spaces for our communities to connect and socialise and a better place for all who live, work, study and visit.”

Some residents support the scheme, believing it is a positive change as “it helps the children. Especially as the school is opposite the junction”, according to N, a shop keeping at Dulwich heritage cheese.

However, Maria disagrees, citing that cars still drive down the street, as well as cyclists who are not paying attention, stating that the councils’ claims are misleading making the area “dangerous for kids” as they no longer pay attention to their surroundings, believing it to be safe.

Hazel Broadfoot, runner of Dulwich Village Books, shared concerns that the road closures would negatively affect disabled and elderly residents as reduced vehicle access means they will be unable to visit the square due to reduced mobility.

Dulwich Village consists of 28 per cent people aged 55 or above, a majority for London towns, making their concerns particularly valid for this issue.

Local group, One Dulwich, is campaigning heavily against the road closures on behalf of vehicle reliant residents.

The group has emailed traffic council multiple times and feel their concerns have not been listened to or addressed. In an email from August 24 this year the council told One Dulwich

“The big issue with blue-badge through-access is that it would dramatically increase the number of motor vehicle movements through the space…This would severely compromise the safety of users of the space, and especially for disabled, older or younger users (e.g. school children)” as the reason they would not be allowing blue badge holders through the junction.

The group has also raised concerns as signs allowing emergency vehicles through the junction have been removed. However the council has stated emergency vehicles will be allowed through.

One Dulwich believes “the wider Dulwich area will continue to suffer, not benefit, from it (the road closure).”

Aside from increased pedestrian enjoyment of the area and the safety of school children another major purpose behind the councils closure of the junction is it desire to provide cleaner air for its residents.

However an unpublished air quality table from June of this year, when data was last taken, has shown the nitrogen dioxide levels a raising to almost what they were pre COVID. This suggests that one of the core aims is not being achieved.

The failure to improve air quality as well as the hardships vehicle reliance residents and small business owners are now facing is raising question of whether the streets of people scheme is really worthwhile to Dulwich residents.

Southwark council is taking feedback on the phase 3 initiatives till January 17. Giving hope to disabled residents that the council will finally listen to their pleas and allow blue badge holders to enter the square.

It is a divisive issue but one the council seems determined to go ahead with, believing the benefits to residents quality of life outweighs the complaints.