London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham Cabinet Cabinet Member’s Decisions
DEPUTY LEADER EDITH ROAD LOCAL SAFETY SCHEME Wards (+ ENVIRONMENT) This report outlines the proposals to carry out Avonmore and road safety improvements along Gliddon Road. Brook Green
The scheme includes the banning and enforcement of vehicles performing U-Turns, the redesign of the junction with Gunterstone Road and general streetscape improvements.
CONTRIBUTORS Decision taken by Cabinet Member on: 2 July 2009 ADLDS DFCS That approval is given to the proposed Local Safety Scheme, as set out in Section 4 of this report, at a total cost of £ 50, 000.
HAS A PEIA BEEN COMPLETED? YES AUTHORISED BY: The Deputy Leader/Cabinet Member for Environment has signed this report......
DATED: 2 July 2009...... 1. STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE
1.1 The proposals detailed in this report are in line with our road safety plan contained within the approved Local Implementation Plan for Transport 2005- 09, and the London Mayoral 2010 casualty reduction targets.
2. BACKGROUND
2.1The stretch of Gliddon Road north of the Talgarth Road (A4) up to its junction with Edith Road is heavily used by motorists to perform u-turns in order to cross Talgarth Road and access the Barons Court area.
2.2This issue has been raised by local schools and residents as both a serious safety concern and a constant nuisance to them.
2.3Gunterstone Road at its junction with Gliddon Road is no entry with left turns also banned out from it. This ban is however regularly flouted raising further safety concerns and frustration amongst local schools and residents.
2.4Between 01/01/06 and 31/12/08 there were six accidents resulting in injury on this 150m stretch of road, one of which resulted in serious injury. We do not hold figures on the number of accidents that resulted in damage to vehicles only.
3. SITE INFORMATION
3.1Gliddon Road is an unclassified road that runs from Edith Road to the north to Talgarth Road (A4) in the south and is approximately 150m in length.
3.2It is residential in nature on its eastern side but is dominated by educational institutions on its western side with James Lee Nursery immediately opposite the junction with Gunterstone Road and with the Hammersmith & West London College occupying a very large plot on the north-western corner of the junction with Talgarth Road. Both of these have repeatedly raised the issue of u-turns as a serious concern for the safety of their pupils.
3.3To assess the scale of the problem a traffic survey was undertaken on Wednesday 1st April 2009. The results of which showed that the peak times for u-turns were between 07:00 - 08:00 when there were 93 turns performed and between 17:00 - 18:00 when there were 96 turns performed (1.6 per minute). On average over the 12 hr period of 7am - 7pm there were 51 turns per hour.
3.4In order for such a large number of vehicles to perform this manoeuvre drivers regularly use the entrance to the car park of the College or one of the two private entrances to a large residential development called Barons Keep. This causes significant inconvenience to residents who often find their access or exit blocked by turning vehicles and also presents a danger to pedestrians due to the high volume of cars driving across the footway to make their turn. 3.5Site observations also show that in order to perform a u-turn in the often heavy traffic conditions of the morning and afternoon peak times drivers undertake the turn as quickly as possible in an often aggressive manner, forcing their way back out in to oncoming traffic. Conflicts are common as drivers rush to get through the traffic lights on Talgarth Road.
3.6The junction of Gliddon Road with Gunterstone Road is no entry from Gliddon Road with drivers exiting only permitted to turn right (north). In the past the kerb has been built-out and bollards installed to prevent illegal left turns being performed. An access gate has also been installed to allow emergency access against the No Entry when needed. Site observations and complaints from residents however show that a significant number of drivers do still perform an illegal left turn here.
4. PROPOSALS
4.1 We propose to carry out the following improvements, please refer to the attached plan for further details;
2. Introduction of Traffic Order and associated signage to make performing a u- turn on Gliddon Road between Edith Road and Talgarth Road an offence. 3. To install a new CCTV camera to monitor and enforce against drivers continuing to perform u-turns. The camera could also be used to monitor anti- social behaviour in the vicinity of the College and take enforcement action against left turning traffic at the junction of Gliddon Road and Gunterstone Road. Alterations to the two vehicle crossovers of Barons Keep to narrow them to make it more difficult for drivers to use for u-turns. Currently the wide entrances allow cars to swing in and out with ease. 4. The changes would also improve the general pedestrian environment and streetscape. 5. Alterations to the junction with Gunterstone Road to improve visibility and to declutter improving the general pedestrian environment and streetscape.
5. BENEFITS OF PROPOSALS
5.1Eliminating or at least significantly reducing the number of u-turns performed on Gliddon Road would improve road safety conditions with less injudicious manoeuvres being carried out on the road leading to a reduction in accidents.
5.2Alterations to the junction with Gunterstone Road would improve visibility for emerging drivers reducing the number of accidents resulting at this junction. The changes would also improve both the streetscape and pedestrian environment with fewer bollards, posts and changes in level. The CCTV camera can be used to take enforcement action against drivers that make illegal left turns.
5.3Alterations to the vehicular crossovers for Barons Keep would improve the pedestrian environment with a reduction in bollards and posts. The new crossovers would be constructed to eliminate any change in height between the kerbs which is of great benefit to users of wheelchairs and pushchairs.
5.4Extra on-street car parking would be created as part of the proposals.
5.5An improvement in cycle facilities with the extension of an existing cycle lane.
5.6The proposed new CCTV camera could be used to monitor any anti-social behaviour that may occur outside the college and the immediate area.
6. CONSULTATION
6.1 Given the high level of correspondence with local schools and residents on this matter previously, the residents committee of Barons Keep and Hammersmith & West London College have been initially consulted on these proposals. Both are in favour and see banning of the u-turn as being of the utmost importance.
6.2 As part of our statutory consultation process, emergency services, road user groups, mobility groups, the local London Cycling Campaign, ward councillors, business and local resident groups will be consulted and any responses will be reported and considered prior to the implementation of the scheme.
6.3 As this scheme may affect traffic flow patterns on the Strategic Road Network (SRN) it is considered necessary to notify Transport for London’s (TfL) Network Assurance Team (NAT) of the proposals and seek their approval for the scheme.
7. COST & PROGRAMME TIMESCALE
7.1 We have received £50,000 funding from TfL as part of the 09/10 LIP funding under the Local Safety Scheme programme. The estimated cost of the scheme is £50,000.
7.2 Implementation of the scheme is programmed to commence in August 2009.
8. COMMENTS OF THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES
8.1 Transport for London (TfL) have approved funding of £50,000 to implement the scheme from the Local Safety Scheme Programme in 2009- 10.
8.2 At present the costs are based on an estimate. This is subject to change once the detail of the scheme has been costed. The funding however is limited to the amount approved by the TfL board plus a contingency. Any variation in costs in excess of the contingency cannot be assumed to be funded by TfL unless this is approved in advance. Alternatively, officers may need to manage the workload to ensure that expenditure is contained within the approved provision.
9. COMMENTS OF THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (LEGAL AND DEMOCRATIC SERVICES)
9.1 There are no legal and democratic services implications.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 2000 LIST OF BACKGROUND PAPERS
No. Description of Background Name/Ext of Department/ Papers holder of file/copy Location
1. Edith Road Local Safety Scheme File Will Howe EnvD Ext. 1363 4th floor, HTHX 2. Traffic survey result data Will Howe EnvD Ext. 1363 4th floor, HTHX
CONTACT OFFICER: NAME: WILL HOWE EXT: 1363