TfL is running a consultation on whether to introduce a new cycle lane on Holland Park Roundabout. The consultation closes on March 3rd and you can respond to it here or email TfL at [email protected].
We are calling on residents to join our campaign to stop TfL's proposed cycle lane on Holland Park Roundabout. This campaign is backed by Felicity Buchan MP, RBKC, Tony Devenish AM and the following Residents Associations:
The Pembridge Association
The Holland Park Residents Association
Clarendon Cross Residents Association
The Norland Society
The Holland Park Retailers
The Hillgate Village Residents Association
The Ladbroke Association
The Kensington Society
The Campden Hill Residents Association
The Pembridge Association
Sign our petition now! Tell TfL Your Views | Felicity Buchan
The changes TfL would like to make include (view detailed slides here):
- Reducing Traffic lanes on Holland Park Avenue heading Westbound from three to two lanes on approach to the junction.
- Removing the innermost traffic lane from the Holland Park Avenue Junction to the Holland Road Junction on the Roundabout itself.
- Removing a lane of traffic heading Westbound on Shepherd’s Bush Green.
- Introducing a two-way cycle lane from Holland Park Avenue along the southern side of Holland Park Roundabout to the eastern side of Shepherd’s Bush Green.
- Introducing a priority bus lane heading Westbound on Shepherd’s Bush Green.
- Introducing bike crossings with separate cycle signals at existing traffic lights at junctions.
TfL proposes to keep the existing cycling infrastructure along the pavement on the southside of the roundabout and in the underpass. This new scheme is in addition.
While we all want to see more active travel in Kensington, including walking and cycling, new cycling schemes must balance the needs of all stakeholders, including pedestrians, bus users, local businesses, local residents and other road users.
We want to ensure the safety of cyclists, and I am supportive of measures to improve cycling safety but we do not believe this scheme gets that balance right.
We are opposing TfL’s proposals for the following primary reasons:
1. Impact on traffic flows – this scheme will increase congestion on Holland Park Avenue and Holland Road and have a knock-on effect on traffic across the Borough.
- We have asked TfL to provide data and modelling on the scheme’s impact on traffic flows. They have failed to provide this to date.
2. Increased air pollution - increased congestion will lead to increases in air pollution.
3. Damage to local businesses - heavy traffic on Holland Park Avenue will discourage residents and non-residents from shopping on Holland Park Avenue and risk the viability of some of the businesses.
4. Rat-running - heavy traffic on main roads will encourage motorists to use the side streets on either side of Holland Park Avenue and Holland Road.
5. Bus and emergency vehicle journey times - increased congestion will lead to longer journey times for bus users and emergency vehicles, disproportionately affecting the elderly, disabled and those in need of medical attention.
6. Existing cycling facilities - there is already cycling infrastructure on the roundabout. The new cycle lane is designed to achieve faster cycling for mostly out-of-Borough users.
7. Precursor to extension - if approved, this cycle lane could be used as a precursor to reignite controversial plans to expand the cycle highway along Holland Park Avenue. This has been said to residents at the TfL drop-in event to discuss the proposals.
Quotes:
Felicity Buchan MP: “While I am supportive of cycling and improving cycling safety, this scheme is ill-thought through. It will lead to increased traffic congestion, increased pollution and rat-running. Cycling infrastructure already exists so the main cycling beneficiaries will be those out of Borough looking to cycle in a straight line. I therefore oppose the scheme.”
Cllr Cem Kemahli: “This scheme works for TFL but fails for the residents of RBKC - we cannot support more vehicles being displaced onto our network.”
Tony Devenish AM: “TfL’s latest proposals to remove lanes of traffic to make way for a new cycle lane on Holland Park Roundabout will lead to more congestion, not less. With existing cycling infrastructure already in place on the roundabout, I have to oppose these plans which will lead to more traffic on our roads.”