Agenda item

Mr Mee reported that public opinion remained divided on the A1000 Experimental Traffic Order (ETO) Scheme, which would expire at the end of March 2022.

Mr Mee noted that the Government had ruled that the A1000 Scheme could neither be permanently instated nor removed without a full public consultation. Therefore, design changes had been made to make the Scheme more useful whilst a new ETO is being reissued. This would allow sufficient time for a formal consultation to be carried out, to take place shortly after the Local Election on 5th May 2022. The design changes would be implemented over the next few weeks.

The Chairman requested a verbal update on the amendments to the Scheme.

Mr Ataie, Interim Strategic Lead Commissioner, Highways, added that the seven areas to be amended, highlighted in Section 4 of the report, are low-cost changes and we aim to fund them by the £100k remaining in the original scheme budget. The changes would provide some on-street parking, better movement of buses at certain junctions, and the addition of a pedestrian phase at Somersville Road, which will be funded by the Area Committee as it has already been approved.his change at Somersville Road should also allow cyclists to travel through the junction safely. Additional loading bays for businesses on the side roads and parking spaces outside St Martin’s School as requested by the school have already been provided.

Cllr Byers asked whether a speed survey had been carried out and whether traffic calming would be added if there was found to be speeding in the 20mph limit. Mr Ataie responded that surveys on the volume and speed of traffic continue to be carried out. It had been recommended that the 20mph limit be extended to the Borough boundary, where there are non-segregated cycle lanes, based on national guidelines. He noted that there is not yet sufficient data on pollution and speed levels. This data will continue to be collated and form part of the final report to be presented to this Committee to approve whether the scheme is amended, kept or removed.

Cllr Cooke asked about the ‘shared space’ area on the pavement of the High Road, between pedestrians and cyclists, noting that pedestrians would feel uncomfortable without a segregated space. Mr Ataie responded that the ‘shared space’ would be marked on the footway and the shared area would only be from Sandringham Gardens to Somers Lane, which is a wide tree-lined footway. This would support the flow of cyclists as well as allowing for introduction of limited on street parking. Cllr Cooke suggested the use of colour coding on the footway to highlight the segregation.

Cllr Jajeh highlighted that the examples of trial schemes provided by the Department of Transport (page 30) did not necessarily reflect the Barnet area or residents. There had been strong opposition to the Scheme expressed by many Barnet residents.

Cllr Jajeh reported that he had received feedback about potential difficulties with emergency vehicle access in the section by the retail park if the proposed design changes go ahead. Mr Ataie noted that as part of the statutory consultation there is a requirement to request comments from the emergency services, and necessary adjustments would be made to ensure access.

Cllr Schneiderman asked what the consultation questions would be. Mr Mee responded that the consultation had not yet been drafted; he would share the questions as they emerge and would be happy to take account of suggestions to ensure that the questions elicit useful feedback.

Cllr Schneiderman reported that the Committee had previously been provided with research on usage of the cycle lane, traffic speeds and air quality. He asked whether there would be more data provided alongside the consultation. Mr Mee responded that it would, and that the council is constantly monitoring usage of the network, although he was concerned that due to the changes since the pandemic it was more difficult to interpret, with currently greater car use and more working from home, so the only baseline data available are from the pre-pandemic period.

Cllr Farrier requested that Ward Councillors as well as Environment Committee members be consulted on the questions. She added that changes are needed as the Scheme had been brought in too quickly. For example, as noted in a public comment that had been published with the agenda, many cyclists were unlikely to divert from the road onto the pavement. The Chairman noted that improvements had been made based on the comments received. Mr Ataie responded that many commuter cyclists prefer to use the main road whilst others feel more comfortable being segregated and may be travelling a short distance.

Cllr Fluss noted that there had been no consultation before implementation of the Scheme, so residents should be asked whether they prefer each aspect of the Scheme to stay or go. She had received many complaints about traffic chaos and pollution caused by the Scheme. The Chairman responded that the proposed changes were being brought in to reduce congestion and improve air quality.

On a separate but related subject. the Chairman reported that the response to the recent consultation regarding Booth Road and Greenaway on Neighbourhood Measures showed that residents, users, and stakeholders are opposed to it and therefore this won’t proceed in its current form. Discussions would be held with Ward Members on the next steps. This update was not included in the written report due to the agenda publication being prior to the consultation results.

The Chairman moved to the vote on the officer’s recommendations, which were unanimously APPROVED.

It was RESOLVED:

1.     that the Committee noted that the Executive Director, Environment will make arrangements for an engagement and consultation exercise, to commence by June 2022; and that the results would be brought back to Environment Committee in autumn 2022 for a final decision on whether to retain, modify or remove the Cycle Scheme. 

2.     That the Committee noted the introduction of new Experimental Traffic Management Orders reflecting feedback so far received in respect of the Scheme.