Agenda item

Matt Hill, Public Realm Programme Manager, presented the report. He explained that the views of the community council would be forwarded to the Cabinet Member for Transport, Environment and recycling who would decide whether to implement the scheme.

Among the general objectives of the scheme were the improved access to the bus stop and improved safety within the area of the roundabout. The measures would be funded by Transport for London (TfL) as part of the council’s local implementation plan programme. If approved, the scheme would be commenced in the 2013/14 financial year.

A pre-consultation took place a year ago to gauge initial views on traffic issues in the area. That had been followed by a public consultation on the details of the proposed scheme which ran from November 2012 until January 2013. Overall, there was a 50/50 split on whether or not the scheme was supported by the public. Some unpopular elements had led to the proposals being altered; those included the moving of the bus stop and cycle lane.

In response to questions, Matt made the following points:

• The cycle lane would be retained in its existing form.
• The proposal was to build out the footway/kerb on the roundabout side of Gipsy Hill and put in a raised table across the mouth of the junction and to remove the pedestrian island.
• The risks of the proposals had been assessed in an audit.
• There were no other roundabouts like this one in the borough and if officers were starting from scratch the proposals would be different from those being put forward in this instance.
• Guardrails tended not to help and were often removed; segregated cycle lanes were very expensive
• At the feasibility stage a range of options were considered including signalising the roundabout but the benefits were not proportionate to the extra costs involved.

Councillors noted the report and thanked officers for their work. They asked that the following be taken into consideration:

• That officers look at the option of retaining the traffic island in the design.
• That the benefits of the kerb build out be tested with a temporary measure to assess if it would have the desired impact.
• That detailed explanations be reported for the design decisions taken.
• That another round of consultation takes place with more analysis of the cycle lane issue.

Matt said he would report the views expressed to the cabinet member and in the meantime he would amend the consultation report to incorporate more details of the views expressed.