Agenda item

The Executive Mayor in Cabinet Resolved to:

2.1      Make the following Experimental Orders (as listed in Annex 2) permanent:

i) THE CROYDON (TRAFFIC MOVEMENT) (NO.22) Experimental ORDER 2023- Brighton Rd cycle scheme changes to bus lane restrictions (Order Ref 2023/40)

ii) The Croydon (Prohibition and Restriction of Stopping, Loading and Waiting) and (Free Parking Places) (No.4) Experimental Order 2023 – Brighton Rd cycle scheme changes to waiting & loading restrictions (Order ref 2023/41)

 iii) The Croydon (On-Street Charged-For Parking Places) (No.4) Experimental Order 2023 – Brighton Rd cycle scheme changes to parking bays (Order Ref 2023/42)

2.2      For the reasons set out at paragraph 3.3 agree to the removal of all light segregation (wands and defenders) along the cycle lanes given the issues identified from the technical review as detailed more fully at Appendix 1 annex 2.

2.3      Note that officers will separately be undertaking a review of parking places in roads adjoining Brighton Road and junctions which adjoin the Brighton Road to assess whether additional measures might be required to ease congestion and traffic progression in those roads and through those junctions, following on from concerns raised in relation to the impact of the operation of the various Experimental Orders (listed at 2.1) on adjoining roads and junctions. The review will include making adjustments to existing parking places and introducing new ones, additionally specific junctions have been identified   for inclusion in the review. (See Appendix A annex 4 for more details)

2.4   Note that if it is necessary, following this review in 2.3, to seek additional traffic management measures, these will be addressed either under existing delegated authority of the Corporate Director Sustainable Communities, Regeneration and Economic Recovery or brought forward for further consideration by the Executive Mayor or Executive Mayor in Cabinet as appropriate.

The Executive Mayor introduced the Brighton Road Cyle scheme which has been reviewed and a number of changes proposed. The technical review highlighted several benefits to the scheme however concerns were also highlighted in the schemes current form which will need to be altered to make it more accessible and safer.

Cabinet Member for Homes, Councillor Scott Roache informed Cabinet

that the consultation identified problems with light segregation (the wands and defenders) and that it has been recommended to remove them. The recommendations represent a balanced approach to ensure the Brighton Road functions as a key corridor and high street,

.

The Corporate Director for Sustainable Communities, Regeneration & Economic Recovery, Nick Hibberd further outlined some of the key aspects of the report, namely the light segregation. Officers feel that these issues should be dealt with promptly. Dialogue has been ongoing with TFL. The proposal is for the whole of the experimental cycle lane to be made permanent and the light segregation to be replaced with road markings. Cabinet noted that an additional road safety audit was commissioned which did not raise any road safety concerns in relation to the proposals.

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Stuart King requested that the decision was deferred. Councillor King questioned that refusing to take the time that is still available to properly engage with TfL unnecessarily increased the risk of the clawback of money. Furthermore, is the decision maker aware that the financial risk could be greater as when Tower Hamlets rode back on its active travel measure, TfL suspended its LIP funding. The right course of action would be to defer the decision, engage properly with TfL, who will fund improvements and work with them, the emergency service and other stakeholders to improve the cycle lanes rather than undermine them.

The Executive Mayor, Jason Perry responded that there is detailed safety evidence and knowledge around this scheme which show that there are safety concerns, and that the proposals will improve safety. The decision has not been rushed, there are ongoing discussions with TfL and the report is open about the risks. The decision is based on data and based on making it a safe scheme for all road users.

The Corporate Director for Sustainable Communities, Regeneration & Economic Recovery, Nick Hibberd added that in terms of the timeline, following any decision made a further regulatory process will need to be followed. If the experimental order expires the cycle lane would need to be removed in its entirety whereas the object is to make the cycle lane permanent. The Corporate Directorfor Sustainable Communities, Regeneration & Economic Recovery also highlighted the difference between local authorities and London boroughs who have removed infrastructure in its entirety where there is a greater risk of clawback than in this proposal which is to make the scheme permanent. Lastly, if there were potential for additional funding to invest in a different kind of cycle lane for London Road, that would require a whole new design and approval process which would take a long time to develop and deliver. There is nothing to preclude future changes but there would not be enough time to deliver those changes before the order expires in October.

The Executive Mayor in Cabinet Resolved to:

2.1      Make the following Experimental Orders (as listed in Annex 2) permanent:

i) THE CROYDON (TRAFFIC MOVEMENT) (NO.22) Experimental ORDER 2023- Brighton Rd cycle scheme changes to bus lane restrictions (Order Ref 2023/40)

ii) The Croydon (Prohibition and Restriction of Stopping, Loading and Waiting) and (Free Parking Places) (No.4) Experimental Order 2023 – Brighton Rd cycle scheme changes to waiting & loading restrictions (Order ref 2023/41)

 iii) The Croydon (On-Street Charged-For Parking Places) (No.4) Experimental Order 2023 – Brighton Rd cycle scheme changes to parking bays (Order Ref 2023/42)

2.2      For the reasons set out at paragraph 3.3 agree to the removal of all light segregation (wands and defenders) along the cycle lanes given the issues identified from the technical review as detailed more fully at Appendix 1 annex 2.

2.3      Note that officers will separately be undertaking a review of parking places in roads adjoining Brighton Road and junctions which adjoin the Brighton Road to assess whether additional measures might be required to ease congestion and traffic progression in those roads and through those junctions, following on from concerns raised in relation to the impact of the operation of the various Experimental Orders (listed at 2.1) on adjoining roads and junctions. The review will include making adjustments to existing parking places and introducing new ones, additionally specific junctions have been identified   for inclusion in the review. (See Appendix A annex 4 for more details)

2.4   Note that if it is necessary, following this review in 2.3, to seek additional traffic management measures, these will be addressed either under existing delegated authority of the Corporate Director Sustainable Communities, Regeneration and Economic Recovery or brought forward for further consideration by the Executive Mayor or Executive Mayor in Cabinet as appropriate.