Wandsworth Town Centre Consultation report March 2015

Wandsworth Town Centre

Consultation report

Contents

1 Executive summary ...................................................................................................... 1

2 Background .................................................................................................................. 2

3 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 3

4 The consultation ........................................................................................................... 4

5 Overview of consultation responses ............................................................................. 8

6 Responses from members of the public ....................................................................... 8

7 Responses from statutory bodies and other stakeholders ......................................... 15

8 Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 23

Appendix A – Response to issues raised .............................................................................. 24

Appendix B – Consultation leaflet ......................................................................................... 25

Appendix C – Leaflet distribution area .................................................................................. 30

Appendix D – List of stakeholders consulted ........................................................................ 31

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1 Executive summary

Transport for London (TfL) has been working closely with Wandsworth Council to produce a viable scheme to remove the Wandsworth town centre gyratory. The proposed scheme would divert westbound through traffic away from the town centre by directing it instead from East Hill via the Trinity Road on slip, Wandsworth Bridge Roundabout, Swandon Way, Armoury Way and Putney Bridge Road to West Hill. This would remove through traffic from Wandsworth High Street, which would become two-way and restricted to buses, cyclists and local traffic only. To enforce this principle, the centre section of Wandsworth High Street between Garrett Lane and Buckhold Road would be restricted to buses and cyclists only. This would free the main shopping areas from high-impact traffic and allow better access for pedestrians, cyclists and buses. The general principle of the scheme was very well supported. Out of the 1,882 responses received, 70 per cent believed that the current traffic system was performing poorly and 61 per cent felt that removal of the gyratory would improve how they used the town centre. 23 per cent were against the proposals, and 14 per cent were undecided as they required further information on how the proposals would operate. Two per cent did not indicate whether they were in favour of removing the gyratory or not. . Concerns raised by some respondents included the impact on journey times, increased rat running and problems around local access to the town centre. Our response to the key issues raised is highlighted in Appendix A. The comments we received covered a wide range of issues and have given us a number of things that we will need to reassess as we move into the more detailed design over this year, these include:

Changes around Smugglers Way with respect to access Changes to the Wandsworth Bridge Roundabout The affects on the Tonsleys, St Ann’s Hill area and other areas where access

and rat running have been raised as issues. Retaining access to the town centre for shoppers and deliveries Old York Road – how bus stop and parking issues impact on the ambience of

this street

We will now be carrying out more detailed traffic modelling to assess the full impact of the changes and look at the detailed design of the junctions. Once this is complete, we will be carrying out a further consultation on the detail later this year.

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2 Background TfL and the London Borough of Wandsworth (LBW) have a long term aspiration to remove through traffic from the civic, commercial and retail centre of Wandsworth in order to improve the town centre for users and residents and to support regeneration of the area. The removal of the current gyratory system in Wandsworth town centre is LBW’s highest priority in their Local Development Plan, Infrastructure Development Plan.

A one-way system was introduced in the 1970s to manage traffic at this major arterial intersection as it passes through the town centre. The traffic arrangements have a significant and negative impact on the town centre. The one-way system directs heavy westbound traffic flows through Wandsworth High Street in four lanes. The High Street area is particularly busy during peak times, causing severe severance and negating any sense of place. The resulting noise and air pollution further reduce the quality of the environment for pedestrians and residents. In addition the current road arrangements are convoluted for bus movement and confusing for bus users, with stops on the same side of the road serving buses going in opposite directions.

Historically a number of investigations have been carried out, initially funded from TfL budgets, and latterly from developer contributions by the owners of the former Ram Brewery Site, to inform the Section 106 contribution associated with the planning application. Despite Borough and Mayor of London support, the planning application was called in by the Secretary of State, resulting in a Public Inquiry in November 2009. This Inquiry reversed the planning consent granted by LBW.

A revised Planning Application was submitted by the new owners of the Ram Brewery site, in December 2012 and Wandsworth Council granted planning consent in July 2013. This application generates considerable funding for highway improvements, which Wandsworth Council have agreed will be allocated to the removal of the Wandsworth gyratory.

There is an ongoing commitment from LBW to regenerate Wandsworth town centre by encouraging developments in the area. This includes redevelopment of the Southside Shopping Centre and large mixed residential/ retail/ commercial opportunities such as the Riverside Quarter and Wandsworth Business Village. The removal of the gyratory system is seen a key factor in the regeneration process.

Following discussions with LBW, the Council’s Executive committed in principle at their meeting on 28 April 2014 to fund 50 per cent of the project cost, up to a cap of £27.5m.

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3 Introduction We invited the public and key stakeholders to comment on our proposals to improve the look and feel of Wandsworth town centre by removing through-traffic from the main shopping areas.

3.1 Purpose of the Scheme

The key purpose of the scheme is to re-route through traffic on the A3 and A205 South Circular around to the north along Armoury Way and Swandon Way. This would free the main shopping areas from high impact traffic and allow better access for pedestrians, cyclists and buses

3.2 Descriptions of the proposals • Improved ambience of the main shopping areas in the town centre by

widening footways, allowing easier pedestrian crossing and reducing traffic-generated noise and pollution.

• More planting, trees and seating to improve the environment and create

a pleasant public space.

• Better alignment of bus stops in the town centre.

• A more cycle-friendly environment, with improved cycle parking, to encourage more people to access the town centre by bicycle.

• Notable changes in traffic levels in different areas of the scheme, which

have been confirmed through early stage traffic modelling. For example, there would be a significant reduction in traffic at the busiest times through the town centre on Wandsworth high street, between Fairfield Street and Putney Bridge Road.

• These proposals would free up space for pedestrians and cyclists, and would still provide access for buses, servicing and local traffic.

• In contrast, Armoury Way and Swandon Way would experience an increase in

traffic at the busiest times, so the proposals would include designs for improvements to roads and junctions to manage this change in traffic levels

The proposals also seek to retain and improve local accessibility to the town centre.

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3.3 Location maps This map was used in the consultation to illustrate the current traffic flow around Wandsworth. It also highlights the extents of the scheme.

4 The consultation

The consultation ran from 27 October 2014 to 5 December 2014. It was designed to enable TfL to understand local opinion about the proposed changes to the road network.

The potential outcomes of the consultation are:

We decide the consultation raises no issues that should prevent us from

proceeding with the scheme as originally planned. We modify the scheme in response to issues raised in consultation. We abandon the scheme as a result of issues raised in the consultation. The objectives of the consultation were: To give stakeholders and the public easily-understandable information about the

proposals and allow them to respond. To understand the level of support or opposition for the proposals To understand any issues that might affect the proposal of which we were not

previously aware To understand concerns and objections

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To allow respondents to make suggestions with regard to modifications and improvements to the presented layout

4.1 Who we consulted The public consultation intended to seek the views of people living close to the town centre and also those that travel through it. We also consulted stakeholders including the affected Councils, traffic police, London TravelWatch, Members of Parliament, Assembly Members and local interest groups. A full list of the stakeholders we consulted is shown in Appendix D and a summary of their responses is given in Section 6. The main organisations consulted are:

The London Borough of Wandsworth

Ram Brewery developers

Wandsworth Living Streets

Wandsworth Society

Wandsworth Community Transport

Cycling groups

Wandsworth Town Centre partnership

General Public

Thames Tideway Tunnel project (TWU)

Freight Transport

Taxi & Private Hire groups

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4.2 Consultation material, distribution and publicity The consultation was mainly hosted online. A link to the consultation was emailed to key stakeholders and to a database of oyster card users who travel through Wandsworth. We also produced a leaflet which was distributed to all addresses in the area defined (see Appendix C for map of consultation area). We hosted 2 drop in sessions across the period to allow people to come and talk to the project team and find out further information.

We outlined the key issues and benefits that affect the scheme and asked the

following questions with a tick box for yes, no, not sure and a free text box for further comments

1- Do you think the current traffic layout works well for the town centre? 2- Do you think the removal of the gyratory will improve how you use the town

centre? 3- Are there other suggestions you would like to make or issues you would like to

raise

We invited people to respond by using the TfL website , by emailing STEngagement@tfl.gov.uk, by post or by calling Customer Services on 0845 300 7000), or in person at the drop in sessions..

The consultation was advertised in the press through both a press release and advertising space.

The material was available in all formats (e.g. Braille, audio and large font versions of the consultation material as was a translation service to other languages). .

4.3 Meetings and site visits TfL held two well attended drop in sessions during the consultation at Southside

Shopping centre on:

Saturday 15 November: 10:00 – 18:00

Wednesday 19 November: 10:00 – 18:00 The main outcomes from the drop in sessions were: The two way section of East Hill, east of Huguenot Place up to Dempster Road is

not wanted by residents, they prefer it to remain one way

Some residents want the buses out of Old York Road – they allege buses cause congestion and traffic jams.

Concerns regarding through traffic / rat runs in the Tonsleys by many residents.

Review the use of Phoenix Way to relieve some of the pressure on Marcilly Road

Consult with freight generally and over the issue of freight vehicles going down Buckhold Road

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Parking provision for restricted mobility and funerals at St Mary Magdalene church.

Concerns that Frogmore Road will become a rat run for vehicles accessing Putney Bridge Road from Armoury Way

General concern from residents living between Trinity Road / St Ann’s Hill /East Hill over access, egress and rat running.

‘Substantial’ health, cycling, walking issues raised by Wandsworth Society / Living Streets.

Concern from residents living off East Hill that they will have a circuitous route.to access the town centre or travel further afield

Concern about pollution for residents near Armoury Way.

Smugglers Way residents concerned about traffic impact on weekends when there is heavy use of the municipal tip and recycling facilities

The Roche School on Frogmore have concerns as to how the proposals will affect them and how to ensure that Frogmore is not used as a rat run

All Farthing Lane is a link road from St Ann’s Hill to Garrett Lane and there is concern that this road will be used as a rat run

Provision of signals at Marcilly Road rather than the current ‘give way’ system and general safety issues there

Reinstatement of Phoenix Way to take some of the pressure off Marcilly Road

Two working way on East Hill – St Johns Road to Huguenot Place – to alleviate some of the pressure on Marcilly Road

TfL also met with the Town Centre Partnership board, Wandsworth Society, Wandsworth Living Streets and with Thames Water. The Wandsworth Society presented detailed alternative proposals for removing the gyratory system which will be reviewed as part of the ongoing investigations. The proposals were generally well received with some issues raised about the possibility for more rat running, and the impact on journey times both by car and bus. Some local businesses were also concerned about the impact on them if land is required to build the scheme. TfL discussed the timing of the works with Thames Water as there is potential for some overlap between this scheme and the Thames Tideway Tunnel.

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5 Overview of consultation responses We received a total of 1,882 consultation responses. Of those, 1,848 were from members of the public and 34 were from stakeholders/stakeholder groups. The general principle of the scheme was very well supported and out of the 1,882 responses we received, 70 per cent believed that the current traffic system was performing poorly and 61 per cent felt that removal of the gyratory would improve how they used the town, 23 per cent were against the proposals, and 14 per cent were undecided as they required further information on how the proposals would operate. Two percent did not indicate whether they were in favour of removing the gyratory or not.

6 Responses from members of the public We received a total of 1,848 responses from members of the public.

They were asked “If responding on behalf of an organisation, business or campaign group, please provide us with the name”. 115 (of 1848) responded, but on further investigation a large number were ‘n/a’, ‘no’, ‘personal’ etc. which were subsequently filtered out and converted to personal responses, leaving only 7 responses from this category of respondent.

All respondents were asked to supply their postcode.

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The map below shows where the responses to the consultation came from

Analysis of responses

Q1. Do you think the current traffic layout works well for the town centre?

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Respondents were asked if they had any further comments with respect to the operation of the current gyratory system. These were analysed and grouped into categories below. We have also noted where it is unclear if these translate to being supportive, opposed or neutral to the proposed changes. Please also note that respondent’s comments may cover more than one area of support, concern or both.

Comments relating to current layout Number Causes congestion / delays (supportive of proposals) 446 Unpleasant or difficult to use and navigate (supportive of proposals) 396 The current layout is dangerous (supportive of proposals) 182 Negative comment about impact of proposals / general oppose 143 Suggestion/idea/request –don’t understand what this is (Neutral) 89 The current layout gives little sense of having a high street 83 The town centre is polluted 80 The current system works OK / does the job it's supposed to do (opposed/neutral to proposals) 67 Positive comment about impact of proposals / general support 64 The current arrangement is noisy 56 Questions about plans / need clarity 43 Irrelevant or unclear comment 39 Currently avoid it / go there less / discourages people 31 Navigation / manoeuvring is currently difficult / complicated 29 Prioritises cars 26 Like a racing circuit/drive too fast 18 Other comment 18 Traffic light phasing is poor 16 Not good for business 14 Lane markings / layout / signage are poor 11 Busy / congested, but that is to be expected 6 Problem with proposal / question 6 Inconvenient for people catching buses 5 Comment about quality of roads / impact of road works / construction traffic 5 Too many junctions 2

The 396 “Unpleasant or difficult” comments can be broken down by mode of transport as follows:

Unpleasant or difficult - generally 122Unpleasant or difficult for pedestrians 121Unpleasant or difficult for cyclists 89Unpleasant or difficult for motorists 51Unpleasant or difficult for residents 9Unpleasant or difficult for disabled people 4

Unpleasant or difficult - total 396

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The 182 “Dangerous” comments can be broken down by mode of transport as follows:

Dangerous for cyclists 91Dangerous - generally 42Dangerous for pedestrians 35Dangerous for motorists 10

Dangerous - total 182

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Q2. Do you think the removal of the gyratory will improve how you use the town centre?

Respondents were asked if they had any further comments. These were analysed and grouped into categories below and again we have also noted where it is unclear if these translate to being supportive, opposed or neutral to the proposed changes. Comments relating to proposed changes Number Negative comment relating to motor traffic congestion and access 234 Better for a specific mode/group (supportive) 201 Other positive comment about impact of proposals / general support 149 Suggestion / idea / request (supportive) 122 Other negative comment about impact of proposals / general oppose 82 More pleasant generally (supportive) 64 Will visit more / will generate more visitors (supportive) 62 Other comment (Neutral) 59 More of a destination to stop off / shop / leisure / community feel etc. (supportive) 56 Will move traffic problem elsewhere (oppose) 53 Questions about plans / need clarity (Neutral) 51 Will visit less/reduce visitors or won't change current use (oppose) 50 Cleaner or less noisy (Supportive) 29 Would maybe improve / yes with conditions (Supportive) 26 Better for local business (Supportive) 23 Will improve safety generally (Supportive) 21 Problem with proposal / question 15 Irrelevant or unclear comment 7

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The 201 “Better for a specific group” comments can be broken down as follows:

Better for pedestrians 79Better for cyclists 62Better for shoppers 20Better for bus users 17Better for residents 12Better for drivers 11

Better for....total 201

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Q3. Are there other suggestions you would like to make or issues you would like to raise? Comments relating to any other issues raised Number Concern about traffic flows / journey time 252 Suggestion to improve traffic flow / access (not including major new infrastructure) 185 Suggestion to increase cyclist safety / access 149 Question about rights of way and how to get to places under proposals 134 Concern about rat runs / increased use of residential roads 103 Suggestion to increase pedestrian safety / access 81 Other suggestion / request 74 Suggestion to improve leisure / retail / landscape / attractiveness of area 71 General support 70 Criticism of question or aspect of the consultation / want to see modelling results 68 Suggestion about buses, taxis and trains or question on this 66 Suggestion for underpass / bridge / tunnel / new road 53 Unrelated or unclear comment 52 General oppose 50 Concern about safety 43 Concern about pollution or noise 38 Other comment 38 Concern about access to homes 20 Other benefit of plans 19 Concerned about disruption during works 16 Concern about cost of scheme 15 Other concern 9 Comment about York Rd to Buckhold Rd route options 5 Plans are good for local businesses 5 Plans are for the benefit of the developers / councillors 3 Concerned about house value 2

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7 Responses from statutory bodies and other stakeholders

We received a total of 34 responses from stakeholder groups.

Common issues include:

Support for the principle of improving the town centre and pedestrian provision Concerns about the proposed road layout – traffic flow, rat running and access could

be worse Recognition that a lot of detail and issues remain unresolved – some suggestions are

made Requests for traffic modelling information

Summary of the submissions from Stakeholders Elected members Justine Greening MP:

Highlighted potential benefits of the plans

Emphasised the importance of addressing locations where pinch points in traffic flow could occur

Referred to a meeting with TfL in which these locations were discussed

Stated the importance of detailed traffic modelling results which should inform the next stage of the consultation process

Richard Tracey AM:

Pointed out that there is congestion and pollution in the High Street, and the streets are dangerous for pedestrians

Thinks that removing the gyratory will take a lot of traffic out of the High Street and the town centre, improving safety and making it more amenable for residents and shoppers

The main concern expressed is rat running down residential roads by vehicles as a result of the changes

Earlsfield Road, St Ann's Hill, Old York Road, Geraldine Road, Melody Road and various other roads around and off East Hill could be badly affected if very clear directions and prohibitions are not put into place for traffic which would normally go down East Hill

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Wandsworth Councillor Piers Conolly McCausland:

Supports the pedestrianisation of Wandsworth High Street as highly desirable for regeneration of the town centre

Supports the proposed routing from York Road to Buckhold Road because of the

importance of the pedestrianisation of Wandsworth High Street

Wandsworth Councillor - Malcolm Grimston:

Likes the look of proposals the town centre, but states there is insufficient information about how traffic flows might be affected around the West Hill area. He would like to see this information on traffic flows when it is available

Local community groups Hammersmith Fulham and Wandsworth Ramblers:

They think that, currently, the town centre is unattractive and unwelcoming for those on foot. They think that removing the gyratory would greatly improve conditions, creating a better streetscape

They welcome a planned reduction in traffic speed and wider pavements, as these would make it safer for all

The River Wandle walking route is very popular, especially the access from the Ram Brewery. It would be much improved if it was safer and access was made easier

Putney Society:

They welcome the intention of the proposals to introduce a sense of place, to put the interests of the pedestrians to the forefront, and to make the area by Southside more environmentally friendly.

They would like more information on expected consequences for traffic entering and leaving the redesigned road layout, and cite an example that traffic around Wandsworth Bridge could be even more congested, leading to further congestion here and knock-on problems elsewhere

They would like to see detailed modelling on effects on the proposal area and surrounding areas including Putney, and would like this published before detailed final plans are drawn

The Planning Committee of the Battersea Society:

They think that through traffic is at present unduly dominant and this creates significant barriers to pedestrian movement within the town centre. Changing between bus routes can be complicated and involve quite long walks, to the detriment of people who are less mobile or those carrying heavy shopping – especially in bad weather

Cycling is also unsafe in the town centre

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They stated that the proposals have been broadly welcomed but there are a number of important issues that still have to be resolved during more detailed design work, including the design of junctions and pedestrian crossings, the provision for cyclists, bus facilities etc. Modelling of the effects on traffic will be essential.

They highlighted concern with routeing under the proposals, and questioned whether defined crossing points and signals should be employed on the High Street (between Garrett Lane and Buckhold Road) as these aren’t shown in the artist’s impression.

Residents of 4 Huguenot Place and 1A Acris Street (5 Residences):

The Residents think that there is no town centre at the moment, due to the ‘motorway’ running through it. It needs to be brought up to date and made better for cyclists and pedestrians.

Removing the gyratory will improve life for residents. There is a huge oversupply of roads, with an unnecessary number of lanes - particularly considering how every road leading to and from the gyratory is a single lane

They are broadly supportive of the principle of improving the town centre and traffic flows around the area. They note in addition:

o The plan proposed does not correspond to the artist’s impression of Book House

o The East Hill area changes need more thought

South West Road Club (cycling club):

They feel that the road is too wide and cars too fast, and that there’s a lot of air pollution

They would like to see a charging system for vehicles going through Wandsworth, a bit like the Congestion Charge and suggested the High Street should be for pedestrians and cyclists only, with buses routed through Armoury Way instead

The Tonsley Residents Association:

They support the overall benefits, but are concerned about ease of access to and from members’ homes, citing examples of possible complications under the proposals

They ask for the possibility of a left turn out of Old York Road into Swandon Way, and the ability to perform the opposite manoeuvre (Swandon Way right into Old York Road)

They also ask that the west end of East Hill and Garratt Lane be two-way.

The Association also raised some concerns about some smaller streets not currently featured in the plan

St Mary’s Church, Putney High Street

They stated that on the face of the plans as outlined it is not clear that the provision for cyclists will be greatly improved

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Safe ways of cycling along Armoury Way and getting from, say, Putney Bridge Road to Garratt Lane or to the South Circular, without having to go along the dual carriageway bit of Trinity Road, are necessary

Diverting the main motorised transport along Trinity Road looks like a good idea

Wandsworth Community Transport:

They think that the current congestion can often be attributed to large construction vehicles manoeuvring

They believe that removal of the gyratory has benefits to them, but only if their minibuses are allowed to use the bus lanes. Local buses only will leave them with no priority over the rest of the traffic which, they say, is unfair for their elderly and disabled passengers

Their disabled passengers are often travelling for over an hour to get to Shopmobility, and any added time due to having to go the long way round the new system will be intolerable to people who are already frail and at the limit of their travelling endurance. Many are on medication and need regular toilet breaks, food or movement to avoid seizing up and stiffness

They would also like to see a Countdown system on traffic lights as seen elsewhere in the Borough

Wandsworth Society:

They would like the traffic problem resolved – this has been their long term aim.

Their approach would be to separate through traffic from local traffic, while prioritising buses, cyclists and pedestrians in the town centre where many streets would be part-pedestrianised

They include detail on how this would work, including where traffic lights and crossings should be which will be considered as part of the design process

o On the TfL proposals, their broad points of concern can be summarised as follows:

o The focus is on too small an area

o There are no supporting plans to illustrate wider impacts

o Traffic movement patterns are convoluted

o There is no detail on potential damage to existing built environment – tree loss or building demolition, for example

o Some access to shopping complexes is very restricted

o Some traffic junctions would impede traffic excessively, causing congestion

Business/Land Owners

All Timber Infestation and Consultancy Services Ltd:

They believe it is essential that motorcycles are allowed through Wandsworth High Street, but with a speed limit imposed enforced with cameras

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They point out that some of the colouring of the map is incorrect; the exact point of the intersection between West Hill, Putney Bridge Road and Wandsworth High Street should not be coloured blue

Belton & Slade:

They think that the removal of the gyratory will improve the shopping experience. It is essential to have some form of short term parking/loading and unloading on the High Street and other nearby areas.

Burberry

They think that the one way system by the shopping centre causes jams

Chelsea Cars International Ltd:

They state that the proposed layout improves the High Street, but there seems to be little change to the management of Armoury Way other than the addition of a two way lane system

They ask what improvements are being suggested in regard to road layout, size, flows and pedestrian crossing facilities of what will become a road carrying increased flows and levels of traffic

Has no consideration be taken to widen the road?

Could the road be made subterranean for through traffic?

Eagle Rock Productions

Making Armoury Way two-way would create chaos and make it difficult for employees.

Granit Architects:

They state that the route from St John's Hill to the A3 looks to be tortuous, especially the junction onto Trinity Road. They say that this junction is a bottleneck at the best of times and are unclear how the proposals seek to address the problem

John Elbert Furniture:

The current layout seems more focussed on getting traffic through the town than making it pleasant for pedestrians but despite this, there are still bottlenecks for traffic

They feel it would be nice to have a defined town centre again. There needs to be adequate parking though

They note various issues that may arise from the proposals:

o Access to Smugglers Way seems trickier in the proposals than is currently the case

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o A lot more traffic will be moving from Swandon Way to Trinity Road, around Wandsworth Bridge roundabout

o This roundabout will see a big increase in traffic overall. Can lane markings be improved?

o Wandsworth Common to West Hill – why go around Book House instead of going down the Trinity Road slip road

Piper Transport:

They think it may make life easier for cyclists and pedestrians, but are concerned about deliveries to businesses. They question what provision will be made, and think that the restrictions that are faced by delivery drivers at present are only going to get a great deal harder

RSPCA Wimbledon & District Branch:

They believe that small businesses should be supported more. At the moment red route parking restrictions make it hard for businesses and shoppers

They believe that cutting down on traffic will help. It will encourage people to walk around more and not just stay in one place such as Southside

They would like to see parking areas where smaller businesses trade

Southside Shopping Centre:

They are concerned with increased journey times and distances for customers, delivery, and service vehicles trying to get to the shopping centre

It lists examples of these, with a worry that customers will be deterred from visiting the centre. Additionally, delivery and servicing vehicles coming from the east would need to spend longer on the roads

Metro Shopping Fund Lp (owner of Southside Shopping Centre):

Seeks clarification of the level of access to Buckhold Road from Wandsworth High Street, and accessibility in general, concerned that there will be a longer and more complex routes to the centre with the result of deterring customers

Allied to this is a concern about service vehicle access

Delancey (a funder of Metro Shopping Fund Lp)

Delancey are generally supportive of plans, but have substantial concerns as to how the High Street traffic restrictions will impact, in particular on one of the Southside Shopping Centre's car parks. They and Metro strongly request that access to Buckhold Road be maintained from Wandsworth High Street for Southside car park users

Furthermore the proposals as they stand at the moment cause substantial operational issues for the day to day running of the Shopping Centre. They would like special dispensation to be given to Southside service vehicles which operate throughout the day in and near the centre

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Mr Clutch Autocentre:

This retailer is generally concerned about impacts on business The Natural Woodfloor Company Ltd:

This company is opposed to the idea of removing the gyratory. Ideally, they consider a tunnel similar to the Strand underpass would be a good solution

They go on to list several issues that can be summarised as follows:

o The Western Riverside Waste Authority on Smugglers Way sees lorries carrying away waste and materials for recycling. These would be forced to go into Wandsworth town centre under the proposals, adding to the congestion

o The rail bridge on Smugglers Way has a limited height, impassable for some lorries when exiting under the proposed changes

o There are general issues on Smugglers Way, concerning B&Q delivery vehicle manoeuvres, traffic, and narrow road widths.

o Ten businesses are located at the southern end of Smugglers Way - proposed changes would mean parking spaces would be lost, with serious impacts on these businesses

o By accessing Jews Row followed by Smugglers Way, a rat run would be created if vehicles can circumvent Swandon Way on the way to Armoury Way

Scotia Gas Networks/National Grid

They generally support the improvement of conditions for all road users in the Wandsworth area.

However, they have concerns about impacts on their development site in the area. Their particular concerns are as follows:

o The proposals take a significant amount of land and they wish to understand if

this is the only feasible way of achieving the objectives of the scheme and what alternatives have been considered. They would also wish to discuss if the land take is the minimum possible

o It is important that access is maintained to their site and they would need

reassurance on this, particularly in relation to access to Armoury Way when it becomes two way

o It is essential that access is maintained to National Grid operational areas

(both existing and retained after any re-development) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and this will need to be considered during the construction and operational stage of the proposed highway improvements

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o It is unclear from current proposals what would happen to existing bus routes and we would not wish to see the bus accessibility of the site reduced

o No information is provided on the traffic impacts of the site in relation to queuing, delay and journey times. However, they think there would be a significant increase in traffic flows on Armoury Way. Would like to see information on this before being able to comment in detail on the merits of the scheme

Thames Water

Thames Water note a potential clash between proposals and Thames Tideway Tunnel developments

One of their requirements is for large vehicles to have good access to two nearby Thames Water sites. They note details of potential difficulties (delays etc.) and seek clarification of impacts

Road User Groups Licensed Taxi Drivers Association

State that taxis must continue to have full access to the town centre to provide for the needs of passengers who require a door to door service. In particular, this would include less ambulant, wheelchair bound and blind or partially sighted people for whom the taxi trade provides a necessary service

The proposals would increase journey times and costs for some taxi passengers, in particular those who board at the taxi rank in Garratt Lane

They would want to be assured that there would not be any substantial delays to through traffic using the proposed two way system

All viable town centres make provision for taxis as one of the transport options and therefore any improvement for this town centre should include ranking facilities for taxis to provide both for daytime visitors and the night-time economy

Campaign Groups Crystal Palace Transition Town

Currently there exists a traffic-dominated atmosphere, creating a major barrier for cycling. Removing the gyratory will make the place more pleasant, encouraging people to linger for longer

They are concerned that more traffic will use Jews Road and Smugglers Way, affecting use of the Thames Path. They also believe that cycling provision is not adequate under plans, particularly on East Hill where good cycling provision will benefit many. York Road is another route which could become less traffic dominated.

They suggest making East Hill the preferred route going from St Ann’s Hill to Wandsworth Bridge Roundabout. This could benefit Fairfield Street, encouraging a nice residential/commercial mix.

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Schools and children The Roche School

The Roche School think that the proposals will have a beneficial effect for Wandsworth town centre, but request that any plans ensure that Frogmore does not become a rat run, and that traffic does not increase along Frogmore endangering parents and children at the school

West Hill Children’s Centre

Concerned that York Road to Buckhold Road proposed routing would mean lots more traffic past the entrance to West Hill Children’s Centre and the school. Measures would need to be taken to keep the children safe

Other London Forum of Amenity and Civic Societies

They think that through traffic is at present unduly dominant and this creates significant barriers to pedestrian movement within the town centre. Changing between bus routes can be complicated and involve quite long walks, to the disadvantage of people who are less mobile or carrying heavy shopping - especially in bad weather. Also say that cycling in the area is currently unsafe

They stated that the proposals can be broadly welcomed but there are a number of important issues that still have to be resolved during more detailed design work, including the design of junctions and pedestrian crossings, the provision for cyclists, bus facilities etc. Modelling of the effects on traffic will be essential

They highlighted a possible problem with local routing through the town centre under the proposals.

8 Conclusion Following the positive repose to the consultation, TfL will now use the information

received to build on the design of the scheme, with a view to carrying out a further stage of consultation later this year. We will continue to engage with stakeholders during this period to ensure that we are taking the right elements forward and to highlight any areas of ongoing concern.

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Appendix A – TfL response to issues raised

Impact on traffic flows / journey time The purpose of this initial consultation was to gauge public opinion for the overall principles of removing the gyratory system from the town centre. TfL is currently undertaking detailed traffic modelling to ascertain the effect of these changes and develop the optimum solution. These findings will be reported at the detailed consultation due to be held later this year. Concern about the possibility of new rat runs being created in areas such as St Ann's Hill and the Tonsleys As outlined above, TfL is undertaking detailed traffic modelling to measure the effects of changes to the gyratory system. The issue of rat-running will be investigated as part of the design process to mitigate the effect on these areas. TfL will work closely with colleagues from Wandsworth Council to arrive at the best overall solution and results will be available at the next consultation later this year. Concern about the consultation materials not supplying enough modelling data to make a good judgement The purpose of this initial consultation was to gauge public opinion for the overall principles of removing the gyratory system in the town centre. Detailed information will be available for the next round of consultation later this year when the results of the traffic modelling currently underway will be available Issues raised about the impact on businesses that might be affected by changes to the road layout, including access to businesses on Smugglers Way. TfL will work closely with local businesses and Wandsworth Council to ensure that current access and loading / unloading facilities are maintained as part of the traffic modelling being carried out. The highway design around Smugglers Way will be reassessed. There was concern raised about how local journeys and access to the town centre might be impacted by the scheme Local journeys will have to change within the proposals to remove the gyratory system and some may be somewhat longer. However, the overall benefit will be a town centre that is free from through traffic, with a better quality environment designed for people movement and leisure. Further information on routes through the town centre will be available as part of the consultation planned for later this year. Issues raised about bus stops on Old York Road The current design isn’t looking to change bus stop arrangements in Old York Road and as such this is outside the scope of this scheme

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Design and road layout suggestions, including looking at the operation of Wandsworth Bridge Roundabout TfL will use the information received to build on the design of the scheme, with a view to carrying out a further stage of consultation later this year. We will continue to engage with stakeholders during this period to ensure that we are taking to the right elements forward and to highlight any areas of ongoing concern.

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Appendix B – Consultation leaflet

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Appendix C – Leaflet distribution area

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Appendix D – List of stakeholders consulted NHS CCG Wandsworth MPs Stephen Hammond MP Seema Malhotra MP Patrick McLoughlin MP Claire Perry MP Justine Greening MP Jane Ellison MP Sadiq Khan MP GLA Caroline Pidgeon Darren Johnson AM Gareth Bacon AM Jenny Jones AM Murad Qureshi AM Nicky Gavron AM Andrew Boff Victoria Borwick Tom Copley Stephen knight Joanne McCartney Fiona Twycross Greater London Authority Claire Hamilton Tim Steer Richard Tracey AM Local Authority Jales Tippell LB of Hillingdon Davina Millership LB of Sutton David Tidley Wandsworth John Slaughter Wandsworth John Stone Wandsworth Bryony Evens Andy Flood LB of Wandsworth Putney Town Centre Manager Wandsworth Town Centre Manager Wandsworth School travel advisor All Wandsworth council ward councillors

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London Councils Spencer Palmer Director, transport and mobility Nick Lester Corporate director, services London Travel Watch Disability Groups Greater London Forum for the Elderly The British Dyslexia Association Asian Peoples Disabilities Alliance Sutton Centre for Voluntary Sector Joint Mobility Unit MIND Sixty Plus Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee Living Streets Disability Alliance Stroke Association Joint Committee on Mobility of Blind and Partially Sighted People (JCMBPS) Action on Hearing Loss (formerly RNID) National Children's Bureau London Older People's Strategy Group RADAR London Access Forum RNIB Age Concern London Campaign for Better Transport Age UK Sense Guide Dogs for the Blind Association Guide Dogs for the Blind Association Campaign for Better Transport Action on Hearing Loss (formerly RNID) Cycling groups LCC Lewisham CTC LCC Wandsworth Wandsworth Cycling Coordinator Emergency Services Port of London Authority Metropolitan Police London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority London ambulance Service

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Freight groups Road Haulage Association Freight Transport Association Motoring Associations Association of British Drivers Green Flag Group Motorcycle Industry Association Motorcycle Action Group AA Motoring Trust Association of Car Fleet Operators British Motorcyclists Federation Pan London London City Airport CBI The Royal Parks London Underground Rank and Highways Representative for Unite Licenced Taxi Drivers Association User groups and resident association Living Streets Sustrans Northbank BID Putney Society Wandsworth Access Association Wandsworth Society Raynes Park & West Barnes Residents' Association Putney Traffic Transport and Parking Working Group Battersea Society Putney Society Clapham Society Organisation of Blind Afro Caribbeans (OBAC) Utilities National Grid EDF Energy Thames Water Royal Mail BT