London Overground extension to Barking Riverside Winter 2015/2016 public consultation report London Overground extension to Barking Riverside Winter 2015/2016 public consultation report Published March 2016 2 Contents 1 Executive Summary........................................................................................................ 4 2 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 7 3 Background to the scheme ........................................................................................... 10 4 Methodology ................................................................................................................. 11 Scope of consultation ...................................................................................................... 11 Consultation objectives.................................................................................................... 11 Consultation tools ............................................................................................................ 11 Meetings .......................................................................................................................... 15 The online survey and questionnaire ............................................................................... 16 5 Consultation responses ................................................................................................ 17 Who responded? ............................................................................................................. 17 How did people hear about the consultation?.................................................................. 20 How many people answered each question? .................................................................. 20 Breakdown of consultation responses ............................................................................. 21 6 Responses from stakeholders ...................................................................................... 26 7 TfL’s answers to questions .......................................................................................... 34 8 Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 40 9 Next steps .................................................................................................................... 40 Appendix A1 – Copy of the consultation letter .................................................................... 42 Appendix A2 – Consultation letter distribution area ............................................................ 43 Appendix A3 – Copy of the consultation letter to Choats Road/Great Fleete Way.............. 44 Appendix A4 – Copy of the consultation letter to Sterne Close ........................................... 45 Appendix B – List of stakeholders consulted....................................................................... 46 Appendix C – Email to non-statutory stakeholders under Annex 4 of the TWA rules .......... 58 Appendix D – Email to Oyster users ................................................................................... 59 Appendix E – Consultation flyer .......................................................................................... 60 Appendix F – Press release ................................................................................................ 61 Appendix G – Press advert ................................................................................................. 63 3 1 Executive Summary 1.1 Transport for London (TfL) has undertaken a public consultation on the proposal to extend the London Overground Gospel Oak to Barking line, to a new station within the Barking Riverside housing development. The scheme is called the Barking Riverside Extension (BRE). The consultation ran from 1 December 2015 to 24 January 2016. This report explains what TfL consulted on and why; how TfL consulted, the results of the consultation and what happens next. 1.2 The consultation was the third round of public consultation undertaken on the proposed scheme by TfL: TfL first consulted on the principle of the scheme in autumn 2014 In spring 2015 TfL again asked for views on the principle of the scheme and also whether people had a preference for one of two alignment options. TfL also discussed further some of the issues which had arisen from the previous consultation. More information on these consultations is provided in Section 2 of this report. 1.3 Following the spring 2015 consultation, TfL chose the preferred route alignment. 1.4 In winter 2015, TfL returned to ask for views on the extent of land required to construct and then operate the extension; proposed construction compound locations, (for storing welfare facilities and equipment) and proposed lorry routes. 1.5 Information about the proposals was made available online along with a consultation questionnaire, enabling people to respond. The proposals could also be viewed and commented upon at a number of consultation events, including roadshow events and meetings with residents’ associations. 1.6 Consultees were invited to give their views either by filling in the questionnaire online or by responding via post, email or by completing a feedback form at a roadshow event. Paper copies of the consultation were available on request, together with the questionnaire. Material was also available on request in alternative formats such as large print, audio or another language. Consultees were invited to contact TfL if they had a question which required answering before submitting a response to the consultation. 1.7 The consultation was supported by a marketing campaign: Letters explaining about the project and the consultation were distributed to over 26,000 addresses in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Over 42,000 emails about the consultation were sent to Oyster users who reside near the proposed extension route and who had signed up for updates Letters and emails were sent to local, London wide and national statutory and non-statutory stakeholder groups A press release Adverts in local newspapers Two public roadshow events, at Barking Learning Library and the Rivergate Centre, Barking Riverside 4 Attendance of six residents’ association meetings to discuss the scheme Updates on the TfL Twitter account to alert/remind people about the consultation and the roadshow events Face to face distribution of 12,000 consultation flyers in the borough Distribution of 900 consultation flyers between both Thames View Junior and Thames View Infant schools; and 700 flyers at Richard Carey Primary school With the assistance of Barking Reach residents’ association, information on the consultation was provided on the Barking Reach Facebook page 1.8 At a roadshow on 14 December 2015, a resident from Sterne Close said that neither she nor her immediate neighbours had received a consultation letter. A letter was hand delivered to all residents on Sterne Close on 18 December 2015. Please see Appendix A3. 1.9 TfL asked four questions about the proposals: Do you have any comments on the extent of the land required for the project? Do you have any comments on the indicative construction compound locations? Do you have any comments on the indicative lorry routes? Do you have any other comments about the proposals? 1.10 The consultation generated 245 responses. The majority of respondents either made comments of agreement or made no comment on the extent of land required, indicative compound locations and lorry routes. A detailed breakdown of all the results is provided in Section 5 of this report and TfL’s answers to questions is provided in Section 7. The key issues which emerged were: Passive provision should be made for a further extension of the London Overground south of the River Thames An intermediate station near Renwick Road bridge should be delivered with the BRE Concern regarding existing overcrowding on the London Overground, with suggestions that capacity should be increased through additional cars and greater frequency of services The need for traffic management controls during construction of the BRE, including minimising lorry frequency 1.11 In addition to the responses received on the Consultation Tool, by email, post and feedback forms, TfL also took views at a number of resident’s group meetings and two roadshows. The feedback received is provided in Figures 4 and 5 in section 4 of this report. The key concerns were impacts to local residents during construction and operation of the BRE. Traffic impacts during construction were a particular concern. 1.12 Additionally, residents in the Choats Road/Great Fleete Way area, (the closest existing residents to the proposed new viaduct), were also concerned about depreciation of their properties and the proximity of a construction compound. A map showing the location of the Choats Road/Great Fleete Way area is provided in Figure 1. 5 Figure 1: Map highlighting the Choats Road/Great Fleete Way area 1.13 Everyone who contacted TfL as part of the consultation with an email or postal address will be notified that this report is available. Consultation and engagement on the proposals is ongoing. Since the consultation closed on 24 January 2016, TfL has engaged further with rail and freight organisations and interested parties whose land or business operations may be impacted by the scheme. The consultation email address is still active