Lansdown Road residents in Stroud held a party this afternoon that spilled onto the street. The aim was to draw attention to the problems caused by traffic and to explore possible solutions.

 
A live band and a huge supply of cakes, ice cream and more were consumed as residents chatted in the afternoon sun.

 
Some residents handed out leaflets to motorists and passers-by which read: "Welcome to Lansdown. We live in Lansdown and welcome you to our street! We enjoy living in this street. Please enjoy it with us. Some of us have noticed that some motorists drive along the pavement, This can be quite dangerous for us residents. Though we understand that parking on the pavement or remaining stationary on the pavement seems unavoidable, please do dot drive along the pavement. Lansdown Residents' Association."

 
Meanwhile children clustered around the car windows ooffereing cakes and other tasty bits to every car.

There was also a petition pointing out the need for action in the road that repeatedly sees cars mount the kerb and travelling much too fast.

 
Green District councillor Sarah Lunnon, who organised the conference last year at Ebley Mill on "Shared Spaces" was there along with Cllr Philip Booth who helped her write a report on that radical new approach to looking at traffic.

Philip Booth said: "This is a great opportunity to explore ways of making this street safer. It is great that the residents are taking this initiative. Cars are generally travelling much, much slower along this road while the party is on: many have been very supportive of the residents wishes to make the road safer. The Shared spaces approach makes it safer by cars, pedestrians and cyclists all knowing that they share the space. In Europe where this has been tried this has led to considerably safer roads, more pleasant neighbourhoods and in many cases less congestion."

Philip Booth added: "It would be great if we can manage to get a pilot scheme to try this approach somewhere in Stroud. At the moment various possibilities are being considered and then funding sought to investigate it further."

Read more about this approach by clicking here