The new no-entry restriction into Crescent Road, from the width-restriction onwards, has caused much annoyance as drivers have been receiving fines through the post. The signage is unusual, and not particularly easy to read. It is located shortly after you enter Crescent Road from Kingston Hill, just past the shops. Only residents of Crescent Road and Liverpool Road are allowed to access, so long as they have a pass.
The new restriction was agreed at a Council Neighbourhood meeting in December. Both Coombe Hill councillors voted against it. On the 12th December the Coombe Hill councillors put up a post on their Facebook page, which read:
'Kingston Council has decided to impose further restrictions at the existing width restriction at Crescent Road, making it 'one-way exit' only toward Kingston Hill. There will be no access through the width restrictions for vehicles coming from Kingston Hill, with it being enforced by CCTV and penalty fines. No traffic modelling or prediction reports have taken place, so there is no idea of what knock-on traffic problems this might cause. Although local residents might well have a good idea! No thought was given as to the potential harmful impact on the shops at the top of Crescent Road, who will have less passing traffic in future. No consultation will take place, although it will be reviewed after 6 to 8 months, from the date of implementation. This follows previous failed nearby traffic schemes, that went ahead without traffic modelling or consultation taking place. The date for the implementation of the road closure has yet to be revealed.'
The link to the minutes of the decision are here: Agenda item - Kings Road/ New Road Experimental Traffic Management Order (ETMO) - Modern Council
It is an Experimental Traffic Management Order (ETMO), so the consultation takes place once the changes have taken place.
REGISTERING YOUR SUPPORT OR OBJECTION FORMALLY
The Experimental Traffic Management Order (ETMO) engagement and consultation process starts on 24 March 2025. From this date if you wish to formally register your support or objection to the scheme, you can do this by emailing: [email protected], or by writing to RBK at Traffic Order Section, Guildhall two, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 1EU and using the reference MO.EXPKingP341. All formal support and objections must be received within 6 months of the implementation date, by 24th September 2025. Any formal objection or comment you make in this way, must be considered by the Neighbourhood Committee in making any decision about the future of the scheme.
PETITION STARTED
A petition has been started, which you might wish to support: Petition · Reopen Two-Way Traffic on Crescent Road KT2 - Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom · Change.org. The petition has been started by one of the business owners who is suffering a loss of trade, which was predicted at the decision-making council meeting.
TEMPORARY SUSPENSION AND REFUND OF PENALTY CHARGE NOTICES
Yesterday, Kingston Council issued an update on the penalty charge notices. It reads:
‘Kingston Council is aware that some Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) were incorrectly issued on Crescent Road between 31 July & 8 August, 2025. These PCNs are already being cancelled and any payments made will be refunded automatically. If you receive, or have received, a PCN by post for the period between 31 July & 8 August in relation to this traffic restriction, this can be ignored.
The Crescent Road traffic restriction, which was installed in March this year as an experimental traffic scheme, will be enforced by camera. Due to an administrative error, the PCNs were issued in place of warning notices for some motorists during this short period.
Kingston Council apologises for this error, and has paused the issuing of both Penalty Charges and warning notices until the matter is fully resolved. However, it should be noted that the restriction remains in place. Kingston Council advise that like all road signs, it should be complied with. When enforcement restarts, there will be a period of warning notices only before starting full enforcement.
We have paused the issuing of both PCNs and warning notices until the matter is fully resolved. However, please note the restriction remains in place and like all road signs, should be complied with. When enforcement restarts, there will be a period of warning notices only before starting full enforcement.’
