“Dear Petitioner
Thank you for the petition submitted on the change.org website about the Waltham Forest Mini-Hollands programme.
The Mini-Hollands programme is a key part of the Mayor’s Cycling Vision to achieve 1.5 million cycle trips around London every day by 2026. The significant £30m investment in each of the three Mini-Holland boroughs allows them to create a network of key cycle routes while improving the public realm and town centres. The Mini-Hollands programme is a fantastic opportunity for these boroughs to achieve dramatic change – not just for cyclists, but for everyone who lives and works there. This continues to be the aim for the three schemes that are currently being implemented.
In Waltham Forest, although the programme is supported by Transport for London (TfL), responsibility for the development and delivery of the projects that comprise the overall programme rests with the London Borough of Waltham Forest as it is the decision- making authority. However, TfL retains an ongoing oversight role to ensure that Mini-Hollands funded projects are high-quality, deliverable and align with the programme’s objectives and the Mayor’s Transport Strategy.
Waltham Forest consulted residents extensively on all of their projects, including trial road closures. It circulated 4,000 household surveys and held resident and business workshops and drop-in sessions. As you may be aware, Waltham Forest faced a judicial review regarding the Walthamstow Village project, which found in favour of the borough. The result of this review shows that the consultation exercise was thorough and robust. Statutory consultation has also been undertaken with stakeholders, which included emergency services and disability groups. The results of this consultation showed that only a minority of respondents were opposed to the changes.
Turning to your idea of dedicating the pavement on one side of the road to cyclists and the pavement on the other side to pedestrians, this may have unforeseen impacts, including businesses on one side not attracting the same amount of customers as the other. On this occasion it may not be possible to take your idea forward but Waltham Forest welcomes all ideas. The Programme Manager for the Waltham Forest Mini-Hollands programme is Mark Bland and he can be contacted by email at Mark.Bland@walthamforest.gov.uk.
Yours sincerely
Public Liaison Officer
Greater London Authority”
