CLLR DON WILLIAMS CRIES: LISTEN TO RESIDENTS ON CS11
Swiss Cottage councillor Don Williams has asked Labour-run Camden Council (Question to the full Council Monday, 21 Nov) to listen to residents’ alternatives for the disastrous plans for CS11 that Transport for London are currently touting.
CS11, as presently proposed, will have alarmingly adverse effects on road congestion, noise levels and air quality on the lives of residents in north London and north Westminster, wrote Don to the Council. In fact, Don pointed out, they estimate that the negative effects, through rat runs, etc, could extend from Finchley Road to Kilburn High Road, the top of Hampstead, Gospel Oak, and Kentish Town.
Don praised residents – lead by Clive Beecham – that have proposed simple changes that would mitigate and reduce the effects of CS11 as it stands.
Camden Council admitted they had seen the residents’ alternative and “whilst the alternative designs retain the proposed cycling benefits, they significantly reduce the public realm enhancements which the Council strongly supports.”
Camden Council then raised the issue of traffic modelling, expecting residents to provide this kind of detailed information themselves when the Council has the tools to do it. They would not comment on the alternatives, or discuss them with TFL or respond to the residents without it.
Despite this obstructive response, Don arranged a meeting so Labour councillors could hear residents’ alternatives, also attended by Conservative councillors Oliver Cooper and Leila Roy. Swiss Cottage, Frognal and Fitzjohns, West Hampstead and Belsize residents hope they will listen.
QUESTION 3 (ORAL)
TO THE: CABINET MEMBER FOR REGENERATION, TRANSPORT AND PLANNING
BY: COUNCILLOR DON WILLIAMS
A group of residents from Westminster and Camden have estimated the alarmingly adverse effect of CS11, as presently proposed, on road congestion, noise levels and air quality on the lives of residents in north London and north Westminster. In fact, they estimate that the negative effects, through rat runs, etc., could extend from Finchley Road to Kilburn High Road, the top of Hampstead, Kentish Town and Gospel Oak. A subset of this group, led by Mr Clive Beecham, has been pro-active and developed simple changes that would reduce congestion and limit the effects of rat runs - especially for larger vehicles. They have also done some modelling to take into account the effects of major developments in the area. This has the potential of reducing significantly the potential misery residents may face. They have communicated their proposal to Camden but have received no simple feedback or detailed response.
Isn't it time the Council give its response to residents? More importantly, isn't it time that the Council takes some time to analyse, improve or discard these proposals publicly in order to avoid possible misery for its residents who must bear the effects of the cycle superhighway on a daily basis?
REPLY:
CS11 is a Transport for London (TfL) led scheme and the Council’s current position remains as outlined in our consultation response. We are aware of Mr Beecham’s alternative proposals and thank him for the time and effort that he has taken in coming up with these ideas. Officers met him on 13 September and provided some initial verbal feedback. Whilst the alternative designs retain the proposed cycling benefits, they significantly reduce the public realm enhancements which the Council strongly supports. Officers pointed out to Mr Beecham that without undertaking traffic modelling, it is difficult to see how the alternative design will operate and how it will impact on bus services and facilities for pedestrians. To provide further comment, officers will need to consider the traffic modelling that has been undertaken by Mr Beecham. If this modelling data is sent to officers they will discuss it in more detail with TfL and provide a response to Mr Beecham.