Agenda and minutes

Cllr Harborne – LBRuT Cycling Champion

Councillor Harborne introduced all the attendees

Apologies were received from Councillor Bouchier, Councillor Chappell, Chris Jones, Graham MacNamee, Councillor Salvoni and Robert Wesley.

The minutes of the meeting on the 5 September 2011 were agreed as an accurate record of proceedings with the following amendments and comments:

Item 6: The group requested the Council’s timescale for re-writing the draft LBRuT Cycling Strategy.

Update: The indication on likely timescale will be given at the next meeting in January 2012.

Item 7: In relation to the proposed improvements to the raised concrete footway on Lonsdale Road, the group asked that the timetable for the feasibility study and a progress update be presented at the next CLG meeting. 

Update: Covered in item 8 of these minutes.

Item 8: Cross Deep, Twickenham - The requested arrow/cycle logos had not been implemented. The group asked that Council complete this as a priority.

Update: LBRuT is working in partnership with LB Hounslow (LBH), LB Ealing and Royal Borough of Kingston regarding cycle direction signage for LCN Route 75.  The lead borough (LBH) has engaged consultants to draft a signage schedule / improvements to route continuity to allow it to be followed between Ealing and Kingston Town Centre without the aid of a map.

The Heath Road / Cross Deep junction has been identified as an important junction on the route and the consultant’s proposals for how people follow route 75 and join / leave this route are awaited.  It is important that a consistent approach is taken at all junctions and Officers await proposals to avoid the need for abortive work.

Item 8a:Burtons Road, Hampton - Riverside Drive and Castelnau, on Hammersmith Bridges southern approach, also needed shared use signage to be installed.

Update: Officers are aware and are addressing.

Item 8b: Lonsdale Road, Barnes - On–street parking is obstructing the advisory cycle lanes. The group asked that the signs and lines be installed as a matter of priority on Lonsdale Road.

Update: Many lengths of the cycle lanes in Lonsdale Road are subject to waiting restrictions (single yellow lines). However, at the southbound section between Verdun Road and Suffolk Road there is no restriction in place. This would require approval of the Cabinet Member for Highways and Street Scene to progress through formal advertisement of the traffic order.

Item 8g: The group asked that the minutes include the discussion of the possibility of introducing the Barclays Cycle Hire Scheme to Richmond Borough.

Update:This was noted and will be considered for discussion at future meetings.

The Future Way Forward for Cycling Liaison Group.

In Councillor Salvoni’s absence Councillor Harrison assured the group that the Council was committed to continuing the Cycling Liaison Group meetings.

Councillor Harrison

Councillor Harrison confirmed that the Council supported 20 mph limits and zones on residential roads where consultation showed that a majority of residents were in support. Evidence based cost analysis would follow, to ensure that speed limits would be applied only when there was a genuine need.  

The group discussed the pros and cons of yellow lines being removed:

·         The removal of yellow lines would smooth traffic flow and, in some instances, could aide local business by allowing shoppers to park outside on shops on high streets.

·         Yellow line removal could also present a hazard for cyclists who might have to swerve into traffic to avoid parked cars.

The Council was committed to consulting residents before any changes to yellow lines or 20mph zones were made.  It was agreed that the Council would clarify what percentage of residents needed to respond in favour of a 20mph zone in order for it to be implemented. 

Update: 51% or more of the total number of households consulted.

Councillor Harrison confirmed there was no plan to remove the Kew Road cycle lane. If the Council was to consider removing the cycle lane there would be a thorough consultation with all concerned parties.

The group discussed the issue of coaches parking on Kew Road for Kew Gardens. Michael Potter – the Council’s Principal Engineer (Traffic and Transport) , confirmed that Kew Gardens had been asked to investigate the possibility of parking coaches on the London Welsh RFC Rugby Club grounds, but no further updates had been received on this.  There were no plans to undertake a study in that area at that time.

The group discussed the de-regulation of footpaths. A case-by-case approach to de-regulation would allow for consultation with cyclists. Nick Tittle agreed to produce a list of footpaths where de-regulation would be preferable so they could be considered for inclusion in a future work programme.

Michael Potter explained that the introduction of an elevated footway on The Terrace formed part of the flood defences.  It was noted that the footway was being used by both cyclists and pedestrians and that Nick Tittle felt that some signage would reduce the risk of conflict between cyclists and pedestrians.  Given the additional responsibility of taking on maintenance of this area, adoption was not possible.

The group noted it would not be possible for Richmond Cycling Campaign to attend the Traffic Management Liaison Group (TMLG) meetings as they were not open to the public. However, the Council will add RCC to its list of consultees in respect of formal consultations (Traffic Management Orders) for new traffic and parking schemes.  It was noted that the RCC and CTC would like to be consulted at an earlier stage in these schemes if and where possible. 

Michael Potter advised that this request will be included in the Richmond town centre improvements.

TfL will be asked to review the siting of the cycle racks at Waitrose, East Sheen.

The group noted that parking at the end of Sheen Road had been removed outside the shops.

Michael Potter explained that TfL produce annual reports on cycle collisions which were then used by the Borough to prioritise future work programmes.  

·         Implementation arrangements for Sections 4 & 7

·       Enforcement strategy

Councillor Harrison said the Council was currently considering whether to introduce penalty charges for moving traffic offences. If it was agreed to implement the penalties system, it would take 12 months for the application to be approved. An investigation into yellow box junctions was currently being carried out by the Council to assess congestion in the borough.

It was noted that LB Hounslow were implementing its penalty charge system from January 2012 and it was be useful to have further details for the next meeting.

Pippa Bird of NHS Richmond said the Breeze and Mr Bike campaigns were being promoted within the NHS.

The group agreed to continue promoting the Council’s Strictly Cycling campaign. It was agreed to discuss this at the next meeting.

A request was made to provide the enforcement figures for vehicles parked in the borough’s cycle lanes to group members.

The group noted that the logistics of the Olympic Bike Road Race would be discussed at the Environment, Sustainability and Community, Overview and Scrutiny meeting on 10 November. Transport for London and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games would be attending.