The Government is being urged to look at whether the removal of pedestrian crossings is leading to a rise in speeding.

Shared space schemes remove features such as kerbs, road surface markings, traffic signs and controlled crossings

The call comes from former Paralympian and long-term ‘shared space’ opponent Lord Holmes of Richmond, pointing to figures from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea that show speeds on the shared space on Exhibition Road rose from 22mph to 27mph between 2013 and 2018.

Speaking to LocalGov.co.uk, Lord Holmes said: “I have been arguing for years that removing controlled crossings and pavements and forcing toddlers and tankers, buses and blind people to ‘share’ the same space is an absolute disaster.

“To now learn that the average speed of vehicles along Exhibition Road has increased to a lethal 27mph is absolutely shocking.

“I am calling on the Government to investigate the connection between this deadly street design and increased vehicle speeds and also why speed limits are not being enforced.”