TfL Plans To Press Ahead With CS9 Claiming Backing of Londoners
Consultation shows that nearly 60% of 5,000 respondents in favour
CGI of the proposals, looking north-east along South Circular Road from Kew Bridge Road
TfL have announced that they intend to move forward with plans for a Cycle Superhighway from Brentford to Kensington Olympia following their assessment of the consultation responses. More than 5,000 people gave their views on the scheme that would see a 6km segregated cycle track built.
TfL's report on the consultation responses shows that 58.9% either supported or strongly supported the scheme with 38.7% opposed or strongly opposed. Overall 53% strongly supported the scheme overall with another 6% saying the supported it.
Almost half of the responses came from the Chiswick area with just 6% from the TW8 post code area. 70% of the responses to the consultation were from post code areas along the route of the proposed track with 46% from W4 and 11% from W6.
Three quarters of those responding said they were local residents and 8% said they were not local but interested in the scheme. Details of the responses of key stakeholders showed that local residents' groups were overwhelmingly against the scheme but there were mixed views from other civic organisations and businesses in the area.
65% of respondents said they usually travel by bike more than those that use a private car (56%).
TfL divided the scheme up into ten sections and asked respondents to give their views on each individually. The level of strong support/support for individual sections of the scheme ranged from 59% to 64% with the Chiswick High Road section having the lowest level of those in favour but only by a small margin. The Chiswick High Road section did have the highest level of those strongly opposed to the scheme with 33% against.
The level of support by post code was not included in the report leading to some claims that a disproportionate number of those in favour of the scheme were not from the area of the route. We have asked TfL for this data and await their response.
TfL are now going to analyse all responses in more detail and will announce the next stage of the project later in the year.
Will Norman, London's Walking and Cycling Commissioner said, “It's great news that our plans to improve walking and cycling in west London have been backed by Londoners. Cycle Superhighway 9 will improve safety for cyclists and make the area more attractive for pedestrians, providing real benefits to the whole community. I look forward to working closely with the borough councils to consider all of the responses and develop our plans further.”
Hounslow Council have withheld full backing for the scheme saying that they wished to see the full outcome of the consultation. They are unlikely to reach a final decision until after the May local elections.
Councillor Steve Curran, Leader of Hounslow Council, said, “With 60 per cent of respondents supporting plans for Cycle Superhighway 9, there is a clear desire for improved cycling links in west London, however in Hounslow there are local concerns about the effect of CS9 on other road users, particularly pedestrians.
“Whilst we are very keen to improve cycle facilities between our town centres, we cannot ignore these valid comments and council officers are working with TfL to seek to address the concerns that have been raised.”
Tony Arbour, whose South West constituency covers Chiswick and Brentford, said, “This looks like the consultation has been undermined by people who live nowhere near the areas affected and who have little or no understanding of the needs of our communities.
“I am calling on Sadiq Khan to halt these proceedings and work with residents and politicians of all parties who agree that the current plans are not good enough. Any scheme that narrows pavements on Chiswick High Road is completely unacceptable.”
February 28, 2018
