Park Lane coach parking
Consultation report March 2016
Contents
Executive Summary .............................................................................................................. 2 12345
Background ................................................................................................................ 3 The consultation ......................................................................................................... 4 Overview of consultation responses............................................................................ 6 Responses from statutory bodies and other stakeholders........................................... 7 Conclusion.................................................................................................................. 8
Appendix A – Copy of the consultation material .................................................................... 9 Appendix B – letter distribution area.................................................................................... 11 Appendix C – List of stakeholders consulted ....................................................................... 12 Appendix D – List of themes raised during consultation....................................................... 18 Appendix E – response to issues raised.............................................................................. 19
Executive Summary
About the consultation:
In November 2015 we consulted on proposals to introduce an additional 45 metres of coach parking on the north side of Park Lane. This proposed extension to existing coach parking would replace some of the coach parking that was removed from Victoria Embankment because of the East-West Cycle Superhighway.
Overall, we received 104 responses, with 65% of those supporting or partially supporting the scheme. Positive comments included general support for additional coach parking provision in London. Negative comments included concern that a nearby bus stop was being moved too away from the subway entrance/exit.
Conclusion and next steps:
Having considered the responses received, we will proceed with extending the coach parking bays on Park Lane. However, as the main concern raised during consultation was the distance between the bus stop and the subway entrance, we will instead introduce a 30 metre coach parking bay instead of the originally-proposed 45 metre bay. This would still provide additional coach parking, whilst allowing the bus stop to stay closer to the subway entrance, meaning bus passengers would have less of a distance to walk
Additionally, the consultation proposed that the additional parking spaces would become operational from 08:30 each day. In order for the new coach parking bays to mirror those already on Park Lane northbound, the operational hours will be changed to allow coaches to park from 08:00 each day. There will be no change to the charging hours.
We plan to extend the coach bay by the end of Spring 2016.
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1 Background
We identified a location on Park Lane for an additional 45 metres of coach parking. This proposed extension to existing coach parking would replace some of the coach parking that was removed from Victoria Embankment because of the East-West Cycle Superhighway.
We proposed to extend the existing paid coach parking bays on the west (northbound) side of Park Lane by 45 metres, which would provide space for three additional large coaches. The existing bus stop would be moved north, closer to Grosvenor Gate.
We proposed that the additional parking spaces would operate in the same way as the existing coach parking on Park Lane northbound:
Coaches would be allowed to park from 08:30 to midnight each day Charges levied by Westminster City Council will apply from 08:30 to 18:30 Monday to Friday and from 08:30 to 13:30 on Saturday
Coaches would be allowed to park for a maximum of two hours during operating times and would not be permitted to return within one hour
1.1 Scheme location
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2 The consultation
This consultation was designed to enable us to understand local opinion about the proposed changes to the coach parking on Park Lane. The consultation ran for a 4½week period, from Friday 20 November to Tuesday 22 December 2015.
The potential outcomes of the consultation were: We decide the consultation raises no issues that should prevent us from proceeding with the scheme as originally planned
We modify the scheme in response to issues raised in consultation We abandon the scheme because of issues raised in the consultation
2.1 Consultation objectives
The objectives of the consultation were: To provide easily-understandable information about our proposals and allow consultees to respond
To understand the level of support or opposition for our proposals To understand any issues which we were not previously aware of that might affect our proposals
To understand concerns and objections To allow consultees to make suggestions To inform our decision making process
2.2 Who we consulted
The public consultation intended to seek views of those living or working close to, Park Lane. We also asked for the views of local and London-wide stakeholders.
We consulted the following:
Residents Local businesses Road user groups Cyclists Metropolitan Police Westminster City Council officers and elected members London Councils Living Streets London TravelWatch Coach industry trade associations Other external stakeholders
A full list of stakeholders and organisations we consulted is included in appendix C and a summary of their responses is in section 6.
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2.3 Consultation material, distribution and publicity
The consultation was published online where a dedicated webpage included the details and background to the proposal. A copy of the website can be seen in appendix A.
We raised awareness of the consultation by distributing letters to 280 addresses in the surrounding area (see appendix B) with details of the scheme. All our printed material directed respondents to our website, although we also listed Freepost and
email addresses for those who preferred to write in. Our contact centre’s phone
number was also included if people had any enquiries. We also targeted registered oyster card holders who regularly used bus services along Park Lane. The email went to 20,133 people who use bus routes along Park Lane. These routes are: 2, 10, 16, 36, 73, 74, 82, 137, 148, 414, 436, N16, N73, N74 and N137
People were invited to respond to the consultation using a variety of methods. They could respond by emailing us at [email protected], by post to a Freepost address or by accessing the online consultation and survey via a website link:
https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/roads/park-lane-coaches (see appendix A).
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3 Overview of consultation responses
Overall, we received a total of 104 responses to the consultation, 103 of these were received online and one was received by letter. The responses included submissions from local authorities, members of the coach industry, bus users, and local stakeholders.
A breakdown of the number of responses by respondent type is shown in Table 1.
Table 1: Consultation responses by respondent
- Respondent
- Number
Members of the public Stakeholders
101
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The first question asked ‘Do you support the proposal for additional coach parking on
Park Lane?’
Table 2: Answers received to Question 1 – Do you support the proposal for additional coach parking on Park Lane?
Do you support the proposed scheme?
Support
Number Percentage
56 12
3
54% 11%
3%
Partially support No opinion
- Not sure
- 6
- 6%
Don’t support
Not answered
27
0
26%
0%
Do you support the proposal for additional coach parking on Park Lane?
60 50 40 30 20 10
0
Partially support
No opinion
Not answered
Don’t
support
- Support
- Not sure
- Percentage (%)
- 54%
56
11%
12
3%
3
6%
6
26%
27
0%
- 0
- Number of responses
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The second question was open and asked, ‘Do you have any comments on the proposal for extending the coach parking bays on Park Lane?’ Comments received were wide ranging, and the top five most common themes and issues raised are in the table below.
Table 3: Common themes arising from consultation
- Theme/Issue
- Number
Support: the reallocation of spaces lost from East-West Cycle Superhighway
24
Concern: the bus stop was moving too far from the subway entrance Oppose: the proposal
17 12
- 9
- Support: more coach parking needed
- Concern: traffic on Park Lane
- 9
4 Responses from statutory bodies and other stakeholders
Three stakeholders responded to the consultation. A summary of their responses is below:
London Tourist Coach Operators Association (LTCOA)
LTCOA fully supported the proposals for Park Lane.
Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT)
CPT fully supported the proposal, and outlined the benefit these bays would have for the coach industry. CPT also explained the adverse affect the loss of the coach bays on the East – West Cycle Superhighway was having on the industry.
The CPT also raised the issue of a significant loss of overnight coach parking in central London, resulting from the removal of the facility at New Covent Garden Market and the possible removal from Warwick Road coach park. The CPT felt that Park Lane offered an ideal location for overnight coach parking as there was minimal activity in the area that overnight parking would disrupt.
British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF)
The BMF supported the proposal and commented that it was a good use of space.
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5 Conclusion
The consultation intended to seek views of those living or working close to, Park Lane. The consultation ran for a 4½-week period, from Friday 20 November to Tuesday 22 December 2015. Overall, we received 104 responses, with 65% of those supporting or partially supporting the scheme.
Decision
Having considered the responses received, we will proceed with extending the coach parking bays on Park Lane. However, as the main concern raised during consultation was the distance between the bus stop and the subway entrance, we will instead introduce a 30 metre coach parking bay instead of the originally- proposed 45 metre bay. This would still provide additional coach parking, whilst allowing the bus stop to stay closer to the subway entrance, meaning bus passengers would have less of a distance to walk.
Additionally, the consultation proposed that the additional parking spaces would become operational from 08:30 each day. In order for the new coach parking bays to mirror those already on Park Lane northbound, the operational hours will be changed to allow coaches to park from 08:00 each day. There will be no change to the charging hours.
The consultation also proposed enlarging the existing bus stop shelter. However, as the existing shelter size was adequate for the number of passengers this is no longer necessary.
We plan to extend the coach bay by the end of Spring 2016.
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Appendix A – Copy of the consultation material
- 9
- 10
Appendix B – letter distribution area
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Appendix C – List of stakeholders consulted
London TravelWatch
Elected Members
Andrew Boff AM Caroline Pidgeon AM Darren Johnson AM Fiona Twycross AM Gareth Bacon AM Jenny Jones AM Joanne McCartney AM Kit Malthouse AM Murad Qureshi AM Nicky Gavron AM Richard Tracey AM Stephen Knight AM Tom Copley AM Valerie Shawcross AM
- Karen Buck MP
- Westminster North
- Mark Field MP
- Cities of London and Westminster
Knightsbridge & Belgravia, WCC Knightsbridge & Belgravia, WCC Knightsbridge & Belgravia, WCC West End, WCC
Cllr Anthony Devenish Cllr Philippa Roe Cllr Rachael Robathan Cllr Glenys Roberts
- Cllr Jonathan Glanz
- West End, WCC
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- Cllr Paul Church
- West End, WCC
Local Authorities
Greater London Authority (GLA) London Councils Royal Parks Westminster City Council
Police & Health Authorities
London Ambulance Service London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority Metropolitan Police Service Westminster Safer Transport Team
Transport Groups
AA DriveTech AA Motoring Trust Association of British Drivers Association of Car Fleet Operators Automobile Association (AA) Better Transport British Motorcyclists Federation Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) Confederation of Passenger Transport Department for Transport Disabled Motoring UK Freight Transport Association (FTA)
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Transport Groups
Green Flag Group Licenced Taxi Drivers Association London Tourist Coach Operators Association Motorcycle Action Group Motorcycle Industry Association RAC Foundation for Motoring Road Haulage Association (RHA) Transport Focus Transport for All
Local Interest Groups
Baker Street Quarter Partnership Ltd Bayswater Residents Association Belgravia Residents Association Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Association Fitzrovia Partnership Heart of London Business Alliance BID Marylebone Association New West End Company (NWEC) Paddington BID Paddington Residents Active Concern On Transport (PRACT) Residents Society of Mayfair and St James's South East Bayswater Residents Association Westminster Society
Other stakeholders
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Other stakeholders
Action on Hearing Loss (RNID) Age Concern London Age UK Alzheimer's Society Asian Peoples Disabilities Alliance Association of Disabled Professionals Balfour Beatty plc British Hospitality Association (BHA) BT Campaign for Better Transport Campaign for Clean Air in London Canal & River Trust London CCG Central London (WESTMINSTER) CCG NHS Central London Confederation of British Industry (CBI) CTC, the national cycling charity Disability Alliance Disability Rights UK Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee EDF Energy Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Greater London Forum for the Elderly Guide Dogs Historic Royal Palaces Independent Disability Advisory Group (IDAG) Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)
15
Other stakeholders
Joint Committee on Mobility of Blind and Partially Sighted People (JCMBPS)
Joint Mobility Unit Living Streets London and Partners London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) London Cycling Campaign London Cycling Campaign (Westminster) London First London Visual Impairment Forum (LVIF) MENCAP Merlin Entertainments Group MIND Multiple Sclerosis Society Muscular Dystrophy Campaign National Autistic Society National Children's Bureau National Grid Network Rail Infrastructure Limited Parkinson's UK RMT Union RNIB Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Royal Mail SCOPE Sense
16
Other stakeholders
Sixty Plus Stroke Association Sustrans Thames Water The British Dyslexia Association Unions Together Unite Union Visit Britain
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Appendix D – List of themes raised during consultation
Concern
- Concern: accessibility
- 4
1
Concern: coaches shouldn’t be in central London
Concern: cyclists in main carriageway Concern: reduced visibility
25
Concern: stop moving too far from subway entrance Concern: traffic on Park Lane
17
9
Concern: visual impact of coaches and buses
Oppose
4
- Oppose: the proposal
- 12
Suggestions
Suggestion: reduce from 3 bays to 2 bays Suggestion: 20mph
112329111
Suggestion: better enforcement Suggestion: coach parking between stop and car park ramp Suggestion: increase parking time Suggestion: not scheme related Suggestion: park and ride for coaches Suggestion: seasonal coach parking restrictions Suggestion: UK registered coaches only
Support
Support: more coach parking needed Support: the proposal
9
24
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Appendix E – response to issues raised
Below are our responses to the most commonly raised issues.
The proposal makes the distance between the subway and bus stop too far
The proposal initially moved the bus stop north by 45 metres. As a result of the concerns about the increased walking distance from the bus stop to the subway this will be reduced to 30 metres.
The proposal will add to traffic on Park Lane
Some respondents were worried that this would increase traffic on Park Lane. As this proposal only sees an addition of two coach parking bays to the existing 20 coach parking bays on Park Lane northbound, there is unlikely to be any noticeable increase in traffic along this already busy section of road.
More coach parking is needed
Some respondents commented that more coach parking was required in London. The additional coach parking on Park Lane is principally to replace some of the coach parking bays removed from Victoria Embankment. TfL is nonetheless working with the coach industry trade associations and local authorities to improve the provision of coach parking across London.
The proposal will reduced visibility of the bus stop
Some concerns were raised that the additional parking would reduce visibility of the bus stop. As the proposal does not change the size of the bus stop, only the position, the additional coach parking should not have any impact on the existing arrangements.
Visual impact of buses and coaches
Park Lane is already a busy road, with three traffic lanes in each direction and 20 existing coach parking bays on the northbound carriageway. We therefore feel the addition of two additional coach parking bays will not have a significant impact on the existing views.
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