Road Safety Improvements on Grosvenor Place
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Road safety improvements on Grosvenor Place Consultation Report July 2018 1 Contents Executive summary ..................................................................................................... 4 Summary of issues raised during consultation ......................................................... 4 Petitions ................................................................................................................... 4 Next steps ................................................................................................................ 4 1. About the proposals ............................................................................................ 5 1.1 Background and purpose ............................................................................... 5 1.2 Detailed description ........................................................................................ 5 2. About the consultation ........................................................................................ 7 2.1 Purpose .......................................................................................................... 7 2.2 Potential outcomes ......................................................................................... 7 2.3 Who we consulted .......................................................................................... 7 2.4 Dates and duration ......................................................................................... 8 2.5 What we asked ............................................................................................... 8 2.6 Methods of responding ................................................................................... 8 2.7 Consultation materials and publicity ............................................................... 9 2.8 Analysis of consultation responses .............................................................. 10 3. About the respondents ...................................................................................... 11 3.1 Number of respondents ................................................................................ 11 3.2 How respondents heard about the consultation ........................................... 11 3.3 Methods of responding ................................................................................. 12 3.4 Profile of respondents .................................................................................. 12 3.5 Postcodes of respondents ............................................................................ 16 4. Summary of all consultation responses ............................................................ 17 4.1 Summary of responses ................................................................................ 17 4.2 Summary of stakeholder responses ............................................................. 18 4.3 Petitions and campaigns .............................................................................. 27 4.4 Comments on the consultation ..................................................................... 27 5. Response to the issues raised and next steps ................................................. 29 Appendix A: Detailed list of comments ...................................................................... 31 Appendix B: Consultation materials .......................................................................... 35 2 Appendix C: List of stakeholders consulted ............................................................... 43 Appendix D: Petitions ................................................................................................ 49 Appendix E: Quality of consultation ........................................................................... 50 3 Executive summary Between 21 August and 1 October 2017, we consulted on proposals for road safety improvements on Grosvenor Place. We received 554 responses to the consultation (including 22 responses from key stakeholders). Respondents were asked to comment on our proposals. The main themes raised during the consultation are highlighted below, with a detailed summary of the results in Chapter 4 and the full list of comments in Appendix A. Summary of issues raised during consultation Below are some of most commonly raised issues: Concern that preventing right turns would increase congestion along adjacent roads in the area, and generally have a negative impact on local traffic Wilton Street would not be able to cope with displaced traffic and concern regarding disruption to a quiet narrow street Changes would increase both air and noise pollution New pedestrian island by the gyratory would slow traffic flow Petitions One petition was submitted to the consultation by Wilton Street residents who strongly objected to our proposals. For full details, please go to Section 4.4. Next steps In response to the four commonly issues raised above we recognised that a number of respondents were worried that banning the right turns into Chapel Street and Chester Street would significantly increase the number of vehicles turning right into Wilton Street. Our traffic modelling showed that the scheme would have a neutral impact on journey times for general traffic on Grosvenor Place. Traffic that would have made 4 one of the previously permitted right turns from or onto Grosvenor Place would disperse and use alternative routes. As a result of this feedback we have reviewed the scheme and will additionally be prohibiting vehicles from turning right into Wilton Street. Following this change, Westminster City Council removed their objection to the scheme and advised us that they wish for us to proceed with the revised scheme. We also propose to implement the scheme before any major traffic management scheme is developed for the nearby Victoria Gyratory network, especially in respect to strategic east to west movements through the area. We plan to implement the banned turns in 2019. We will also further develop the plans for the crossing at the Hyde Park gyratory end of Grosvenor Place and the impact on traffic in the area before finalising our plans for implementation. 1. About the proposals 1.1 Background and purpose We are proposing road safety improvements on Grosvenor Place and the junction with the Hyde Park corner gyratory. Analysis of data shows that there have been a number of collisions between vehicles turning right and northbound traffic on Grosvenor Place. To reduce the potential for such collisions, we are proposing to prohibit the currently permitted right turns for vehicles. We are also proposing a new two-staged signalised crossing and larger island on Grosvenor Place close to the junction with Duke of Wellington Place to make it easier for people to cross the road. 1.2 Detailed description Our proposals covered four categories: Banned vehicle movements to improve safety In order to reduce potential conflicts involving right-turning vehicles, we are planning to ban the following turns for all vehicles: 5 No entry from Grosvenor Place into Chapel Street. We would ban the right and left turns for vehicles. Chapel Street would become exit only onto Grosvenor Place. Traffic counts show a maximum of 164 vehicle movements in the AM peak and 279 vehicle movements in the PM peak for right turning vehicles and a maximum of 31 vehicle movements in the AM peak and 36 vehicles in the PM peak for left turning vehicles Right turn from Grosvenor Place to Chester Street and from Chester Street to Grosvenor Place. Traffic counts show a maximum of 62 vehicles in the AM peak and 98 vehicles in the PM peak making this turn. We would also extend the existing traffic island opposite Chester Street, which would also physically prevent vehicles turning right into and out of Chester Street Right turn from Grosvenor Place to Wilton Street and from Wilton Street to Grosvenor Place. Traffic counts show at least 50 vehicle movements every hour between 09:00 and 19:00 - sometimes reaching 70 – 80 vehicle movements As well as reducing the potential for collisions, the changes would also improve traffic flow going south along Grosvenor Place. New crossings and more space for pedestrians at Duke of Wellington Place New signalised two-stage pedestrian crossing on Grosvenor Place with a larger pedestrian island at Duke of Wellington Place. This would provide an alternative to the existing subways which are not accessible and are closed overnight. The larger island would also encourage drivers to slow down when approaching the left turn onto Grosvenor Place from the gyratory. Relocating loading bay from Grosvenor Place to Chapel Street Relocate an existing loading bay (16m long) from Grosvenor Place to Chapel Street to prevent loading vehicles blocking the northbound bus lane. This relocation is expected to improve traffic flow and bus journey times Bus lane hours Extend northbound bus lane hours of operation from 7am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm Monday to Sunday, to 7am to 7pm Monday to Sunday to improve bus journey times and reliability. Taxis, motorcycles and bicycles would be allowed to use the bus lane, as they are at present. Our traffic modelling showed that the scheme would have a neutral impact on journey times for general traffic on Grosvenor Place. Traffic that would have made one of the previously permitted right turns from or onto Grosvenor Place would disperse and use alternative routes. 6 2. About the consultation 2.1 Purpose The objectives of the consultation were: To give stakeholders and the public easily-understandable