Agenda item

A report from the Director of Regeneration and Environment is attached. This seeks approval to undertake detailed design and statutory consultation for segregated cycling facilities and public realm improvements on the A1010 North between Southbury Road/Nags Head Road and Bullsmoor Lane/Mollison Avenue. (Key decision – reference number 4115)

Note: For ease of reference, the appendices to this report have been provided separately to the main agenda and are listed as a supplementary pack on the Council’s website.

(Report No.152)

(7.40 – 8.10 pm)

Councillor Doug Taylor (Leader of the Council) stated that in the light of the comprehensive discussion on the previous report, Members and Officers present were asked to raised specific issues in relation to the Cycle Enfield proposals for the A1010 (North) rather than issues relating to cycling in general.

Councillor Daniel Anderson (Cabinet Member for Environment) introduced the report of the Director of Regeneration and Environment (No.152) seeking approval to undertake detailed design and statutory consultation for segregated cycling facilities and public realm improvements on the A1010 North between Southbury Road/Nags Head Road and Bullsmoor Lane/Mollison Avenue.

NOTED

1.               That these proposals were more advanced than those of Enfield Town in so far as the co-design workshops had already taken place. Section 4 of the report detailed the consultation process that had been undertaken leading to the proposals being presented for consideration by Members this evening. In April 2015 the Council had held a public engagement event at the Ordnance Unity Centre and in April 2016 the scheme had undergone a TfL sponsor review, as detailed in the report. A 12 week consultation period had been held, including an exhibition and engagement with various representative community groups. A business event had been held at the Dharma Centre. The consultation period had run from 1 July 2016 until 23 September 2016. A booklet had been delivered to more than 50,000 properties. The results of the consultation and resulting changes to design were detailed in Appendix B1 of the report. A business walk had taken place and specific youth engagement held, section 4 of the report referred.

2.               That section 5 of the report set out the scheme design proposals. The scheme involved the installation of lightly segregated cycle lanes on both sides of the A1010 Southbury Road/Nags Head Road and Bullsmoor Lane/Mollison Avenue; additional traffic signals to reduce conflicts and enable cyclists to pass safely through junctions; public realm improvements; the installation of bus stop boarders and bus stop by-passes, new zebra crossings, side road entry treatments and raised tables; and remodelling of key junctions, as shown in the report and appendices.

3.               Councillor Taylor specifically raised the issue of the proposed removal of a right-turn pocket at The Ride junction, which provided access to two schools and an industrial area and asked that this be reviewed as  the scheme proposals progressed.

4.               Councillor Cazimoglu praised the consultation which had taken place and the engagement with the ward councillors who had responded on behalf of the residents that they represented. It was noted that comments received during the consultation had been taken into consideration when developing the scheme designs.

5.               Councillor Fonyonga was pleased to note the specific youth engagement which had taken place and commended officers for undertaking this specific consultation.

6.               Councillor Pite congratulated officers for their engagement with hard to reach community groups and questioned the detail of the breakdown of respondents to the consultation. In response to a comment made by Councillor Neville previously, Councillor Pite stressed the importance of safe and direct cycle routes for young people and other cyclists, and outlined a number of reasons for the justification of the use of main roads rather than back routes for cycling. Councillor Pite expressed the view that habits can change when developments take place. 

7.               Councillor Taylor invited Councillor Neville to present his comments to the Cabinet in respect of the report under consideration. The points raised included the following:

·       Councillor Neville reiterated his view that particular daily used driving routes can become a habit if difficulties were faced in using other alternative routes. Councillor Neville noted that alternative cycle routes along canals for example were successful in other areas such as Kingston and Camden.

·       Councillor Neville noted the consultation which had been undertaken on the proposals for the A1010 (North) and that the results had been relatively low as outlined in paragraph 4.10 of the report.

·       It was noted that a business walk had been undertaken, Councillor Neville sought more information on the information arising and the reaction of the businesses who had been contacted.

·       The parking implications set out in section 5.8 of the report were highlighted and questions asked as to how the impact of the proposals would be mitigated. This included clarification on the provision of free crossovers subject to the planning process.

·       Further information was requested with regard to the number of bus routes using this part of the A1010 (North) and the bus companies involved. Councillor Neville’s view that TfL would not be consulting with the bus companies concerned.

8.               Councillor Taylor invited Clare Rogers to present her comments to the Cabinet in respect of the report under consideration. The points raised included the following:

·       A number of the comments made previously with regard to the Enfield Town scheme also applied to this scheme. In addition, it was noted that the East of the Borough was a more deprived area with relatively lower incomes and increased instances of childhood obesity. Clare quoted from a report addressing the issue of fairness in a car dependent society and highlighted the unfairness for those who did not have access to a car and were excluded from this form of travel. Cycle Enfield would go some way to address this unfairness and by opening up other cheaper travel options for those living in the East of the Borough. Successful implementation of the scheme could result in a decrease in car usage, increased levels of physical activity and have positive benefits in tackling childhood obesity if children were able to cycle safely.

9.               Councillor Charalambous drew attention to a number of points included within the Economic Impact Assessment report and noted that most of the shopping undertaken in the area was by public transport or walking. The proposals were assessed as having a neutral or negligible impact on the town centres affected.

10.           In response to the issues which had been raised, officers present provided a number of points of clarification. It was noted that the reduction in parking provision was minimal. The majority of users to the shopping centres concerned were by public transport or walking. It was felt that the parking provision available would be sufficient to meet demand whilst acknowledging the demands particularly at the southern and northern ends of the route, section 5 of the report referred.

11.           With regard to the provision of free crossovers, an assessment was still to be done, and would be subject to the restrictions of the planning process.

12.           Councillor Levy was able to confirm for Members the bus routes that used this part of the A1010 (North) and the bus companies concerned.

13.           In response to questions raised, officers provided a more detailed breakdown of the responses that had been received, the level of support and the age groups represented by the responses.

14.           The business walk had been undertaken towards the end of the consultation period to ensure that businesses were aware of the proposals and had an opportunity to participate. Parking and loading restrictions had been addressed as part of this. An additional loading bay at Albany Road had been proposed in the scheme.

15.           In clarifying the process in going forward, it was noted that subject to approval of the recommendations, £368,000 of capital expenditure, fully funded by TfL, would be used for the detailed design and statutory consultation as detailed in the report. Co-design workshops had already taken place. There would be a public exhibition and a significant level of publicity of the proposals going forward.

Alternative Options Considered: NOTED, that the Council could decline the Mini Holland funding. However, this would mean forgoing £4.7 million of investment in the borough on this scheme, £37.6 million of investment on other Mini Holland schemes and the associated economic, health and transport benefits.

DECISION: The Cabinet agreed

1.               To note the results of the public consultation.

2.               To note the air quality assessment, the economic impact assessment, the parking assessment, the traffic modelling, the equalities impact assessment and the comments of critical friends.

3.               That approval be granted to undertake detailed design and statutory consultation for lightly segregated cycling facilities and public realm improvements along the A1010 North, between Southbury Road/Nags Head Road and Bullsmoor Lane/Mollison Avenue.

4.               That approval be granted for capital expenditure of £368,000 for detailed design and statutory consultation, which would be fully funded by Transport for London.

5.               That delegated authority be granted to the Cabinet Member for Environment to approve and implement the final design of the scheme subject to consultation and completion of all necessary statutory procedures and make any additional changes as appropriate.

Reasons: As follows:

·       To create better, healthier communities.

·       To make cycling a safe and enjoyable choice for local travel.

·       To make places cycle-friendly and provide better streets and places for everyone.

·       To provide better travel choices for the 34% of Enfield households who had no access to a car and an alternative travel choice for the 66% that do.

·       To transform cycling in Enfield.

·       To encourage more people to cycle.

·       To enable people to make short journeys by bike instead of by car.

·       To increase physical activity and therefore the health of cyclists.

·       To reduce overcrowding on public transport.

·       To enable transformational change to our town centres.

(Key decision – reference number 4115)