Engagement Report
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Public Engagement on Olympic Route Network – Traffic Order Group 1 Engagement Report September 2011 - 1 - Contents Section Page 1 Executive summary 3 2 Introduction 3 3 Stakeholder engagement 4 4 Responses from members of the public 8 5 Responses from statutory bodies and other stakeholders 16 6 Conclusion and actions from engagement 17 7 Appendices 18 A – Engagement Materials B – Distribution Area C – Stakeholder List - 2 - 1 Executive Summary A four week engagement exercise for Traffic Order Group (TOG) 1 in the London Boroughs of Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest was held between 9 June and 8 July 2011. This exercise was combined with TOG V8, the area around Olympic Park which also included the London Borough of Newham. • Letters were sent to 377 key stakeholders and approx 59,000 local residents and businesses within c. 400m radius of the Olympic and Paralympic Route Networks (ORN and PRN) • 270 people attended the nine drop-in sessions • 37 responses were received via email, website, telephone and drop-in session feedback forms Responses included: multiple objections to the closure of the A12 off slip at Lea Interchange, concern about increased congestion and disruption to everyday lives and the length of time the measures are proposed to be in place. Some people suggested the Games Family use other methods of transport and several respondents were happy about the Games, but wary about extent of the measures. Other feedback included criticism of the consultation process and queries about lack of other station upgrades in the boroughs. Transport for London (TfL) will consider all feedback received during the engagement process when developing the detailed designs. In particular, the ORN’s operating times and dates are being reviewed. The ORN and PRN will only operate during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and shortly before and after them to accommodate the arrival and departure of the Games Family. In addition, the proposed restriction of access from the A12 Lea Interchange to New Spitalfields Market remains under review until further details affecting the access proposals for the Olympic Park are clarified with LOCOG the Olympic organisers. The plans for this section of the ORN may be subject to further enhancement, once the details of the London 2012 Venue requirements at the Olympic Park are finalised. 2 Introduction 2.1 Purpose TfL, acting as the delivery partner on the ORN and PRN for the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), has been engaging local residents and stakeholders on the temporary changes to the way the roads can be used in their local area. This engagement aims to identify concerns and emerging issues and consider potential solutions to these when finalising the designs. It is carried out in advance of a formal - 3 - statutory consultation that will take place as part of the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) process that is required to introduce many of the changes. TfL is engaging on TROs in phases to make it easier for the public to make sense of detailed information. This report covers the section of the ORN known as TOG 1, which falls into phase three of the ORN and PRN engagement. TOG 1 covers roads within the London Boroughs of Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest on the A12 from Leytonstone to Bromley- by-Bow and around the Olympic Park. 2.2 Background The ORN and PRN is a network of roads linking all the competition and key non- competition venues for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. The roads that will be used for the ORN and PRN were formally designated by the Secretary of State for Transport in summer 2009 with some minor changes made by the Designation Amendment Order in 2011. The ORN and PRN will enable key participants, such as athletes, officials and media, to travel safely, securely and efficiently between venues and their accommodation, while also keeping London and the rest of the UK moving. The ORN is required on the A12 and the roads surrounding the Olympic Park. The temporary changes that will be needed to operate the ORN have been developed in conjunction with the local authorities listed above. It was expected to operate from late June to mid September 2012 (the section from Lea Interchange to Bromley-by-Bow) and from late July to mid September 2012 (from Lea Interchange to Leytonstone), and these are the dates that were consulted on however these dates are under review as TfL is committed to minimising the impact of the ORN/PRN. The proposed measures consulted on are: • A series of Games Lanes (6am – midnight) • Banned turns and lane/road closures • Some cycle lanes to be relocated on footway • Suspension of bus stops and bus lanes Full details of the proposed measures are included in Appendix A. 3 Stakeholder Engagement The engagement exercise has been designed to enable TfL to share the details of the proposed changes so people on or near the routes could find out how they might be affected. This has allowed TfL to gauge local opinion about the measures and gather feedback that may be used to inform local modifications. - 4 - 3.1 Engagement objectives The objectives of the engagement were: • To tell stakeholders and the public about the proposals and allow them to respond • To understand any issues that might affect the proposals of which we were not previously aware • To understand concerns and objections • To allow respondents to make suggestions 3.2 Who we engaged with The engagement exercise sought the views of targeted stakeholders and people who live/work/run businesses on or near to the ORN in this TOG area including: • Elected politicians - We informed councillors in relevant wards, Members of Parliament and Assembly Members to ensure they were aware of the engagement • Local stakeholders - We engaged with local traffic police, London Travel Watch and a range of local stakeholder groups, such as residents groups, business groups and organisations in the local area • Residents and businesses • Emergency Services A complete list of stakeholders is provided in Appendix C. 3.3 Engagement methodology A public engagement plan was developed in collaboration with council officers and was supported with email and telephone correspondence on a regular basis. The following methods have been used to inform local residents and businesses about the engagement and to encourage them to take part. 3.3.1 Meetings with key stakeholders The ODA and TfL have engaged with relevant council officers about the design of the ORN measures since the publication of the network in 2006. This includes regular technical meetings, conferences and the borough transport forum. The ODA gave briefings to political and key stakeholders prior to announcing the location of the temporary Games Lanes across London and the rest of the UK in July 2010. This was followed by a consultation on the re-designated route and Penalty Charge Notification Levels. - 5 - Regular engagement has taken place with the emergency services, in particular with the Metropolitan Police during the design process and comments have been incorporated into latest designs. Other borough briefings /meetings include: • Waltham Forest: Business Engagement Briefing and Transport Liaison Meeting • Hackney: Hackney Wick Community Forum, Homerton Neighbourhood Forum and Hackney 2012 Community Safety Meeting • Newham: Stratford Active Community Team festival In June 2011, and prior to any public activity, written correspondence was sent to local politicians and key stakeholders in the area informing them of the temporary changes as well as the public engagement exercises in the local area. 3.3.2 Letter A letter and map detailing the key changes was delivered by a mail delivery agency to 59,000 properties along the route and by post and email to targeted stakeholders listed in Appendix C. The letter: • Provided an overview of the temporary changes • Told people about the website which contains detailed maps • Encouraged people to attend drop-in sessions where they would be able to ask questions and/or find out additional information • Asked for comments about the proposed temporary changes via TfL’s online consultation tool, email, in writing or by telephone A copy of this letter is shown in Appendix A and a map of the distribution area can be found in Appendix B. 3.3.3 Website The website included a map showing the extent of the route, and detailed maps of the proposed changes. An online consultation tool allowed users to give their feedback. 3.3.4 Public drop-in sessions Nine drop-in sessions were held for this TOG: Asda, Leyton Mills Industrial Estate, London, E10 5NH • Monday, 13 June 2011, 10:30-13:30 • Wednesday, 15 June 2011, 16:30-19:30 Butley Court Community Centre, 1a Butley Court, Ford Street, E5 5LT • Tuesday, 14 June 2011, 10:30-13:30 - 6 - • Thursday, 16 June 2011, 16:30-19:30 Wally Foster Community Centre, Homerton Road, E9 5QB • Wednesday 15 June 2011, 16:30-19:30 • Monday 20 June 2011, 17.30-20.30 (Hackney 2012 Community Meeting organised by Hackney Council) Stratford Circus, Theatre Square, Stratford, E15 1BX • Thursday, 16 June 2011, 16:30-19:30 Stratford Library, The Hopkins Room, 3 The Grove, Stratford E15 1EL • Monday, 20 June 2011, 10:30 – 13.30 Newham African Caribbean Resource Centre, Barking Road, E13 9EX • Saturday 25 June 2011, 10:30-13:30 Attendance at drop-ins: Venue Date Attendance Asda Leyton 13/06/11 67 Asda Leyton 15/06/11 40 Butley Court Community Centre 14/06/11 16 Butley Court Community Centre 16/06/11 3 Wally Foster Community Centre 15/06/11 18 Wally Foster Community Centre 20/06/11 80 Stratford Circus 16/06/11 20 Stratford Library 20/06/11 22 Newham African Caribbean Resource Centre 25/06/11 4 Total 270 Each drop-in session comprised: • A display stand explaining the purpose of and background to the ORN/PRN • Large overview maps showing the sections of road involved • Large scale maps showing the proposed measures in detail (reproduced on the website) The drop-in session attendees were able to speak to the design specialists to gain a better understanding of the proposals and the Games in general.