TfL Plans To Press Ahead With CS9 Claiming Backing of Londoners
Consultation shows that nearly 60% of 5,000 respondents in favour
Artist's impression of superhighway looking west from Olympia
TfL have announced that they intend to move forward with plans for a Cycle Superhighway from Brentford to Kensington Olympia following their assessment of the consultation responses. More than 5,000 people gave their views on the scheme that would see a 6km segregated cycle track built.
TfL's report on the consultation responses shows that 58.9% either supported or strongly supported the scheme with 38.7% opposed or strongly opposed. Overall 53% strongly supported the scheme overall with another 6% saying the supported it.
Almost half of the responses came from the Chiswick area. 70% of the responses to the consultation were from post code areas along the route of the proposed track with 46% from W4 and 11% from W6.
Three quarters of those responding said they were local residents and 8% said they were not local but interested in the scheme. Details of the responses of key stakeholders showed that local residents' groups were overwhelmingly against the scheme but there were mixed views from other civic organisations and businesses in the area. Local schools including Latymer Upper and Ravenscourt Park Prep said they opposed the scheme.
65% of respondents said they usually travel by bike more than those that use a private car (56%).
TfL divided the scheme up into ten sections and asked respondents to give their views on each individually. The level of strong support/support for individual sections of the scheme ranged from 59% to 64% with the Chiswick High Road section having the lowest level of those in favour but only by a small margin. The Chiswick High Road section did have the highest level of those strongly opposed to the scheme with 33% against.
TfL are now going to analyse all responses in more detail and will announce the next stage of the project later in the year.
Will Norman, London's Walking and Cycling Commissioner said, “It's great news that our plans to improve walking and cycling in west London have been backed by Londoners. Cycle Superhighway 9 will improve safety for cyclists and make the area more attractive for pedestrians, providing real benefits to the whole community. I look forward to working closely with the borough councils to consider all of the responses and develop our plans further.”
Hounslow Council have withheld full backing for the scheme saying that they wished to see the full outcome of the consultation. They are unlikely to reach a final decision until after the May local elections.
February 27, 2018