Appendix D GREATER LONDON AUTHORITY London Assembly – Written Answers 25 February 2004 146 / 2004 - Step Change provision for Croydon Andrew Pelling Bearing in mind that the London Borough of Croydon has the largest population in London of any local borough and bearing in mind that its population is 52.7% above the average population for a London borough, would you agree that it would be reasonable to provide sufficient resources for Step Change provision of extra police officers in four wards rather than three in Croydon’s special case? Although crime is falling and police numbers and their visibility is rising, more needs to be done to increase safety for Londoners. My budget for 2004-05 covers the cost of introducing three dedicated local neighborhood teams of six officers in each borough to provide visible, familiar and accessible policing to local communities. This is in addition to the officer allocation to the borough through the RAF formula that reflects levels of need. At this stage of the development of the Step Change Programme it is important to deal with all boroughs on an equitable basis. I will continue to work with partners to continue to make representations to the Government for recognition of the Step Change Programme in the 2004 Spending Review, which will set resource levels for 2005-06 onwards. 147 / 2004 - All night train services to Sutton on New Year's Eve/Day Andrew Pelling Sutton was the only borough not served by the Underground which did not have an all night train service on New Year’s Eve/Day this year. What could you do to change this next year? The choice of routes for last New Year’s Eve, for which late running national rail services were an innovative trial, was a reflection of the need for a balance between cost, operational feasibility and a desire to focus on main town centres around London, such as Croydon. TfL are reviewing all aspects of the 2003/4 operation, including costs and traveller needs. Possible Sutton routes will be further considered in this review. 148 / 2004 - A22 Godstone Road traffic warden patrols Andrew Pelling Please state the average number of traffic warden patrol visits to police parking per month since the introduction of the red route on the A22 Godstone Road. This stretch of the A22 has recently been designated as a red route. For the past five weeks it has been patrolled twice a week by Traffic Wardens (on alternating days) for the duration of the red route enforcement period, and periodically MQT 25 February 2004 1 Appendix D outside these times. 150 / 2004 - Defending the future of district centres Andrew Pelling With large number of post office closures proposed over the coming year, London’s many district centres will face further challenges to their viability. What should the GLA family be doing to defend the future of district centres? What planning and economic development roles are there for the GLA in helping district centres to meet problems of a long- term decline? The policies in my London Plan promote the vitality and viability of town centres by encouraging retail, leisure and other related uses in town centres and discourage them outside. The Plan promotes sustainable access to goods and services to meet Londoner’s needs and enhance local and neighbourhood shopping facilities. The London Development Agency targets investment in town centres and supports the regeneration of centres. I am also working with Transport for London to improve access to town centres by public transport, cycling and walking which will further help to sustain a healthy future of our district and local centres. 151 / 2004 - Reduced bus services on suburban routes Andrew Pelling Is there a saving for London Buses by running reduced services on suburban bus routes during the period between the Christmas and New Year holidays? Virtually all bus routes operated a Saturday service during the period between Christmas and New Year (i.e. on the 24, 29, 30 and 31 December and on 2 January), not just suburban routes. The costs of operating this service are less than that of a ‘normal’ weekly service. However, the reduction in the passenger demand is such that Saturday service levels can more than adequately provide the capacity required. 152 / 2004 - Bus loading figures in outer London between Christmas and New Year Andrew Pelling What measures do London Buses have of the loadings on buses in outer London in the period between the Christmas and New Year holidays when bus services were often reduced to a Saturday only service? Passenger usage for the week days in the period between Christmas and New Year is about 70% of a “normal” working day. 153 / 2004 - Cycle races in Crystal Palace Park Andrew Pelling There used to be weekly cycle races in Crystal Palace Park in the summer but the circuit has been unusable for the last two summers. There are races across in Hillingdon but that is quite a distance for talented young cyclists to travel in order to train and compete. What prospects do you see for including good facilities for cycle races in any new development plans for Crystal Palace? MQT 25 February 2004 2 Appendix D I am advised by Bromley Council that the reason the races have not taken place for the last two summers was because there was temporary fencing present, which would have presented a danger to cyclists. That temporary fencing has now been removed and the track will be open again this summer. Cycling in the park is one issue which I am sure the LDA will be mindful of in preparing plans for the Park. Any development proposals for the Park will obviously also be subject to public consultation. 154 / 2004 - Supply of raw water as substitute for potable water Andrew Pelling What pressure should the GLA bring to bear on Thames Water and other smaller suppliers of water in London to supply raw water, where appropriate, as a substitute for potable water? The use of raw (ie. untreated) water for purposes which do not require potable water is one way of reducing our water demand and improving our use of water resources. A number of small schemes, such as the Beddington Zero Energy Development, already use grey water and I am discussing the wider application of grey water technology in a number of larger projects, particularly in the context of the London Olympics proposals. Further guidance will be given in my forthcoming Supplementary Planning Guidance on Sustainable Design and Construction. 155 / 2004 - Use of non-potable water for irrigation and non-drinking Andrew Pelling With the ongoing difficulties we have with the rising water table on the Underground, is there a potential business opportunity for London Underground to supply non-potable water for applications such as irrigation, and sustainable use of such non-potable water for domestic non-drinking water usage? The deep level aquifer in the chalk beneath London continues to rise, but at a decreasing rate. London Underground is part of a working group led by Thames Water, called GARDIT which is examining ways of pumping the deep aquifer. Pumping the water to assist in ”cooling the Tube” is also being examined by LUL. 156 / 2004 - Accidents involving Tramlink from April 2003 to date Andrew Pelling In May 2003, you answered a question I posed about the number of accidents that Tramlink had been involved from February 2002 to March 2003, broken down by type of accident and type of collision defined by body with which collision has taken place. You said that Tramlink vehicles had been involved in 35 RTAs. Could you please supply the same detail of accidents that Tramlink has been involved in since April 2003 to date? Data is available to show the total number of Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) involving the Tramlink since its inception in 2000 until January 2004. TfL MQT 25 February 2004 3 Appendix D continues to work with Tramtrack Croydon Limited to ensure that the Tramlink operation remains a safe and attractive system. 157 / 2004 - Croydon’s inclusion in the Mayor’s 100 Public Spaces Programme Andrew Pelling Why are there no places in the London Borough of Sutton or Croydon that have been included amongst the 14 listed in the second phase of the Mayor’s 100 Public Spaces Programme? What could be done to secure a place in the third phase? Where does the Coulsdon Town Centre Improvement Scheme fit within the 100 Public Spaces Programme? With Croydon being voted the 15th worst place to live in the country, perhaps we are in need of urgent support for inclusion within the Mayor’s 100 Public Spaces Programme. Coulsdon Town centre is included in the first phase of my 100 public spaces programme. The A23 relief road, now underway, will take heavy traffic out of Coulsdon allowing a high quality public space to be created. My Architecture and Urbanism Unit and TfL are working closely with Croydon to secure the best design, which will be implemented on completion of the bypass. I want to achieve a spread of projects across London and where TfL and the LDA can contribute. The second phase of 14 projects reflects this. As Coulsdon has been included in the first batch of 24 projects, and bearing in mind there are 32 boroughs, Croydon has not missed out. Other boroughs have not yet been included at all. There will be opportunities later in the programmes for projects in Sutton and others in Croydon. Suggestions for further projects are welcome. 158 / 2004 - Improvements at West Croydon for gateway to Croydon Andrew Pelling It is sometimes instructive to see yourself as others see you.