Long post alert...

BREAKING: TFL has confirmed that the process to make Battersea Bridge safe for pedestrians is now "a funded scheme".  

This highly positive news, follows a 45-minute meeting I had on Teams this morning with three senior TFL officers. For simplicity purposes, I am distilling the key takeaways from this meeting in bullet points below. 

In all the years of well-meaning pressure from local politicians, the council, and residents, nothing as pro-active and as encouraging as this development has occurred as regards solving the existing situation. People Power has made this happen - wholly galvanised by the shocking tragedy of Jack Ryan's death on 13th January.

Although there is still a long way to go, and nothing will happen instantly, I feel positive that change WILL indeed come to Battersea Bridge.

All credit must go to Commissioner Andy Byford for stepping in personally and engaging with me on the safety issues from the earliest days of this campaign. He assured me that he would make this a "priority" at TFL and, so far, he has been true to his word at every turn. Respectful clapping hands emoji!

I will be briefing local politicians (Greg Hands, Johnny Thalassites, Tony Devenish) about these developments tomorrow. They will also be having a meeting with TFL later on Friday to move things forward on a political and practical level.

Clearly, changing anything at a key crossroads such as the one at Cheyne Walk involves many complicated issues. Hence, time and expert advice will be required. The outline below will explain some of what needs to happen.

As much as this is a critical and warmly welcomed development, the campaign continues. Please keep the signatures and the comments coming. The right people ARE listening to The People. Thank you. RM (28/1)

 TFL MEETING - KEY POINTS

*Plans to change the junction are now "a funded scheme". This means money is there to pay for the work. Total costs for a SINGLE pedestrian crossing are put at £400,000 (this includes everything from staffing costs at the design stage, right through to the cement and lightbulbs!).

*This money was in fact already in place - but as part of a fund for grander plans to extend the CS8 cycle superhighway along Cheyne Walk. In the past week, TFL has "accelerated" the availability of a portion of this money as a response to the campaign. The key element is that this money is "ring-fenced". I have been assured that the finances required to make Battersea Bridge safe for pedestrians are definitely NOT contingent on any other schemes. 

*The interim measure I suggested in my petition citation (to hold all lights on RED for a few seconds to give pedestrians a chance to cross) has been challenged as unsafe by a TFL expert. Research from Chapter 6 of the Traffic Science Manual - no less! - casts doubt on its viability and states that it may even generate "driver disobedience". I dispute this, so it was agreed that at least the idea WILL be tested by TFL modellers.

*The desire at TFL is to search for a single, longterm solution - not a patchwork of measures.

*A full Safety Audit is already underway at the crossroads. A team of Traffic Modelling experts and Engineers are also already in place and are examining the options and potential solutions for pedestrian crossing points. They expect to report back as early as next week. This will then go to "stakeholders" - ie: RBKC and politicians.

*Once options and designs are in place, we can move towards a clearer timescale for public consultation and then delivery. There is a statutory process that cannot be avoided and the Mayoral elections in March may hold up some processes.

*I was advised that the installation of a pedestrian crossing such as this would normally take roughly a YEAR! I was astounded by this and I am pushing for faster action. TFL is also keen to move quickly, but wants to "manage expectations" of the timescale. I concur that this is a complicated situation that needs to be completed correctly. However, I will continue to push hard for things to move quickly. This cannot fall into the long grass and I feel confident that no-one at TFL wants that either.

*I have also asked for another idea to be put in the mix: to convert the island crossing at the southern end of Battersea Bridge to a Belisha crossing. This would match the system at Albert Bridge south. TFL has agreed to discuss this with Wandsworth Council. I think this would be a sensible and much welcomed addition to the system there and one that would not cause any adverse affects to traffic flow.

Onwards.

Ends