Saturday, 1 June 2019

DEDICATED CYCLE " HIGHWAY" MEETING 13TH JUNE, TOWN HALL @ 6.30PM

TfL plans to make Holland Park Avenue and Notting Hill Gate into a dedicated cycle “highway”. 
Details of their plans can be found at
HERE 






The Kensington Society is keen that residents should have a chance to put questions direct to TfL at a public meeting. 
The meeting is to take place at the Town Hall at 6.30 p.m. on Thursday 13 June, and for an hour beforehand there will be a display of the TfL plans with TfL personnel on hand. Everybody is welcome.

Please note, incidentally, that the scheme is being promoted by Transport for London, NOT our Council, who have so far not decided their position. So if you want to write to the relevant authority (which we would encourage), please write to TfL, either by completing the survey form on the website above, or by emailing HERE, and not to the Council, who cannot send your emails on to TfL as under data protection rules they need to obtain your specific permission to do so.

CONCERNS ABOUT THE SCHEME
From what we have heard so far from our members, the main concerns are:
·         Increased traffic congestion as motorised traffic will be reduced to one lane each way, with knock on effects (all noted in respect of the existing schemes at Lancaster Gate and on the Embankment) of:
o   traffic diversion to neighbouring streets, both residential and parallel arteries;
o   Increased air pollution from stationary traffic (in a street that is already heavily polluted);
o   A less efficient transport system for users of buses and taxis who will be stuck in traffic;

TfL needs to explain why they think these problems will not arise when they so clearly do on the schemes mentioned above.

·         Increased road safety risks and inconvenience:
o   For pedestrians (especially the elderly, disabled and with children) , who will have to cross a cycle lane as well as traffic lanes and will also suffer by having fewer bus stops (accessible in some cases only by crossing cycle lanes); road junctions with no controlled pedestrian crossings; and increased traffic in residential streets;
o   For cyclists and motorists – the experience of the Embankment scheme seems to show that in rush hours the faster cyclists tend to become impatient being held up by the slower ones and weave in and out of the motorised traffic).

·         Loss of trees, including two mature plane trees which are particularly important as carbon sinks (for the Ladbroke Association this is particularly important as we were founded as a result of a campaign to stop the Council felling mature planes in Ladbroke Grove);

·         Effect on retail outlets along Ladbroke Grove and Notting Hill Gate:
o    as customers avoid the increased congestion
o    As shops without back entrances struggle to receive deliveries.

·         Problems for motorists as left turns are restricted and as more streets are made one-way.

·         Other options: many will want to know  whether TfL has considered other options, e.g.
o   A one way cycle lane that would be reversed during rush hours;
o   A cycle path through parallel side streets.


5 comments:

  1. There are multiple powerful reasons why this proposal is a terrible idea.

    • We must not cut down our treasured thriving trees which fight pollution, provide us air to breathe and make our neighbourhood so very special. TfL propose to cut down 19 thriving trees!

    • The proposed narrowing to one lane of Holland Park Avenue will put all traffic into one single stationary lane which, far from adding to cleaner air, will instead create more carbon dioxide from standing traffic – delivery vehicles, people with children, old people, disabled people, people travelling from the west into London – all these people will not and cannot get onto bicycles.

    • Moving bus stops further apart will not make it easier for people to use the buses, only add to their journey time.

    • This proposed plan will hugely negatively impact our local retailers, such as Daunts books and Lidgate’s butcher who will quite possibly be forced out of business as a result of this proposal as people will be put off from coming to the area and shopping here.

    • Emergency vehicles such as ambulances, fire engines and the police will not be able to move with speed when all traffic is forced into one lane – also with three side roads being exit only, three side roads being entrance only along Holland Park and raised humps in the road – all of these will lead to lives being lost. Given the Grenfell disaster it is particularly hard to understand why we would risk this.

    • Holland Park Avenue and Notting Hill Gate are unique neighbourhoods that work very well with the current traffic system that has been in place. Our trees are historic and add hugely to the quality of life of all residents who care passionately about each and every tree.

    • The inclusion of bicycle lanes to the Lancaster Gate area of Bayswater has not been a positive thing and indeed has had a considerable slow down effect on local traffic and added to pollution in that area.

    • Holland Park Avenue and Notting Hill Gate form a vital arterial road for traffic in and out of West London and beyond. Please don’t destroy our neighbourhood with this terrible scheme for the sake of political correctness.

    Bicycle paths have their place, but their place is not here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I understand that there were moves to completely restructure Notting Hill Gate area. Removing the centre reservation, tube entry and reposition some bus stops. How does this influence the TfL scheme? Has it been shelved?

      Delete
    2. A point for the argument against:

      Bicycle lanes make MOTOR CYCLING very dangerous. Huge bicycle lanes leave no room in the road for motor bikes to manoeuvre. Think of all the delivery scooters with enormous boxes on the back! Bicycle lanes will probably make road use more dangerous for road traffic and lead to a lot of motor bikes weaving in and out of queuing cars in traffic jams. Bad idea!

      Next.....?


      Delete
  2. Resident Warning3 June 2019 at 06:32

    Beware the motives of the Kensington Society. They are maneuvering to use public opinion as a means to become a power broker with TFL. Its what turns their Committee on.

    The Society has lost site of its purpose which is to comment on issues concerned with the preservation of Heritage in Kensington. The current Leadership is trying to dabble in the high octane world of protest, politics and power broking.

    ReplyDelete
  3. It's an untrue assumption that pollution increases once a cycle lane has been installed. Pollution sensors on Embankment show the pollution has reduced in that area since the installation of the cycle lane.

    In terms of local retailers, objective research has shown that improved cycling facilities increase trade. Cyclists visit local shops more regularly, spending more than users of most other modes of transport. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/509587/value-of-cycling.pdf

    ReplyDelete

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