*Lockable bollards removed from some restrictions following concerns raised by local Brent London Ambulance Service representatives.
** Restrictions removed to improve access to the Covid-19 testing centre on London Road.
The Brent Cabinet will consider a review of Brent Active Travel at its meeting on January 17th which includes Healthy Neighbourhood Schemes and School Street Schemes. The former have been controversial and School Streets less so.
Of the implemented Healthy Neighbour schemes officers recommend removal of Oliver Road, Dollis Hill, Preston Area and Tokyngton and Wembley Central Area schemes with further consultation and engagement with residents. Future schemes will be subject to the availabilityof funding.
The report to Cabinet recognises the benefits of such schemes but also issues around the trials which are attributed to the way the Government introduced them. It iis admitted that public opinion is polarised on the policy and the generally low response rate to consultation noted:
The Healthy Neighbourhood schemes aim to change the
way in which people travel by reducing motor
traffic on residential streets, creating safer, quieter, cleaner, healthier and more pleasant neighbourhoods that
encourage walking and cycling. The benefits
of these schemes are well researched and documented and the Government (link) and TfL (link) continue to support measures
that encourage active travel.
Furthermore;
· Air pollution shortens the lives of Londoners,
leading to nearly 10,000 premature deaths
each year. In Brent, it is currently estimated that air pollution directly
causes200 deaths per year (Public Health England, 2016) in Brent and that it is
a contributing factor to many more conditions.
· Information provided by TfL (2016/17–2018/19
average) show that 50% of households in Brent do not own a car and
there would be a 60% increase in private
car travel if car owners switched their public transport trips.
· Around 1.6 million, or 22%, of all car trips made
by London residents every day are under
2km and could therefore be walked (2.7 million more could be cycled).
· Almost 55% of Brent’s adult population are
overweight, 34% of whom are classified as obese with
a chronic lack of physical activity. By 2050 levels of obesity are projected to
reach 50% of the adult population in Brent. Similarly, the most recent figures show that over 28% of Brent
children in reception are overweight, 14% of whom are classified as
obese
· Reducing car journeys reduces the potential of
injuries from road traffic collisions.
Healthy Neighbourhood schemes have proven to be
controversial and representations were
considered at an Extraordinary Meeting of Full Council on 16th October 2020, details of which are available on our website.
Representations were received from
residents from the Kilburn and Brondesbury and Queens Park areas following initial consultation with statutory stakeholders,
(including the emergency services), for an
Experimental Traffic Order, before notices were sent to residents in the area.
The Council also received high numbers of objections
and several petitions opposing the trial schemes.
At the
Extraordinary Meeting of the Full Council in October 2020, it was recognised that
these schemes can provide benefits in relation to climate change, air quality,health
and that many of the concerns raised were in relation to the engagement and consultation process, which was as a result of the
way in which central government had sought to introduce
active trials.
Following
the meeting of Full Council in October 2020, the decision was made to focus on community engagement prior to deciding on the
implementation of the remaining five schemes. It should be noted for the
Brondesbury and Queens Park and Kilburn areas,
the major junction improvement works by Westminster City Council at Ladbroke Grove and Harrow Road may also have resulted in
congestion in the area
Officers have also made the following
recommendations and observations:
· The outcome of the consultation during the trial
period indicates that none of the five
Healthy Neighbourhood trial schemes were supported by the majority of local residents. From the responses from the
community from within the Healthy Neighbourhood
areas, between 70 and 91% of respondents opposed the current schemes.
· Generally, public opinion is polarised and
officers have and continue to receive a high
number of enquiries, particularly during the public engagement exercise and mainly from those that oppose the schemes.
· There is a misconception of a lack of
consultation, this is a result of the way in which
the Government sought to introduce active trials and limited TfL funding to deliver schemes at pace.
· There is also a lack of public understanding on
the benefits of these schemes and the need to
encourage active travel to improve air quality, health and wellbeing and respond to the climate and ecological
emergency. The council will need to do more work on
this.
· The effectiveness of these schemes have been
negatively impacted by changes in circumstances with
the spread of coronavirus and the need to remove physical measures so not to impede access to test and
vaccination centres, and responses by the emergency services. The
local London Ambulance Service raised specific concerns
in relation to access and recommended the use of restrictions
enforced by CCTV enforcement cameras so that they can gain access when needed. The effectiveness of the
schemes was adversely affected by lockable bollards and
plastic barriers being removed by unknown parties, and the lack of CCTV enforcement cameras.
· The community engagement exercise carried out by
Living Streets provides some useful feedback on measures that may be successfully
introduced in the future that would provide benefits to the
area and potentially be supported by the community.
· Collaborative design with the community would help
to engender public support for future measures, and
these will need to be effective in preventing through traffic and trialled for a longer period,
potentially 12 months. This would provide sufficient
time for residents to experience the benefits and also for establishing the effect of the scheme in terms of monitoring
changes to travel behaviour, traffic and congestion
and the effects road safety and air quality.
· Officers have made recommendations for each of the
five healthy Neighbourhood
trial schemes in Appendix A. These are that; the Olive Road, Dollis Hill, Preston Road and Tokyngton and Wembley
area schemes are removed, and the Stonebridge and Harlesden
area scheme remains, with the exception of the
restriction at Mordaunt Road, which will be removed.
· Officers will prepare a report for consideration
by the Council’s Cabinet on the future approach to
developing and delivering Healthy Neighbourhood schemes and a policy on the use of CCTV enforcement cameras
and exemptions.
· The development and implementation of future
schemes will depend on future funding being made
available for that purpose
These are the officer comments and recommendations for each of the trial areas extracted Appendix A see the full Appendix for detail HERE.
Stonebridge and Harlesden Area
• There is a very low response for this area.
Responses from roads where modal filters were installed
(Lawrence Avenue, Mordaunt Road and Nicoll Road) a total of 22
responses were received. Of these 10 (45.5%) supported the
scheme and 12 (54.5%) did not.
• The
Mordaunt Road restriction is suspended / removed, this is also a route used by the LAS who raised
concerns.
• The
Nicholl Road closure remains but is not fully closed, as concerns have been raised by the LAS. Plans are
developed for moving this to the junction of Craven
Park Road. Consideration is given to a CCTV camera
restriction with exemptions, subject to consultation and future funding. From the consultation responses 8 residents in the
street supported the restrictions, two opposed.
• The
Wembley to Willesden Healthy Streets Corridor would provide an opportunity for improved cycle
infrastructure in the area over the next two years.
• It
would not be feasible to restrict Lorries on the A404 Craven Park Road, but discussions will be held with
TfL on lorry routes and signage to encourage
alternative HGV routes.
• The
Council will encourage play streets in the Borough and this area.
•
There is further engagement with the community to develop ideas from the community engagement exercise, which
would be subject to consultation and future funding
Preston
Area
• There is very little support for the scheme
overall.
• The
restrictions are suspended / removed, Grasmere Avenue
is also a route used by the LAS who raised concerns. From the consultation, 2 residents in Grasmere
Avenue supported the scheme, 9 opposed. This will
include the covering or removal of signage indicating
restrictions, planters may remain in place and potentially be used
should further
measures
be introduced.
• One
way systems are considered as an alternative means to restrict through traffic.
•
Improvements to the Lulworth / Windermere roundabout, providing improved pedestrian and cycling
facilities will be considered.
•
There is further engagement with the community to develop ideas from the community engagement exercise, which
would be subject to consultation and future funding
Tokyngton
and Wembley Area
There was a very low response rate to the
consultation on the Brent portal. For the Wembley and Tokyngton
Hill scheme, there was a very low response rate of
4%.
•
There is very little support for the scheme overall. Responses from roads where modal filters were
installed (London Road and Tokyngton Avenue) a total of
18 responses were received. Of these 4 (22%) supported
the scheme and 14 (78%) did not.
•
Restrictions on Cecil Avenue and Rupert Avenue were removed early in the scheme to accommodate access
to the London Road Covid testing centre
• The restriction on Tokington Avenue should be
removed. Only 1 resident supported the restriction, 7
opposed.
• An
inspection of the pavements in the area will be arranged and defects meeting the intervention level
programmed for repair
• A
traffic speed survey will be carried out and speed reduction measures considered, subject to
prioritisation and funding.
• A
Controlled Parking Zone would reduce non-local traffic and this would be considered if there is evidence
of wider support
•
There is further engagement with the community to develop ideas from the community engagement exercise, which
would be subject to consultation and future funding
Olive
Road Area
• There was a good response to both the
consultation during the trail and the community engagement
exercise.
•
There is very little support for the scheme overall.
•
There were several reports of lockable bollards being removed
• The
introduction of ANPR Cameras, potentially with exemptions
for residents may be supported.
•
Restrictions should be suspended / removed, including the St Michaels Avenue restriction as from the
consultation, 1 supported and 8 opposed the scheme.
•
There is potential for a new scheme to be developed taking into consideration the feedback from community
engagement.
• A
7.5t ‘access only’ restriction could be incorporated into the design of a new scheme.
• The
School Street Scheme is subject to a separate evaluation
and review process.
•
There is further engagement with the community to develop ideas from the community engagement exercise, which
would be subject to consultation and future funding
Dollis
Hill Area
• There is very little support for the scheme
overall
•
Restrictions should be suspended / removed. From the consultation for Dollis Hill Avenue, 1 supported
and 21 opposed, for Oxgate Gardens, 6 supported and
14 opposed and for Gladstone Park Gardens, 8 supported
and 72 opposed. The London Ambulance Service also
raised some concerns about the restriction in Gladstone
Park Gardens, access should be retained and CCTV
enforcement should be considered.
•
Dollis Hill Lane could be incorporated into the scheme area, but this is a bus route and access would need to be
provided. The implications of restricting traffic on a
main route would need to be considered.
•
Measures to reduce speeding will be considered, subject to surveys, consultation and funding
•
School street measures for the Jewish school can be considered within the school streets programme.
•
Safety outside our Lady of Lourdes will be considered, along with the request for a pedestrian crossing. This
would be subject to consultation and funding.
•
Cycle lanes on the A5 Edgware Road ad Dollis Hill Lane could be considered in the future if funding
becomes available. The council have an extensive
programme for introducing Cycle Hangars, 50 new Hangars
will be implemented in the spring of 2022.
Consideration will be given to the area if there is demand.
• There is further engagement with the community to
develop ideas from the community engagement exercise,
which would be subject to consultation and future funding
FULL REPORTS CAN BE READ HERE
LINK to the Motion on Healthy Neighbourhood Schemes passed at extraordinary Meeting of Full Council in October 2020.
