Hello

As many of the supporters of this campaign are residents in Battersea and Chelsea, I felt that it would be useful to alert everyone to a consultation process that Transport for London opened yesterday.

This the page.

The consultation focuses on key changes TFL made to the road system here under emergency covid laws in June/July 2020 to pave the way for the extension of the CS8 cycling lane. These are now set to continue as an "experiment" for a further 18 months.

Only last week I wrote to Commissioner Andy Byford asking him to review the changes and open consultation - without knowing this survey was about to go public. So, I welcome this move. Why it did not happen before, and why should it continue undiscussed for a further 18 months hence, is indeed perplexing.

However, during the next six months, TFL is seeking feedback from people as regards these changes becoming permanent. 

Engaging in the consultation is not exactly straight forward. Have a look at the privacy issues if you register, as is necessary, to take part in the online survey. If you want to avoid that, you can email your views directly to Haveyoursay@tfl.gov.uk.

I hope that a great many local residents and businesses who really know these areas will engage in this consultation. There are multiple changes afoot, some more significant than others...

- Creating a No Left Turn onto Chelsea Bridge from Grosvenor Road is major, not least because every large vehicle and HGV wanting to travel south now has no alternative but to use Battersea Bridge. The dangers at Battersea Bridge are well known. Reducing the risk to cyclists and pedestrians at Chelsea Bridge is commendable, but it has only exacerbated those risks elsewhere. How is that solving anything?

- Creating a No Left Turn into Chelsea from the Embankment is also a significant change for businesses and residents in that part of Chelsea.

I am pasting the full summary of changes TFL is proposing below. These are dry and slightly complex issues, but important ones to be considered. RM

'What changes have been made between Lambeth Bridge and Chelsea Bridge?

This document summarises and explains what changes we have made.

Grosvenor Road / Millbank

Single red lines on Grosvenor Road and Millbank (No Stopping Mon-Fri 7am-7pm) converted to double red lines (no stopping at any time) to prevent informal stopping in the cycle lane
With-flow mandatory cycle lanes widened in places and upgraded with wands where possible. Wands widened from 4m apart to 8m apart to enable emergency vehicles and taxis to access the kerb

Grosvenor Road / Chelsea Bridge

Banned left-hand turning movement from Grosvenor Road into Chelsea Bridge except for cyclists. This eliminates the risk of left-hook collisions of traffic with cyclists. In the three years before June 2020 10 people cycling at this junction were hurt in collisions and tragically one person was killed by a HGV truck turning into Chelsea Bridge.
Provided a ‘short flare’ lane on the westbound approach to Chelsea Bridge to minimise delays on this approach

Chelsea Embankment / Chelsea Bridge Road / Grosvenor Road

Enable local buses to turn right from Grosvenor Road into Chelsea Bridge Road via a right-hand turning pocket. This will enable bus route 360 to turn right into Chelsea Bridge Road, saving up to 2-5 mins compared to pre-pandemic journey times (depending on the time of day) rather than continuing along Chelsea Embankment and using the Bull Ring to U-turn. This requires a right-hand turning pocket in the centre of the junction
The introduction of local buses turning right into Chelsea Bridge Road requires modifications to the central islands and the southern footway including the slight relocation of the Toucan crossing on Grosvenor Road
Banned the left-hand turning of all traffic from Chelsea Embankment into Chelsea Bridge Road. This eliminates the risk of left-hook collisions of traffic with cyclists, and also enables the above bus movement.
Chelsea Embankment: closed the bus stop serving route 360 at the Bull Ring. Bus route 360 will no longer travel on Chelsea Embankment and instead turn from Grosvenor Road into Chelsea Bridge Road (see above)

Grosvenor Road
Grosvenor Road banned left turn into Claverton Street except for cyclists, buses and taxis
Grosvenor Road banned right turn into Lupus Street
Grosvenor Road banned right turn movements into and out of St George’s Square

at the junction with Grosvenor Road (western access)
Remove the banned movements into and out of St George’s Square at the junction

with Grosvenor Road (eastern access) that were introduced through the temporary traffic order in June 2020

Grosvenor Road banned left turn into Bessborough Gardens except for cyclists
Grosvenor Road remove the loading and unloading and disabled persons’ vehicle

bay adjacent to No.1 Paxton Terrace
Longer eastbound bus standing space on Grosvenor Road outside Paxton Terrace

to accommodate 3 stationary buses
Grosvenor Road eastbound (east of Claverton Street) the cycle lane has been

moved next to the kerb. Hatching separates the floating loading and disabled

parking bays from the cycle lane
Grosvenor Road westbound (west of Claverton Street) the cycle lane has been

moved next to the kerb. Hatching separates the floating parking bays from the cycle lane.

Millbank
Narrowing of and new raised entry treatment at Atterbury Street at the junction with Millbank. This is a ramp to raise the crossing to footway level. This reduces the crossing width for pedestrians and encourages vehicles to turn more cautiously.
Enable coach bays to become operational and eastbound coach bay timings to be amended (from No Stopping At Any Time except buses pick up or set down only to No Stopping At Any time except buses max 1 hour no return within 2 hours)
Move westbound bus stop NC 3360 90m west from its original location opposite Thames House
Introduction of a bus stop bypass outside near Ponsonby Place
Removed the loading and unloading bay outside Nos.48-57 Millbank'