A number of roads in Lee Green will be blocked off to through traffic in a trial next year, dividing opinion among residents.

As part of the Lewisham and Lee Green Healthy Neighbourhood plan, the council will be trialling 17 barriers in the area which would cut off through traffic to residential roads.

Barriers will be placed at the end of Manor Lane near Lochaber Road, Manor Lane Terrace where it meets Abernethy Road, Eastdown Park where it meets Lee High Road, Dermody Road by the junction of Wisteria and Pascoe Road, Courthill Road by the junction with Morley Road, Ennersdale Road near the junction with Pascoe Road, and Leahurst Road past the junction with Ennersdale Road.

Taunton Road, Effingham Road, Handen Road, Micheldever Road, and Southbrook Road would all be blocked off where they meet Manor Lane, Leegate as it meets Burnt Ash Road, Cambridge Drive near the junction with Eltham Road, Upwood Road between Cambridge Drive and Horn Park Lane, Woodyates Road by the junction with West Horne Avenue, and Holme Lacey Road and Dallinger Road would both have barriers near Burnt Ash Hill.

Councillor James Rathbone, who represents the ward, posted the plans online, which he said were created based on a summer consultation and discussions with residents and key stakeholders such as TfL and emergency services.

He said: “Version 3 of the design would see all the routes through the neighbourhood except Burnt Ash Road/Burnt Ash Hill and Manor Park/Manor Lane restricted, eliminating commuter through traffic and rat-running from almost all residential streets.

“The objective of the scheme is to restrict this to primary roads, producing quieter and safer residential streets. In particular we are trying to eliminate east-west commuter traffic that cuts through the area to avoid using the A20 and/or the South Circular.”

TfL, as well as residents, have raised concerns about the effect the plans will have on traffic distribution in the area.

Some were worried that Manor Park would become a heavily congested.

One resident posted online: “Channelling everything through Manor Park will be a nightmare.

“It’s a busy enough rat run as it is and it’s also a residential road full of families. I’d completely vote against this as a solution.

“It will turn it into another version of Lee High road.”

Concerns that residents were not consulted on the final proposals were also raised - a spokesman for the council said “the trial is the consultation”.

But many described it as a “great initiative” and said pollution and dangerous driving would be reduced.

Cllr Rathbone said: “After consulting residents for three months Lewisham Council is working with TfL on measures to make the roads in Lewisham and Lee Green healthier and safer by restricting commuter through traffic.

“Over sixty percent of traffic in our area passes through without stopping and during peak hours the roads are extremely dangerous.

“The consultation showed overwhelming support for creating a low traffic neighbourhood and as such we are working on a design which will meet the needs and desires of residents, reduce congestion, and improve air quality.

“We aim to have the final design agreed with TFL by the end of the year so that we can release it for public exhibition in January 2020. We will then conduct a six month consultation on the proposals whilst the measures are tested, so people can make an informed decision.

“The exceptionally high level of participation in the consultation shows that the local community agrees with us that measures like this are needed.”

The six-month trial, due to start in February or March, will become permanent if it has “the desired effects”.

A spokesman for the council said: “By 2041 we want all journeys to be made by sustainable modes of transport, such as walking, cycling and public transport.

“To achieve this we have to create street environments where traffic is reduced and where vulnerable road users feel more comfortable making journeys on foot or by bike.”

Click here for the dedicated email address for the scheme.