Decision details

The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Community Services made the following decisions:

1) The Albemarle Road Experimental Cycle Scheme be left in place for the present time, but with the amendment of the re-introduction of two-way traffic between the junctions at Westgate Road and St Georges Road whilst retaining the segregated cycle lane, along with associated junction priority changes.

2) The railway bridge in Westgate Road continues to have one-way traffic over the bridge and that traffic be one-way South (as present).

3) The Albemarle Road Experimental scheme be subject to further review(s) and consultation(s) within 18 months so that post-lockdown traffic can be measured and residents views re-evaluated.

4) That funding for this work is allocated from the TfL Liveable Neighbourhood budget.

5) The Director of Environment receive delegated authority to deal with design amendments across the whole scheme in consultation with the Portfolio Holder and in line with the requirements of an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order.

The Secretary of State for Transport issued additional statutory guidance to all highway authorities, such as Bromley, on 23^rd May 2020 in relation to the Traffic Management Act 2004. The guidance set out high-level principles to help local authorities to manage their roads and what actions they should take with the additional advice for managing roads to deal with COVID-19 response related issues.

Cycling and walking changes were introduced into Albemarle Road and Westgate Road bridge in November 2020 under an Experimental Traffic Order. To assist in the evaluation of this experimental scheme an extensive consultation of local residents in the area was conducted by the Council, including an on-line questionnaire. Stakeholders such as local schools, emergency services, public transport and resident associations were invited to provide comments on the scheme and proposed amendments. Ward Councillors conducted their own survey. The consultation supported continuation of the experimental scheme with amendments.

Improved cycling infrastructure on Albemarle Road as outlined in the decision also supports the Council’s objectives set out in “Building a Better Bromley” by:

·  Improving the quality of the environment.

·  Supporting children and young people.

·  Improving Safety and Health in Bromley.

The proposed improvements also support the objectives of the Bromley Third Local Implementation Plan 2019 which identified the Lower Sydenham to Bromley Quietway as a Borough objective.