CITY OF WESTMINSTER – ENVIRONMENT AND CITY MANAGEMENT DELEGATED AUTHORITY CONSULTATION REPORT 7574 TRAFFIC ORDERS – ROYAL ALBERT HALL (KENSINGTON GORE) (Drawing No. 70062774-WSP-P01-X-DR-HI-1203-01) (Knightsbridge & Belgravia Ward) Background On 24th June 2020, the Head of Parking considered and approved a report under his delegated powers allowing consultation on highway improvement and Traffic Order proposals for a public realm improvement scheme in the vicinity of the Royal Albert Hall in Kensington Gore. The public realm improvement scheme is intended to improve pedestrian safety and comfort, and the footway and carriageway condition along Kensington Gore by providing a safer and wider southern footway and improved crossing facilities to enhance the connectivity between the Royal Albert Hall and Hyde Park. Following the publication / posting of press and street notices during July 2020 and consultation with frontagers and other key parties on the proposed measures 13 responses were received, as detailed in the appendix to this report. The extent of the letter consultation included six Ward Councillors, eight local residents' associations, 65 statutory bodies and 65 frontagers. Recommendation It is recommended that the Traffic Orders are made as proposed to facilitate the implementation of the scheme shown on Drawing No. 70062774-WSP-P01-X-DR-HI-1203- 01. I agree with the recommendation. Signed Date 04/08/2020 Programme and Contract Manager City Highways, Environment and City Management Signed Date 04/08/2020 Head of Parking City Highways, Environment and City Management 7574/LH A: WSP, Room 603, 52 Grosvenor Gardens, London, SW1W 0AU. T: 020 3116 5996. APPENDIX NAME AND ADDRESS RESPONSE OFFICERS’ COMMENTS 1. highlights that there are numerous WSP replied to on 1st July 2020 to Bus Operations high frequency buses using the streets affected by confirm that as the bus stop is located outside the Transport for London (TfL) the works. He will need to keep bus stops open or scheme extents it will remain as it is currently. relocated during any construction phases. He has However, it may be necessary to suspend the bus also noticed that the bus stop will not require stop and provide a temporary stop to allow safe Email dated 29th June 2020 relocating after completion. As the area is mostly working. WSP will contact to dual carriageway, he supposes there will not be any discuss construction phasing. need for full closures. 2. The Metropolitan Police service has no objections Noted. or concerns regarding the proposed measures. Metropolitan Police Service Email dated 29th June 2020 3. TfL have had prior consultation and attended a site WSP replied to on 1st July 2020 to Taxi and Private Hire meeting regarding the public realm works and confirm that only the civil works associated with the TfL agreed the relocation of the taxi rank, which they crossing by the relocated taxi rank will be support. However, they ask: implemented (i.e. dropped kerb, ducting and sockets), none of the signalling equipment will be Email dated 29th June 2020 Next to the taxi rank, there is a crossing point which installed at this stage. will not go live until further down the line of this project, they want to make sure that the rank will Subject to traffic modelling, the crossing will stay in situ once this crossing point goes live. become operational as part of the second phase of the scheme (post 2022), and will require the taxi There is a phase 2 to this public realm scheme rank to be relocated again. WSP will consult with which is the side where the rank is to be located, TfL to find the most appropriate location for it. they would like to ensure that they have prior consultation and if necessary another site meeting as they would need to temporarily relocate the taxi rank when this phase starts. 2 APPENDIX (CONTINUED) NAME AND ADDRESS RESPONSE OFFICERS’ COMMENTS 4. Vodafone: Fixed does have apparatus within the Noted. Plant Enquiries Team vicinity of the proposed works. According to their Atkins (on behalf of Vodafone: records there is leased and / or third party network Fixed) within the proposed works. However, because the plant is leased / third party they strongly recommend other utility providers are contacted to gather the extent of services within the area. Email dated 30th June 2020 Unfortunately, they are unable to advise who the plant is leased to or who the third party is. 5. confirms that the scheme will not have Noted. Waste and Parks an impact on waste collections or street cleansing. Westminster City Council Email dated 30th June 2020 6. states that many cars and taxis stop in The scheme has been developed at the request of front of The Royal Albert Hall in the evenings of the Royal Albert Hall in order to improve public concerts. Buses need to be able to turn in the side safety in the vicinity and implement security streets, and sometimes need to perform U-turns. improvements identified in an independent security Restricting the width of Kensington Gore would assessment. The consultation documents were Email dated 2nd July 2020 create chaos. also sent to the Royal Albert Hall. He asks has The Royal Albert Hall been consulted. The carriageway width on Kensington Gore will be There is a real need for disabled people or buses reduced to improve the public space and and taxis to get easy and multiple ways of access to accommodate the protective bollards. The road will The Royal Albert Hall. Introducing double yellow remain wide enough to allow vehicles to set down lines and loading restrictions will just cause traffic and pick up passengers without impacting traffic problems. flow and allow coaches to turn in and out of side streets. The current crossing between The Royal Albert Hall and the park is dangerous. The pedestrian signal is 3 APPENDIX (CONTINUED) NAME AND ADDRESS RESPONSE OFFICERS’ COMMENTS green for barely 3 or 4 seconds, then cars have a Vehicles are always allowed to stop on both single flashing orange which they tend to consider as a and double yellow lines for as long as necessary to green light. He states it should be red and not a allow passengers to board or alight. flashing orange for cars. Elderly people and families don’t have time to cross. He suggests a The pedestrian crossing will be upgraded and different setup and longer pedestrian phase would accessibility improved. The reduction in the help. crossing distance and dropped kerbs providing a flush level across the road will assist pedestrians, in particular the elderly, families and disabled people, in crossing more safely. TfL are responsible for controlled crossings and they are aware of the issues at the existing crossing. The new pedestrian crossing will provide a more appropriate crossing phase for pedestrians. 7. Plant Protection Team The Plant Protection Team confirm that the Noted. Cadent following apparatus has been identified in the vicinity of the proposed works: · low or medium pressure (below 2 bar) gas pipes Email dated 4th July 2020 and associated equipment. (As a result, it is highly likely that there are gas services and associated apparatus in the vicinity). 8. The Knightsbridge Neighbourhood Plan 2018 - 2037 The Knightsbridge Neighbourhood Forum’s support Knightsbridge Neighbourhood is part of the development for the Knightsbridge of the scheme is noted. Forum (KNF) Neighbourhood Area. It received 93% support in its referendum in October 2018. Email dated 15th July 2020 They highlight Objective 6.0 in the Plan which is to “Foster an environment that enables our world-class cultural and educational institutions to thrive as centres of learning and innovation within a flourishing community” and Appendix D of the plan 4 APPENDIX (CONTINUED) NAME AND ADDRESS RESPONSE OFFICERS’ COMMENTS which includes “support the re-imagining albertopolis scheme to improve access to the Albert Memorial”. The proposals are wholly consistent with the KNF’s objectives and policies. The KNF therefore emphatically supports the proposed improvements to the public realm in the vicinity of the Royal Albert Hall. They encourage the City Council to implement them as quickly as possible. The KNF also encourages the City Council to do all it can to support the Royal Albert Hall at this challenging time and ahead of its 150th anniversary. 9. writes on behalf of the Commissioners The Royal Commission of the Exhibition of 1851’s Royal Commission for the of the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 support for the scheme is noted. Exhibition of 1851 (1851 Royal Commission) which owns the freehold of the Royal Albert Hall and buildings immediately to the west including the Royal College of Art, the Email dated 16th July 2020 Royal College of Organists, Imperial College’s Beit Hall and Queen Alexandra’s House. The Commission emphatically supports the improvements. It was an 1851 Royal Commission Built Environment Fellowship, awarded to architect Deborah Saunt in 2010, that produced the initial proposals that have been developed into the scheme that is now proposed. Not only will this provide vital counter-terrorist measures for the security of the Royal Albert Hall, it will also greatly improve the appearance of the area as a whole. In its current form, the crossing over Kensington Gore 5 APPENDIX (CONTINUED) NAME AND ADDRESS RESPONSE OFFICERS’ COMMENTS between the Royal Albert Hall and the Albert Memorial, two of the most visited spots in London, is thoroughly unsatisfactory and the double kerb on the north side is dangerous. Widening the pavement by the north door of the hall and providing a wider and level crossing will address the safety issues as well as vastly enhancing the setting of the hall and the memorial.