A range of traffic-management measures are being rolled out across Hounslow to help keep pedestrians and cyclists healthy and safe during the coronavirus pandemic.

The projects, which will create more space for people to follow social distancing guidelines, include closing some roads, widening pavements, improving cycling routes and introducing more ‘school streets’.

The Council is also launching a public consultation to get ideas from residents on ways they think traffic can be managed better and streets made more pedestrian and cycle friendly. All works will be carried out in line with social distancing measures.

Cllr Hanif Khan, Cabinet Member for Transport and Corporate Property, said: “The Council has a duty to ensure that people can get around the borough safely while following the Government’s strict social distancing guidelines to help reduce the spread of coronavirus.

“Temporarily suspending parking to provide more space for pedestrians at town centre sites, bringing forward sustainable transport schemes we have already approved, trialling projects at other areas where concerns about safety and through traffic have been raised previously, are all necessary to help keep people healthy and safe. There could well be varying forms of social distancing for many months to come, so it’s important we take action to best manage it. In some cases these trial changes may also bring wider benefits, such as improved air quality, and some we may want to keep in place for the longer term.

“Many of these projects were already in train, but we know there will be lots of creative ideas out there on other things we could do. We are really excited to start a borough-wide consultation with our diverse communities to encourage those ideas and we look forward to hearing from as many people as possible.”