This is what is happening on Wandsworth Bridge Road.
I received a response from TFL to my recent Freedom of Information Request on Friday. It can be viewed here
A Wandsworth Bridge Road working group has been formed which includes officers from LBHF, TFL ( including someone from TFL buses ) and the head of engineering from Wandsworth and Richmond Councils.
Our council has ‘stood down’ WSP Consultants who were responsible for working with the Wandsworth Bridge Road Association on the ‘meandering road project’. Instead they intend to ‘develop a more coordinated, area-wide programme and a combined procurement brief ‘ They intend to find a design team ‘ via a mini‑competition, covering design development, consultation, modelling and associated technical work’. So much of our council funds wasted!
This means that nothing will change on Wandsworth Bridge Road for the foreseeable future and especially before the May local government elections.
What is interesting is that TFL will not permit LBHF to do just what they want. They have noted the following points amongst others.
LBHF are claiming that they need to put in the 7 zebra crossings with build outs on WBR for safety reasons. TFL are wanting to see the killed or seriously injured statistics to justify the danger that the road poses to cyclists and pedestrians and how the proposed arrangement would solve this. Since the parklets were introduced we have seen numerous accidents involving the sacrificial planters and cyclists who now ride on the pavements.
TFL are ‘still concerned by the lack of detail on the outcome of the consultation for these projects’ They note that they have received ‘a good deal of correspondence on this scheme from local community who
are concerned about the decision-making processes being applied and the potential network impacts of the existing and proposed interventions’
IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT IF YOU WANT TO SEE OUR PARKLETS REMOVED AND BUILD OUTS PREVENTED ON WBR that you ask neighbours, colleagues and friends to sign this petition and write to TFL at haveyoursay@tfl.gov.uk about the lack of local consultation.
LBHF still refuse to consult with local residents. They have ignored calls for a public meeting and on Wednesday, in answer to my question about this at the full council meeting I was told that I would get my say in the local elections in May!
TFL have queried that the new scheme will improve air quality on WBR ‘More crossings leads to more stops and delays which will worsen air quality along the corridor, not improve it’
TFL are looking for an holistic solution - as are we all! - that will benefit the local road networks and improve bus speeds.