Agenda item

The report aims to give a brief update on progress to deliver the Safer Cycle Pathway by sharing information with regards to the different stages of implementation and programme delivery times.

Abi Oluwande (Senior Service Manager) provided an update on the progress made to date to deliver the Safer Cycle Pathway, noting that the interim scheme was 70% underway and was scheduled for completion in December 2021.

The Chair explained that the Committee had received a written question from a member of the public in advance of the meeting and Officers would be invited to answer the question or make a comment to address the main areas of concerns raised as follows:

1: A resident commented that it was great to see that action was being taken to create cycle lanes along King Street. However, other key routes such as Wood Lane, Uxbridge Road, Shepherds Bush Green had either no cycle lanes or poorly painted "temporary" cycle lanes that created more risk to both cyclists and cars. They asked what the schedule was to fully implement a network of safe cycle routes across the borough that allowed North-South/East -West and fully networked cycle travel?

In response Masum Choudhury (Head of Transport) noted that in addition to the upgrading of the cycle lane on King Street to an interim scheme, the Council was also working on developing the permanent cycle lane once the interim scheme had been installed. A similar approach would also be used for the cycle lanes on Wood Lane, Uxbridge Road and Shepherd’s Bush Green where the Council first looked at upgrading from temporary barriers to an interim scheme followed by the longer-term development of a permanent route.  Officers were aware of the key North-South routes such as North End Road and Fulham Palace Road as well as Scrubs Lane.  Together these would formulate a ‘strategic cycle network’ on our main roads. To supplement this further the approach would be to look at other main roads and consider the available road space and look to change advisory lanes to dedicated lanes.  This approach would also be considered on residential areas where the Council was looking to calm and reduce through traffic to create a safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists.

Unfortunately, due to the funding uncertainty that had emerged as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic the Council was unable to provide a defined programme and was working with sponsors and partners to continue to bring a programme forward.  However, the Council had committed to achieving net-zero carbon by 2030 and the cycling infrastructure as part of the borough was a key component of realising this goal.

Councillor Iain Cassidy asked for further clarification to be provided on the timescales for the completion of works for the full route, including King Street Hammersmith Gyratory and Hammersmith Road. Abi Oluwande (Senior Service Manager) commented that the timescale to complete King Street was mid-December 2021. Hammersmith Gyratory was being implemented by Transport for London (TfL) and this work would commence in November 2021. The interim scheme for Hammersmith Road had been completed. However, the timetable for the permanent Safer Cycle Pathway scheme was not yet available.

Abi Oluwande (Senior Service Manager) confirmed that the permanent scheme would be implemented once the experimental traffic order for the interim scheme was completed. It was noted that the experimental traffic order could only stay in force for a maximum of 18 months.

Councillor Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler enquired what consultation had been undertaken for the Safer Cycle Pathway scheme. Abi Oluwande (Senior Service Manager) explained that the consultation would take place during the experimental period of the interim scheme (18 months) and the feedback gathered would determine the next steps for the permanent scheme. Matt Bonomi (Senior Service Manager) noted that an experimental traffic order would require stakeholders, residents and businesses to provide their feedback during the time it was in place. The Council would carry out a comprehensive and outreaching engagement exercise for a 6-9-month period approximately. Feedback would be sought on the interim scheme to help inform the Council of how a future permanent scheme should be implemented. This included mitigating any concerns of residents and businesses before a plan for the permanent scheme was executed.

Councillor Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler commented that many residents felt there would be an increase in air pollution as a result of the roads being narrowed for the implementation of cycling lanes across the borough. She enquired if this was an aspect that had been considered by the Council and whether this would be included as a question as part of the consultation exercise. In response Mathew Bonomi (Senior Service Manager) explained that a comprehensive monitoring plan had been put together in partnership with TfL, therefore areas such as air quality, traffic volumes and safety data would be captured and presented before a final decision was reached.

Councillor Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler commented that she was approached by a group of visually impaired users, with regards to accessibility concerns on the roads as a result of the implementation of the Safer Cycle Pathway scheme. She asked how these concerns were being addressed by the Council. In response Mathew Bonomi (Senior Service Manager) noted that the Council was working in collaboration with the disabled resident’s team, to mitigate any concerns around the design and layout of the scheme. Officers were making good progress on this.

Councillor Iain Cassidy asked for an update to be provided on the success of the cycleway in Chiswick. Mathew Bonomi (Senior Service Manager) noted that this data was not available to hand, however this could be obtained from the London Borough of Hounslow and circulated to Committee Members for information.

Action: Mathew Bonomi

Councillor Wesley Harcourt (Cabinet Member for the Environment) noted that funding had been approved to implement a similar scheme on the Uxbridge Road and asked Officers to provide a progress update on this. In response Abi Oluwande (Senior Service Manager) noted that Officers were currently in the process of mapping out the full design for the scheme and work had already commenced on the Uxbridge Road.

Members praised Officers for the positive work that was carried out with the disabled resident’s team to address their concerns as part of the project delivery plan.

Members noted the report.