A4 Cromwell Gardens Thurloe Place Consultation Report January 2015
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
A4 Cromwell Gardens Thurloe Place Consultation Report January 2015 Contents 1 Introduction.................................................................................................. 2 2 The Consultation......................................................................................... 4 3 Responses from members of the public, local businesses and external 5 stakeholders................................................................................................ 4 External Stakeholder Comments................................................................. 6 5 Conclusion................................................................................................... 7 Appendix A – List of Relevant External Stakeholders Consulted................ 8 Appendix B – Consultation Material............................................................. 10 Appendix C – Responses to Issues Raised ................................................ 15 1 1. Introduction We recently invited the public, local businesses and stakeholders to comment on our proposals to improve the pedestrian facilities at the junction of A4 Cromwell Gardens and Thurloe Place and outside numbers 12-16 Thurloe Place. This report explains the background to our proposals, outlines the consultation undertaken and summarises the responses. The consultation was open for the public, local businesses and stakeholders to comment between Monday 8 September and Sunday 19 October 2014. We wish to improve facilities for pedestrians on our streets and identified a number of problems currently affecting pedestrians and drivers at this location: On the west side of the junction (adjacent to the small park) the excessive width of the Thurloe Place carriageway, and the bend at the approach, make it difficult for pedestrians to cross. Also, the direct movement of pedestrians (“desire line”) along the southern footway of Cromwell Gardens and Thurloe Place (eastern section) is obstructed by the cycle stands and plinth, located outside the former embassy building (33 Thurloe Square). The “desire line” is also obstructed because the footway outside nos. 12-16 Thurloe Place is not well aligned with the footway outside the former embassy building. The boundary hedge in the small park to the west of the junction obstructs pedestrian and vehicle driver sightlines and the main sign for the ‘no left turn’ from Thurloe Place into Cromwell Gardens is not well located for visibility by vehicle drivers. Additionally, the crossing point across the driveway to Thurloe Lodge and Amberwood House lacks fully dropped kerbs to aid the mobility impaired. We proposed four improvements to this junction and nearby footway: Building out the kerb and widening the footway on the west side of the junction to narrow the distance pedestrians have to cross and to improve sightlines. The ‘no left turn’ sign would be moved to the new built-out kerb to improve its visibility, and the ‘no entry’ signs would be removed as part of a de-cluttering exercise. Removing the cycle stands and plinth outside the former embassy building (33 Thurloe Square) to remove this obstruction to pedestrians. Ten new cycle stands would be installed along the edge of the adjacent footway. Building out the kerb and widening the footway outside nos. 12-16 Thurloe Place, to match the pedestrian desire line to and from Cromwell Gardens. One lamp column and one sign post would need to be relocated a short distance. The existing parking bays would be retained but slightly realigned. Providing dropped kerbs on both sides of the driveway to Thurloe Lodge and Amberwood House, to improve accessibility for the mobility impaired. 2 We proposed that the bench outside the former embassy building (33 Thurloe Square) and all trees would be retained, and that there would be no change to existing red route restrictions or banned turns. Double red lines would be extended to cover the new kerb build-outs as required. 3 2. The Consultation The consultation was designed to help inform and shape our final decision. We wanted to understand the community’s opinions about our proposals to improve the pedestrian facilities at this location. The potential outcomes of the consultation are: We decide the consultation raises no issues that should prevent us from proceeding with the scheme as proposed We modify the scheme in response to issues raised in the consultation We abandon the scheme as a result of issues raised in the consultation 2.1 Consultation objectives The objectives of the consultation were: To give the public, local businesses and stakeholders information about our proposals and allow them to respond To understand the level of support or opposition for our proposals To understand any issues of which we were not previously aware that might affect our proposals To understand concerns and objections To allow respondents to make suggestions To help inform our decision making process 2.2 Whom we consulted We sought the views of people living or working within approximately 130m-300m (depending on road layout) of the location. This extent is shown in Appendix B. We also informed known stakeholders of our consultation. A list of relevant external stakeholders contacted is shown in Appendix A. 2.3 Consultation material, distribution and publicity The consultation was published online on our consultation website. We produced a letter with a map explaining our proposals and how to respond, and posted this to 251 properties in the immediate area and to three external stakeholders. An email with a link to our online consultation was sent to 136 internal and external stakeholders’ email addresses. We also posted a notice about the consultation on two lamp posts at the location. Copies of the letter, email and lamp post notice are shown in Appendix B. 2.4 Meetings and site visits A site visit took place involving TfL, TfL Buses, the works contractor CVU, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Metropolitan Police on 23 October 2014. A site visit took place involving TfL and one of the external stakeholders, Thurloe Owners and Leaseholders Association on 2 December 2014. A further meeting with this organisation may take place to finalise arrangements. 2.5 General response In total, 19 responses were received from members of the public, local businesses and external stakeholders. 4 3. Responses from members of the public, local businesses and external stakeholders In our consultation we asked no specific questions on our proposals. Instead we asked respondents whether they support the proposed improvements and provided them with the opportunity to leave further comments. The table below summarises the level of support. Do you support these proposed improvements? Total Percent of All I support them 14 77.78% I am not sure 3 16.67% I am against them 0 0% I have no opinion on them 0 0% Not Answered 1 5.56% This table excludes one external stakeholder who replied by email rather than on the consultation web page and did not directly answer this question Of the 19 responses, 12 included comments. The table below summarises the views and suggestions made. Comment summary Number of times raised Comments this is a good idea / supports proposals 8 Has no objections 1 Notes difficulty crossing A4 Cromwell Gardens 1 Questions the need for cycle stands 2* Requests further improvements to pedestrian facilities including 2 elsewhere in area Favours prioritising pedestrians over other highway users 1 Urges against outdoor tables and chairs / commercial activity on 1 widened footway Suggests pedestrian crossing across eastern side of junction 1 Comments would be better for motorists as well as pedestrians 1 Disagrees with removal of plinth 1 Possibly suggests extending double red lines to relieve 1 congestion** Asks about conversion of one parking space into a disabled 1 parking space Observes that giving pedestrians more freedom and accessibility 1 will improve the area Asks about effect on bus and large vehicle diversion 1 * 1 of which was raised during a site visit ** respondent’s comment was unclear A list of responses to issues raised is attached as Appendix C. 5 4. External Stakeholder Comments Comments were received from the following external stakeholders: Thurloe Owners and Leaseholders Association “With the exception of the plinth which you are proposing to remove, we are in agreement with your proposals. The plinth was originally constructed for a sculpture and we would like this retained for that purpose and strongly urge this should not be removed.” Further discussions took place with this organisation, the outcomes of which are summarised in the Conclusion and Appendix C. Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea “We have not heard any comments on this proposal from local residents. The changes that are proposed will be of benefit to pedestrians without appearing to cause any negative impacts, and we support them.” Metropolitan Police ”Police have no objections but.......” {question about bus and large vehicle diversion arrangements}. Further discussions took place with this organisation and a satisfactory result was achieved. 6 5. Conclusion The responses to the consultation show strong support for our proposals. We have decided that we will carry out the improvements as proposed, with the exception of the cycle stands and plinth outside the former embassy building in Thurloe Place. Following discussion with Thurloe Owners and Leaseholders Association we have decided to retain the plinth in its existing location for a sculpture to