Agenda item

To consider the report of the Executive Director Environment.

The Sub-Committee considered the report of the Executive Director, Environment which presented the results of the experimental traffic order’s statutory and public consultation, sought approval for making the traffic changes permanent at King Street, Old Jewry and King William Street and reported on work that needed to be taken at other locations.

An Officer stated that this Gateway 5 report updated a report to the Sub-Committee in September 2022 which detailed a shift in focus from delivering interim improvements at various locations to delivering permanent Highway changes. This Gateway 5 report set out findings from the public consultation, the statutory consultation on the traffic order monitoring of the traffic experiment and the equalities and healthy streets assessments that had been undertaken. The formal traffic experiments began in January 2022 and would conclude in July 2023. An experimental traffic order for Chancery Lane would be commencing in the next week and would follow a separate timeline and pathway.

The Chairman asked for more information on the use of wands as there had been negative feedback in the consultation. An Officer advised that there were currently wands with a plastic footing secured by four bolts on King Street. An assessment was taking place of the suitability of the standard poles used in the City for these streets. If used, they would be less closely spaced that the existing wands. The number of wands required depended on how many were required to discourage vehicles from stopping and loading and unloading in cycle lanes. Screwed fittings into carriageways were being considered. A raised kerb was not possible as it could not be removed for events such as the Lord Mayor’s Show. Low plastic barriers called Armadillos were an option but vehicles could park and drive over these and they could not always be seen.

A Member, who was also a cyclist, stated that wands made her feel safer and prevented vehicles from travelling too close to the cycle lane.

A Member expressed concern about the aesthetics of wands, missing wands and the possibility that changing the street scene could mean those wanting filming locations might seek alternative locations. She suggested that wands at the entrance to the Guildhall should be in keeping with the design of the building.

A Member suggested that a decision could be taken under delegated authority with consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Operational Property and Projects Sub-Committee to progress the work more quickly. An Officer stated that this could be looked into by Officers, however one of the factors driving the timetable in relation to starting work was Utilities works taking place. Collaborative work would be taking place and the Utilities works would include holes being dug for this scheme.

RESOLVED: That the Sub-Committee,

1)    Approve, subject to the three schemes, King Street, Old Jewry and King William Street receiving approval from TfL and noting the objections to the statutory consultation, the experimental traffic measures be made permanent on: a) King Street (one-way northbound with contra-flow cycle lane); b) Old Jewry (closed to motor vehicles from Poultry to the junction with Fredericks Place and remainder of street two-way); c) King William Street (traffic restricted at certain times, except for vehicles loading, accessing properties or drop off/pick up of passengers);

2)    Delegate to the Executive Director Environment, in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of Streets and Walkways, approval of the final detailed design of the measures at the three locations;

3)    Note that a separate report would be submitted in May 2023 for Cheapside and Old Broad Street/Threadneedle Street experimental traffic orders and that the results of the Chancery Lane traffic experiment would be reported following the completion of the six-month statutory period;

4)    Approve the adjustment of the existing Phase 1 budget of £2,402,628 (including Costed Risk as detailed in Section 3, below), to progress the detailed design of three locations and the development of the remaining schemes in the Phase 1 programme;

5)    Approve the drawdown of the Costed Risk provision of £56,000 as outlined in paragraph 6 of the officer report;

6)    Approve the costed risk register in Appendix 9 and delegate authority to the Executive Director Environment to draw down funds from this;

7)    Delegate authority to the Executive Director Environment, in consultation with the Chamberlain, to make any further adjustments (above existing authority within the project procedures) between elements of the budget.