Issue - meetings

The report considers comments and objections received during consultation on Traffic Management Orders (TMOs) to introduce permanent cycle lanes and other changes to the London Road between Brigstock Road and Bensham lane. The recommended measures would make permanent the current temporary cycle lanes (plus associated temporary restrictions and measures) and bringing about further improvements, including pedestrian crossing facilities and public realm improvements.

The Committee received a report which considered comments and objections received during a consultation on Traffic Management Orders (TMOs) to introduce permanent cycle lanes and other changes to the London Road between Brigstock Road and Bensham lane. The recommended measures would make permanent the current temporary cycle lanes (plus associated temporary restrictions and measures) and bringing about further improvements, including pedestrian crossing facilities and public realm improvements.

Ian Plowright (Head of Strategic Transport) provided the Committee with an introduction which set out:

• In May 2020 the Secretary of State for Transport released guidance on Network Management to Support Recovery from COVID-19. Croydon had responded swiftly to the call to enhance walking and cycling in the borough and the London Road Corridor was one of the original measures implemented;
• The government had subsequently announced that the measures implement should remain in place and local authorities were encouraged to introduce more measures;
• The scheme had been a implemented under a Temporary Traffic Management Order and the recommendation was to make the scheme permanent with improvement including increased pedestrian crossings;
• Objections had been received which were included in the report and covered the scheme not being necessary, loss of loading bays and slow traffic; and
• Members were informed that the Equalities Officer had suggested two further areas for more focus within the Equalities Analysis (EA) since publication relating to the affordability of electric bikes and to the provision of seating/rest areas. The EA covered the whole programme and would be revised and published with the next papers which covered cycle schemes.

Angus Hewlett (speaking on behalf of Croydon Cyclists) addressed the Committee in support of the scheme and set out the following:

• Croydon Cyclists welcomed the scheme but felt additional steps could be taken, such as ensuring the southern end of the scheme joined up with the Broad Green scheme;
• Safety concerns remained in relation to the side roads and it was suggested that level crossings could be introduced; and
• Measures should be put in place to reduce the risk of hook roads.

A statement was read out on behalf of John Hopper and set out that Qualityfix Ltd had been trading on London Road for over 50 years and he had written to the council over the previous two years to raise the following concerns:

• There was an accident waiting to happen as the cycle lane gave cyclists and scooter drivers too much confidence that they were protected and travelled too fast;
• Ambulances were regularly held up in traffic and could no longer pass due to the cycle lane;
• He was a cyclist and often cycled to work. He found that where there were no cycle lanes there were no issues and that cycle lanes caused more concern as pedestrians walked out and cars pulled out with looking;
• Shop keepers needed to trade and cycle lanes made it impossible to receive goods as they could not be transported to neighbouring roads;
• He had counted the number of cyclists who used the cycle  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4