Agenda item

Copers Cope Ward:

A report detailing the results of a consultation undertaken by Ward Councillors is to follow.

ES 20079

The Committee was presented with a report seeking approval for the installation of traffic signals on either side of Westgate Road Bridge and to retain and modify experimental cycle lanes on Albemarle Road, Beckenham.

The Assistant Director for Traffic and Parking explained that a cycle route had been installed previously in Albemarle Road, and this had been actioned as funding had been available from central government to support cycling during the pandemic lockdown. The scheme had been introduced as an experimental scheme as there had not been time for a full consultation process to be undertaken. The scheme had been operational since November 2020. It was felt that the scheme could be improved with the installation of traffic lights on the Westgate Road Bridge. The purpose of installing the traffic lights would be to allow two way traffic to flow over the bridge once more, but avoiding the issues of traffic coming over the bridge nose to nose as was currently the case.

Some issues had arisen in the lower west end section of Albemarle Road, where a one way system had been installed to support the cycle route. Because of this, it meant that more traffic was going past Harris Beckenham School. Officers had observed the operation of the cycle lane and felt that the situation could be improved by reverting the road back to two way traffic, while still supporting cyclists. One of the ways that this could be achieved would be to suspend parking bays to help improve the traffic flow.

The Assistant Director for Traffic and Parking said that it was decided that a local public consultation was needed to see whether the experimental cycling  lane should be discontinued, or whether the Council should try and develop and improve it. To this end, a local public consultation was undertaken and the views of local residents were sought. The Assistant Director said that a copy of the consultation document was provided with the agenda papers. Members noted that the report recommended that traffic lights should be installed on the bridge and the western section of Albemarle Road should be returned to two way traffic, whilst at the same time retaining a segregated route for cycling.

The Assistant Director for Traffic and Parking noted that a separate consultation had been undertaken by Ward Councillors, which had also been incorporated into the agenda papers and which he was aware they would be speaking in respect of in due course. The Assistant Director for Traffic and Parking stated that the results of the consultation undertaken by officers was that generally speaking the public was still supportive of the scheme.

A Member and Ward Councillor expressed the view that what was lacking from the officers’ survey was that members of the public had not been asked what they wanted to do with respect to the Bridge at Westgate Road. He agreed that the public seemed to want to continue with the trial of the existing scheme.

A Member mentioned that a previous report had been brought to the Committee with respect to the ‘Quiet Way’ which seemed to run more or less on the same route as the cycle lane. He sought assurances that the proposed scheme would not affect adversely any plans with regard to the ‘Quiet Way’. He also asked for assurances that if Albemarle Road reverted back to two lanes (plus the cycle lane) that this reversion would still be safe for cyclists. 

The Assistant Director responded that the proposed route for the ‘Quiet Way’ had been disputed for several years but had now been superseded by this new route. A route that would help continue this scheme would be to take the cycle route to Beckenham Junction and then Rectory Road, Blakeney Road, Bridge Road and join up with the cycle route near to Kent House Station and then progress up to Greenwich.

The Assistant Director stated that with respect to the last section of Albemarle Road, the carriage-way width had been measured and was found to meet the TfL guidance required to provide adequate safety for cyclists. Observations seemed to indicate that with two lanes of traffic and a segregated lane for cyclists, this should result in slower moving traffic.

A Member asked if alterations could be made to Westgate Road Bridge which could include the addition of an independent lane for pedestrians. The Assistant Director for Traffic and Parking answered that any plans that would include the construction of a new bridge, or any major structural changes to the existing bridge would be far too expensive and would incur costs of a far greater magnitude—and there was no budget for this. 

A Member and Ward Councillor asked the Committee and the Portfolio Holder to support the three recommendations that were proposed in the Ward Councillors report (page 95 of the agenda pack). He also recommended the adoption of the recommendations outlined in sections 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4 of the officers’ report.

The Assistant  Director  for Traffic and Parking and the Portfolio Holder made closing comments before the resolutions were agreed.

RESOLVED that:

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 be 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.