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Westminster Council objects to CS11Close pass in Regent's Park (LondonDynaslow via Twitter).jpg

Westminster Council objects to CS11

Expresses desire for TfL to adopt ‘a holistic approach’ when considering possible impact
by Alex Bowden
Wed, May 04, 2016 12:17
9

Westminster Council has objected to the proposed closure of the four gates in Regent’s Park for CS11 due to what it sees as a lack of clarity with regards to the impact on traffic. A petition against the cycle superhighway has attracted over 4,000 signatures and the council made reference to ‘strong local feelings’ when making its reservations known.

The London Evening Standard reports on a response drafted by councillor Heather Acton, Cabinet Member for Sustainability and Parking, in which she calls for Transport for London (TfL) to consider the redevelopment of the St John’s Wood Barracks and the potential traffic impact of HS2 when assessing CS11.

“The city council supports the strong local feelings that TfL should adopt a holistic approach by considering the combined impacts of several schemes and major redevelopments in its modelling of CS11.”

The response goes on to say:

“The city council is very concerned that TfL’s traffic modelling data demonstrates that the CS11 scheme is likely to result in significant detriment to pedestrian amenity at important crossing locations along Finchley Road.

“Similarly, bus journey times on a significant number of routes specified by TfL will increase by at least 0-2 minutes throughout the peak periods (and probably throughout the day) resulting in a significant disbenefit to buses across their routes.”

The consultation on plans for CS11 closed in March with the majority of respondents in favour. Out of 6,200 responses, 58 per cent of people supported the project and seven per cent partially supported it, while 35 per cent were opposed.

London Cycling Commissioner, Andrew Gilligan, says the project would turn “what is currently a rat run into a nice part of the park," but others fear that it would result in gridlock. Conservative mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith has previously said that he doesn’t see it as a ‘fait accompli.’

CS11
Westminster Council
Alex Bowden

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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9 comments

Avatar
brooksby | 8 years ago
0 likes

Doesn't a delay of 0-2 minutes mean that there might not be any delay?

Avatar
burtthebike | 8 years ago
2 likes

"Heather Acton, Cabinet Member for Sustainability and Parking"  Am I the only one having some trouble working out how she reconciles those two opposing roles?

No, hang on, I think I've just worked it out.  She doesn't care about the first, but she cares a lot about the second.

This is from the council's website about Cllr Acton:

"Portfolio covers: Biodiversity, environmental and Go Green policies, parking enforcement and policy, road safety functions, sustainability including cycling and walking strategies and policy."

The very fact that they have conflated parking and active travel into one post tells you everything you need to know about Westminster council.

Avatar
P3t3 | 8 years ago
1 like

0-2 minutes delay sounds irrelevant, especially as most of them might have 0 minutes delay.....

The gate closures are entirely reversible if there is regular gridlock.

Avatar
Eric D replied to P3t3 | 8 years ago
0 likes

P3t3 wrote:

The gate closures are entirely reversible if there is regular gridlock.

Yes - it could be made time-dependant (rush-hour) - not costly like ripping out infrastructure - might need re-drafting a legal 'Road Traffic Order' - but maybe variables could be written-in initially ?

Avatar
therevokid | 8 years ago
2 likes

cabinet member for ... Parking !!!!!

 

So if we all drove cars who would they blame for the complete and utter grid-lock

that would ensue ??

 

what a bunch of muppets - and somebody voted for these clowns !

Avatar
jacknorell replied to therevokid | 8 years ago
2 likes

therevokid wrote:

what a bunch of muppets - and somebody voted for these clowns !

Pretty sure not too many actually did vote for them... being that Westminster doesn't have much of a resident population, but rather a lot of foreign owned housing only used part of the year 2

Avatar
Paul_C | 8 years ago
4 likes

no, 'holistic' in this case means don't get rid of my short cuts/rat runs for my car...

Avatar
EddyBerckx | 8 years ago
11 likes

Holistic in the context of how Westminster council uses it means 'DONT GET IN THE WAY OF THE CARS!!!!!!!'

Avatar
zanf | 8 years ago
7 likes

Quote:

Similarly, bus journey times on a significant number of routes specified by TfL will increase by at least 0-2 minutes throughout the peak periods

So for the park's Outer Circle to return to the original purpose that Nash intended, it will add 0-2 minutes extra to buses journey times but significantly increase cyclist and pededstrian safety through the park and decrease pollution.

I think thats a cost that is not only worth paying but has to be paid.

And WTF does 'holistic' actually mean? Or more to the point, what does Heather Acton think it means?

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