Southwark Council has widened some pavements in the borough after consulting residents.

The council launched a transport consultation in response to the Covid-19 crisis on how to make it easier for people to get around and social distance safely.

Cheltenham Road in Peckham Rye, Denmark Hill, Artichoke Place in Camberwell, and Sumner Street near Borough Market, were the first to be widened.

“We’re widening Cheltenham Road permanently to help people with social distancing.

“We’re also working on Denmark Hill, Artichoke Place, Sumner Street – and we’ll be adding more soon, thanks to over 1,500 suggestions from you,” a council spokesperson said. 

The consultation remains open so residents can still suggest areas in their neighbourhood that need measures to make it easier for people to walk, cycle, and use public transport safely, while “limiting the impact of traffic pollution”.  

“Covid-19 and the lockdown has changed how people live, work and travel.  

“Southwark Council’s transport response to Covid-19 is guided by our duty of care responsibilities to protect people to ensure our residents, workers, and visitors can safely use our streets and spaces. 

“Covid-19 will require major changes to how people get around, and these are needed not just now, but in the medium to long term as people get back to work and school.  

“This comes on top of existing pressures to make our streets safer and healthier. 

“Southwark’s innovative movement plan focuses on people, place and experience to encourage a shift from driving to walking, cycling and using public transport, in order to create safer, cleaner, more attractive and healthy streets,” according to the council. 

The council’s transport response sets out a list of measures, including widening pavements on streets, speeding up its highways work programme to encourage walking, cycling, and public transport, while discouraging driving, and working with TfL and other councils to identify ideas to help people get around safely.