Appendix D – Written Answers 580 / 2003 - Shirley Christmas Lights Andrew Pelling I quote from a letter I have received from Derek Turner at TfL Street Management. The letter is regarding the provision of Christmas lights in Spring Park, Shirley, Croydon. "I feel I should also take this opportunity to express my disappointment that the Christmas lights have been erected on TfL lamp columns on Wickham Road by Croydon Council, on behalf of the SBA, in advance of a licence being issued and with a number of issues still requiring clarification. I am aware that these lights have been permitted in previous years, but this is the first year that Croydon Council has not been either the Highway Authority or our steward. We have therefore been seeking: Confirmation that our columns would not be subjected to excessive additional loading. Details of the contractor erecting the lights and of their professional competence. Copy of the contractor and/or applicants’ public liability insurance certificates. Erection dates and times of operation of the lights, methods of control and details of the power supply as TfL is not permitted to supply electricity to a third party without the prior agreement of our supplier. The majority of this information has now been provided and a licence application has been issued, for which we are awaiting a response. Clearly we would not wish such problems to occur next year. I shall therefore ask that this issue be raised at the next round of TfL liaison meetings with all borough colleagues so that adequate warning is given of the information needs and the necessary procedures to avoid delays and inconvenience." The comments reflect a great deal of anger at TfL. The letter also emphasises that now TfL rather than Croydon Council are involved with the road, a great deal more process is required to be dealt with. While it is important that procedures are conducted to protect all people’s interests and public safety, what reassurance can I have that TfL’s involvement next year in provision of Christmas lights for the people of Shirley will be characterised by a desire to minimise process? As the highway authority for the A232 Wickham Road, Transport for London (TfL) has a duty of care to ensure a safe environment for all highway users. It is therefore only proper that they have an interest in and control all equipment erected on the Transport for London Road Network (TLRN) or attached to its street furniture, something that Croydon Council should have been doing previously. It also is a legal requirement under the Highways Act 1980 to licence any third party equipment placed on the highway. TfL is keen to avoid the problems that occurred last year with late notification of festive lighting. Discussions have continued from last year and Croydon Council are involved in preparations for Christmas 2003. 581 / 2003 - Contraction and Convergence Darren Johnson Given your support for the principle of Contraction and Convergence as a framework for tackling climate change, how would this fit in with the Mayor's Transport policies on matters such as airport expansion, road building, increased car usage in outer London and increased motorcycling? In my draft Energy Strategy I support the principle of contraction and convergence as a long-term policy objective. The Government’s consultation exercise on airport expansion has yet to be completed, however, in my Transport Strategy I support a sustainable and balanced London area airport system and the balance between environmental impact and economic development and regeneration must be met. In my Transport Strategy I set out in policy 4G.8 that any road proposals would be judged against a series of criteria including whether its provides a net benefit to London’s environment. Where schemes worsen conditions against any of these criteria, there will be a presumption that the scheme should not proceed unless benefits in other areas very substantially outweigh any benefits. My Transport Strategy aims to reduce car dependency, by enhancing public transport and facilitating walking and cycling. Modelling work undertaken for the GLA Sustainable Development Commission indicates that a 20% reduction of carbon dioxide emissions between 1990 and 2010 is possible in London. This takes into account the projected changes in road vehicle kilometres travelled in Central, Inner and Outer London, which were presented in my transport strategy. 582 / 2003 - BAE Systems Advertising Darren Johnson Do you think that BAE Systems should be allowed to get away with advertising on the tube? Once the Tube has been handed over I will have an opportunity to review the advertising policy on the Tube. 583 / 2003 - Road Building Darren Johnson Apart from building the Coulsdon by-pass (£28m), and giving the go ahead to the upgrading of the A13(£200m); and proposing to build two road river crossings (£670m); and two regeneration roads provisionally inserted into the business plan (£72m); do you have any other plans for tarmacking over London? In my Transport Strategy I set out in policy 4G.8 that any road proposals would be judged against a series of criteria including whether they provide a net benefit to London’s environment. Where schemes worsen conditions against any of these criteria, there will be a presumption that the scheme should not proceed unless benefits in other areas very substantially outweigh any costs. 584 / 2003 - Road Building Darren Johnson Do you consider yourself to be a road building Mayor? I do not consider myself to be a road building Mayor. Any road building schemes that TfL have undertaken since I came to power will have been to improve regeneration, reduce congestion and on environmental grounds. Three examples of this are the projects at Vauxhall Cross, Trafalgar Square and Shoreditch. 585 / 2003 - Night bus link between Sutton and Croydon Andrew Pelling What arguments would you like to see put forward to push the case for a night bus link between Sutton and Croydon? London Buses is keen to improve orbital night bus links and is currently exploring options for providing a night bus service to link Croydon and Sutton. If a cost-effective option can be found, and with sufficient funding, it may be possible to introduce this service later this year. I have asked London Buses officers to keep you informed of progress. I am pleased to report that London Buses is proposing to introduce three new night services this year on routes N119, N264 and N250. This will double the number of night routes in Croydon town centre and gives night bus links to the north, south, east and northwest of the borough. 586 / 2003 - Extending Tramlink to Sutton and Tooting Andrew Pelling I see the advantages of the extension of Tramlink to Sutton and to Tooting as follows: ·it would serve the northern end of South Wandle Valley ·it would provide an additional link to London via Tooting and its link with the Northern Line ·it would serve health provision at St Helier ·it would open up opportunities for areas of relative social deprivation around St Helier ·it would re-invigorate the area to the north of Sutton High Street ·there would be very limited residential land taken ·it would open up opportunities for tram extensions beyond Sutton to the south ·it would provide a link to Croydon via Mitcham Junction. Do you feel that these arguments make a strong case for this extension? Do you see other good reasons behind this particular prospective extension to Tramlink? Tramlink is a very successful system, with a great deal of popular support. I am keen to see it extended if an investment case can be made. There is no doubt that a Tramlink extension would contribute to all the things you have listed. As with any other proposals for investment, a robust transport and financial case needs to be made. I am sure you will be aware of the myriad of other calls on the transport budget. My major improvements to the bus services and the new tram system have improved accessibility and reliability for many local people. This brings particular advantages to the elderly, people with mobility problems and to parents with children in prams. Good public transport is also a real and proven alternative to private car use, leading to environmental advantages, the reduction of congestion and of road accidents. Work is underway to examine a number of potential extensions to Tramlink, of which this is just one, and I expect to be able to announce the outcome of this work later this spring. 587 / 2003 - Stafford Road/Mollison Drive junction Andrew Pelling Oral answer Will the £130,000 of TfL money being spent at the Stafford Road/Mollison Drive junction in Wallington improve the overall safety record for cars turning right off Stafford Road between Sandy Lane South and Mollison Drive? 588 / 2003 - East London Line extensions Andrew Pelling "The Business" reported your lobbying of the SRA for the East London Line extensions. Have you been lobbying the SRA? Is your lobbying making good progress on the East London Line extensions? The SRA are fully committed to the implementation of the East London Line extensions. The project was one of the key proposals for London in the SRA’s Strategic Plan 2, published in January this year. They are working closely with TfL and myself and London Underground to overcome the outstanding planning issues in relation to the Bishopsgate Goodsyard. I am hopeful that these will be resolved shortly and thus that the Secretary of State will approve the Business Case for the project. 589 / 2003 - Black taxis parking at bus stop in East Croydon Andrew Pelling The arrangements made by Croydon Council at East Croydon for bus passengers, pedestrians and taxis were never sufficient.