Decision details

ORPINGTON: CROFTON ROAD CYCLE ROUTE

Decision Maker: Portfolio Holder for Environment and Community Services

Decision status: For Determination

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Decision:

(1)  Progression of the scheme to detailed design and implementation is approved.

 

(2)  The cost of the scheme is to be met from the 2018/19 TfL LIP budget for Cycling and Walking and the 2019/20 TfL LIP budget for Cycling and Walking.

Reasons for the decision:

TfL’s London-wide Strategic Cycling Analysis identifies Crofton Road as potentially having a high volume of short trips by cycling (switching from car and bus) with appropriate infrastructure provided. The section of Crofton Road proposed for a scheme is within the top 5-10% of connectors for potential cycling trips in London with analysis showing a potential to switch over 21,000 trips per day to cycling to and from Orpington town centre and railway station.

 

The scheme proposed for Crofton Road also offers improvement for pedestrians and bus passengers, primarily on the narrower section of Crofton Road, between Crofton Avenue and Ormonde Avenue. Additionally, provision will be made for new trees and some landscaping.

 

Following consultation and a number of meetings with Crofton Ward Members and residents to understand local concerns, the design of a revised scheme (October 2018) at a cost of £850k raised further issues and an updated scheme outlined in drawings appended to Report ES18063 now removes the proposed cycle facilities between Ormonde Avenue and Crofton Avenue. The junction improvement at Ormonde Avenue is also now deleted from the scheme. However, pedestrian improvements along this section of Crofton Road remain.

 

Improved cycle and pedestrian facilities are retained in the design of the Crofton Avenue to Orpington Station section. However, as the cycle route does not continue westward along Crofton Road past Crofton Lane, some of the deflection at the mini-roundabout shown in the drawing will not now be required.

 

This latest design benefits pedestrians as well as cyclists through improved footways, wider refuges and new zebra crossings, and bus users will also have improved waiting facilities. Lower vehicle speeds can be expected from reduced carriageway width between Crofton Avenue and Orpington Station and from changes to refuges and road markings on the Crofton Avenue to Ormonde Avenue section.

 

A need to fell 33 trees was taken forward in August due to their potential impact on surrounding boundary walls rather than as a result of this scheme. However, it is hoped to replace a majority of the trees through this scheme.

 

The revised scheme cost will be £673k (sufficient to cover any realistic contingency). The works will be phased over the 2018/19 and 2019/20 financial years. A sum of £390k will be funded from the 2018/19 TfL LIP budget for Cycling and Walking with the remaining balance funded from the TfL LIP budget for Cycle Infrastructure 2019/20. Any future maintenance costs will be funded from the existing highway maintenance budgets.

 

Options to extend the cycle route along Lovibonds Avenue will also be investigated at a later stage in view of cycling demand in roads to the south of Crofton Road.

Publication date: 26/11/2018

Date of decision: 26/11/2018

Effective from: 04/12/2018

Accompanying Documents: