Oct 5, 2014
Hello!
Thank you to everyone who has been in touch with me about the Mini Holland project either via the Change.org system or directly. I'm posting this update to both the pro- and anti petitions.
The Mini Holland trial road closure scheme has now been running for a week- it is designed to trial how Waltham Forest Council should spend the £30m the Mayor of London has given them to improve road safety for cyclists and pedestrians around this area. As your local MP and a local resident I know this has caused considerable debate - thats why I am keen to ensure residents affected by this project are given a range of opportunities to contribute to deciding how to improve road safety in Walthamstow. Given these concerns, please find below and attached the response the council has sent me to my questions about resident involvement in this process which I hope is of interest. Please note I have also received a subsequent email from Cllr Loakes correcting the date of the proposed implementation he mentions in Stage 5 to January 2015, not 2016.
Yesterday, I and the Hoe Street Councillors took down ideas from more than 60 local residents as part of seeking to gather feedback on this project including asking for ideas for what alternative routes could be more effective to improve road safety- we will submit these directly to the council planners for consideration, and you can now also find this survey online should you wish to share it with anyone else here:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6XW6HWV
I have also shared with residents following requests the links for both the pro and anti Change.org petitions (apologies that in my e-newsletter this week these links were not correct).
I hope this information is of interest to you - if you would like to be on my direct mailing list for updates on Mini Holland please email me with your name and address (these updates are for Walthamstow residents only). My email is below for your information.
kind regards
Stella
p.s. furthermore, if you don't get my weekly e-newsletter about everything Walthamstow please do let me know and I will also add you to the mailing list! my email address is stella@workingforwalthamstow.org.uk
email from Clyde Loakes
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Cllr Clyde Loakes <Cllr.Clyde.Loakes@walthamforest.gov.uk>
Date: Fri, Oct 3, 2014 at 2:50 PM
Subject: Fwd: Stella Response
To: Stella Creasy <stella@workingforwalthamstow.org.uk>
Cc: Cllr Mark Rusling <Cllr.Mark.Rusling@walthamforest.gov.uk>, Cllr Ahsan Khan <Cllr.Ahsan.Khan@walthamforest.gov.uk>, Cllr Saima Mahmud <Cllr.Saima.Mahmud@walthamforest.gov.uk>, Cllr Angie Bean <Cllr.Angie.Bean@walthamforest.gov.uk>, Cllr Peter Barnett <Cllr.Peter.Barnett@walthamforest.gov.uk>, Cllr Richard Sweden <Cllr.Richard.Sweden@walthamforest.gov.uk>, Vala Valavan <Vala.Valavan@walthamforest.gov.uk>, Chris Harrison <Chris.Harrison@walthamforest.gov.uk>, Keith Hanshaw <Keith.Hanshaw@walthamforest.gov.uk>, Council Leader <Leader@walthamforest.gov.uk>, Cllr Chris Robbins <Cllr.Chris.Robbins@walthamforest.gov.uk>
Dear Stella
Thank you for your very constructive e-mail about the two-week highway improvement trial in Walthamstow Village. Your email raises valid points and we’re really encouraged by all of the helpful feedback we’re receiving as it will help us deliver a better scheme for residents.
Prior to our successful mini-Holland bid, we had identified the Pembroke Road area for a neighbourhood improvement scheme. In February this year we undertook a pre-scheme survey to understand the main concerns of local residents and businesses. From this survey two key issues were raised; ‘rat running’ traffic and speeding on residential roads.
Now that we have secured the mini-Holland funding, we have used this opportunity to take the scheme one step further and produce a new approach to not only resolve those two key issues, but also to give residents, businesses and other interested parties the chance to radically improve their surroundings and the environment in which they live.
The live trial from 26 September to 13 October is enabling us to collect valuable background data to see whether our proposals and assumptions can deliver the range of outcomes set out by our earlier consultation. We appreciate that it is causing disruption for residents and value their patience while we test the trial in a live environment to see what works and what doesn’t. The added inconvenience of the burst water main on Hoe Street obviously hasn’t helped but we are stressing that the trial is temporary and is a really valuable exercise. Please find attached an information leaflet detailing the trial scheme, which was distributed to 4,200 local households before the scheme started. We’re now aware that some residents did not feel informed prior to the start of the trial so will be closely monitoring the distribution of any further materials to ensure that surrounding properties are properly engaged, and will be sending update leaflets over the next two weekends.
To date we have spoken to 900 people – 400 of whom before the trial started - and we have also already received over 350 emails about the scheme. As you know, the trial has created a local debate and while some residents are undoubtedly opposed to the scheme, there are a significant number championing it. What we want to do over the coming week is encourage people to consider the whole effect on their neighbourhood.
During the trial we will be collecting data which will be evaluated against the information we collected before the trial to see what difference, if any, the temporary traffic management interventions have made on individual streets. We know that at this point in the trial, we have seen a 40 per cent reduction in traffic in the trial area, with some 3,000 fewer vehicles on the roads as a whole. As well as this technical evidence we are looking to collect residents’ views, opinions and ideas and are urging people to send their feedback to a designated mini-Holland e-mail address: miniholland@walthamforest.gov.uk
During the trial Council officers have been present within Orford Road to discuss any queries the community may have and to offer advice as needed. They have been able to clarify some of the myths around mini-Holland, for example access for the emergency services and refuse collection vehicles, as well issues on the local main roads. We have already and will continue to visit properties in the surrounding streets to gather residents’ views, and are asking residents to complete the attached form to give us their views. Simon Munk mentioned that you are planning to survey residents so hopefully you will find this form useful in terms of consistency.
The findings from this trial will not only help inform the final scheme for this area, which will be put out to public consultation before anything is implemented, but also other schemes across Waltham Forest over the coming years.
Please find below an outline of the consultation process, which I hope addresses points A-E in your email:
Stage 1: Data collection
Before the trial started we placed traffic counting equipment at locations and on roads we know are the main ‘rat run’ routes through the area from Lea Bridge Road and Hoe Street. We have also been recording traffic volumes on the roads surrounding the trial area, including St Mary Road and Church Lane.
Stage 2: Pilot (in progress)
The pilot project was introduced on 26 September, which includes temporary road closures. The trial aims to show local residents, businesses and other interested stakeholders how the village could exist if rat running traffic was removed and the road space reallocated to alternative uses, for example general traffic and parking. During the pilot we will be gathering feedback received from door knocking, the email address as outlined above and an online consulation at the end of the trial period. At the mid-way point in the trial, we will issue an update to local properties followed by an update once the trial is over, which will outline the next steps.
Stage 3: Further feedback and development of final proposals for public consultation
After the trial period is over, we will run a series of workshops with the local community (including resident groups, businesses, schools and all other interested parties) to provide them with the data we have collected and to get further feedback on the trial. These workshops will cover which elements worked, which did not work, which elements we should retain, amend or remove and which other changes the community would like to see on their street following their experiences of the trial. These sessions will help us develop specific proposals also based on feedback and the data collected by the traffic surveys.
Stage 4 Public consultation and statutory consultation
In November we will start public engagement activities with consultation documents available, drop in sessions and focus groups. This will be followed by a statutory consultation.
Stage 5 Implementation
At this stage we anticipate that a staged implementation of the scheme developed in consultation with the community, will start from January 2016.
Stage 6 Review
We will undertake a review at least six months after the final scheme has been implemented to make any necessary design tweaks. This should allow enough time for any teething issues to have been ironed out post-implementation.
We are very aware that during this trial period we have got some things wrong. We are very committed to learning form these mistakes and are attempting to take in-trial remedial action where possible, such as increased signage. We really are very grateful to everyone for bearing with us.
Thanks again for getting in touch about the scheme and I hope this has clarified some of the processes we carried out so far. In the meantime, please do encourage residents to get involved in the debate and send their views to miniholland@walthamforest.gov.uk as we’re keen to ensure the final scheme is fit for the community.
Yours sincerely
Cllr Clyde Loakes
Thank you to everyone who has been in touch with me about the Mini Holland project either via the Change.org system or directly. I'm posting this update to both the pro- and anti petitions.
The Mini Holland trial road closure scheme has now been running for a week- it is designed to trial how Waltham Forest Council should spend the £30m the Mayor of London has given them to improve road safety for cyclists and pedestrians around this area. As your local MP and a local resident I know this has caused considerable debate - thats why I am keen to ensure residents affected by this project are given a range of opportunities to contribute to deciding how to improve road safety in Walthamstow. Given these concerns, please find below and attached the response the council has sent me to my questions about resident involvement in this process which I hope is of interest. Please note I have also received a subsequent email from Cllr Loakes correcting the date of the proposed implementation he mentions in Stage 5 to January 2015, not 2016.
Yesterday, I and the Hoe Street Councillors took down ideas from more than 60 local residents as part of seeking to gather feedback on this project including asking for ideas for what alternative routes could be more effective to improve road safety- we will submit these directly to the council planners for consideration, and you can now also find this survey online should you wish to share it with anyone else here:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6XW6HWV
I have also shared with residents following requests the links for both the pro and anti Change.org petitions (apologies that in my e-newsletter this week these links were not correct).
I hope this information is of interest to you - if you would like to be on my direct mailing list for updates on Mini Holland please email me with your name and address (these updates are for Walthamstow residents only). My email is below for your information.
kind regards
Stella
p.s. furthermore, if you don't get my weekly e-newsletter about everything Walthamstow please do let me know and I will also add you to the mailing list! my email address is stella@workingforwalthamstow.org.uk
email from Clyde Loakes
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Cllr Clyde Loakes <Cllr.Clyde.Loakes@walthamforest.gov.uk>
Date: Fri, Oct 3, 2014 at 2:50 PM
Subject: Fwd: Stella Response
To: Stella Creasy <stella@workingforwalthamstow.org.uk>
Cc: Cllr Mark Rusling <Cllr.Mark.Rusling@walthamforest.gov.uk>, Cllr Ahsan Khan <Cllr.Ahsan.Khan@walthamforest.gov.uk>, Cllr Saima Mahmud <Cllr.Saima.Mahmud@walthamforest.gov.uk>, Cllr Angie Bean <Cllr.Angie.Bean@walthamforest.gov.uk>, Cllr Peter Barnett <Cllr.Peter.Barnett@walthamforest.gov.uk>, Cllr Richard Sweden <Cllr.Richard.Sweden@walthamforest.gov.uk>, Vala Valavan <Vala.Valavan@walthamforest.gov.uk>, Chris Harrison <Chris.Harrison@walthamforest.gov.uk>, Keith Hanshaw <Keith.Hanshaw@walthamforest.gov.uk>, Council Leader <Leader@walthamforest.gov.uk>, Cllr Chris Robbins <Cllr.Chris.Robbins@walthamforest.gov.uk>
Dear Stella
Thank you for your very constructive e-mail about the two-week highway improvement trial in Walthamstow Village. Your email raises valid points and we’re really encouraged by all of the helpful feedback we’re receiving as it will help us deliver a better scheme for residents.
Prior to our successful mini-Holland bid, we had identified the Pembroke Road area for a neighbourhood improvement scheme. In February this year we undertook a pre-scheme survey to understand the main concerns of local residents and businesses. From this survey two key issues were raised; ‘rat running’ traffic and speeding on residential roads.
Now that we have secured the mini-Holland funding, we have used this opportunity to take the scheme one step further and produce a new approach to not only resolve those two key issues, but also to give residents, businesses and other interested parties the chance to radically improve their surroundings and the environment in which they live.
The live trial from 26 September to 13 October is enabling us to collect valuable background data to see whether our proposals and assumptions can deliver the range of outcomes set out by our earlier consultation. We appreciate that it is causing disruption for residents and value their patience while we test the trial in a live environment to see what works and what doesn’t. The added inconvenience of the burst water main on Hoe Street obviously hasn’t helped but we are stressing that the trial is temporary and is a really valuable exercise. Please find attached an information leaflet detailing the trial scheme, which was distributed to 4,200 local households before the scheme started. We’re now aware that some residents did not feel informed prior to the start of the trial so will be closely monitoring the distribution of any further materials to ensure that surrounding properties are properly engaged, and will be sending update leaflets over the next two weekends.
To date we have spoken to 900 people – 400 of whom before the trial started - and we have also already received over 350 emails about the scheme. As you know, the trial has created a local debate and while some residents are undoubtedly opposed to the scheme, there are a significant number championing it. What we want to do over the coming week is encourage people to consider the whole effect on their neighbourhood.
During the trial we will be collecting data which will be evaluated against the information we collected before the trial to see what difference, if any, the temporary traffic management interventions have made on individual streets. We know that at this point in the trial, we have seen a 40 per cent reduction in traffic in the trial area, with some 3,000 fewer vehicles on the roads as a whole. As well as this technical evidence we are looking to collect residents’ views, opinions and ideas and are urging people to send their feedback to a designated mini-Holland e-mail address: miniholland@walthamforest.gov.uk
During the trial Council officers have been present within Orford Road to discuss any queries the community may have and to offer advice as needed. They have been able to clarify some of the myths around mini-Holland, for example access for the emergency services and refuse collection vehicles, as well issues on the local main roads. We have already and will continue to visit properties in the surrounding streets to gather residents’ views, and are asking residents to complete the attached form to give us their views. Simon Munk mentioned that you are planning to survey residents so hopefully you will find this form useful in terms of consistency.
The findings from this trial will not only help inform the final scheme for this area, which will be put out to public consultation before anything is implemented, but also other schemes across Waltham Forest over the coming years.
Please find below an outline of the consultation process, which I hope addresses points A-E in your email:
Stage 1: Data collection
Before the trial started we placed traffic counting equipment at locations and on roads we know are the main ‘rat run’ routes through the area from Lea Bridge Road and Hoe Street. We have also been recording traffic volumes on the roads surrounding the trial area, including St Mary Road and Church Lane.
Stage 2: Pilot (in progress)
The pilot project was introduced on 26 September, which includes temporary road closures. The trial aims to show local residents, businesses and other interested stakeholders how the village could exist if rat running traffic was removed and the road space reallocated to alternative uses, for example general traffic and parking. During the pilot we will be gathering feedback received from door knocking, the email address as outlined above and an online consulation at the end of the trial period. At the mid-way point in the trial, we will issue an update to local properties followed by an update once the trial is over, which will outline the next steps.
Stage 3: Further feedback and development of final proposals for public consultation
After the trial period is over, we will run a series of workshops with the local community (including resident groups, businesses, schools and all other interested parties) to provide them with the data we have collected and to get further feedback on the trial. These workshops will cover which elements worked, which did not work, which elements we should retain, amend or remove and which other changes the community would like to see on their street following their experiences of the trial. These sessions will help us develop specific proposals also based on feedback and the data collected by the traffic surveys.
Stage 4 Public consultation and statutory consultation
In November we will start public engagement activities with consultation documents available, drop in sessions and focus groups. This will be followed by a statutory consultation.
Stage 5 Implementation
At this stage we anticipate that a staged implementation of the scheme developed in consultation with the community, will start from January 2016.
Stage 6 Review
We will undertake a review at least six months after the final scheme has been implemented to make any necessary design tweaks. This should allow enough time for any teething issues to have been ironed out post-implementation.
We are very aware that during this trial period we have got some things wrong. We are very committed to learning form these mistakes and are attempting to take in-trial remedial action where possible, such as increased signage. We really are very grateful to everyone for bearing with us.
Thanks again for getting in touch about the scheme and I hope this has clarified some of the processes we carried out so far. In the meantime, please do encourage residents to get involved in the debate and send their views to miniholland@walthamforest.gov.uk as we’re keen to ensure the final scheme is fit for the community.
Yours sincerely
Cllr Clyde Loakes
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