Traffic Order
CCC had seen a traffic order that, amongst other items, would ban all southbound traffic on Pancras Road between the junction with Camley Street and the Euston Road from November 2007 until 2011/2012. CCC had great concerns about this as it would mean that cyclists approaching from the north would be forced to use the railway underpass, Midland Road and the Euston Road to gain access to Kings Cross and St Pancras Stations. These are all heavily trafficked roads, and would be particularly circuitous for cyclists accessing the Kings Cross Suburban and St Pancras Domestic stations. DS also pointed out that if the Camley St-Agar Grove link went ahead, the diversion would be particularly unfortunate as it would negate one of the main reasons for the link.
LB handed out copies of plans showing the proposed 2007-2011 interim arrangements and also had available a map of the proposed final arrangement, which were very useful. CCC requested a copy of the final map, which LB said he would provide.
It became clear that the traffic order, which was being requested to allow construction work to the east of Pancras Road to proceed unimpeded during the period 2008-2012, was incorrectly worded, as taxis were going to be allowed to use Pancras Road southbound to queue for the pick-up area to the side of Kings Cross. The minimum lane width appeared to be 3.15m, with a taxi bay of 2.0m, so there would be room for cyclists to pass the taxi queue. This should not present major safety issues, especially as no access would be allowed to large vehicles or buses. LB said that he would get the TO amended to allow both taxis and cyclists to use Pancras Road southbound and CCC were happy with this decision.
Access to Kings Cross and St Pancras
General issues of access for cyclists were discussed. Assuming cyclists are allowed to use Pancras Road in both directions, access to the Kings Cross suburban platforms should be possible from Pancras Road, and this might even provide a route, as now, to the main platforms. Access to St Pancras domestic and CTRL stations would also be relatively straightforward.
Looking at Midland Road, there would appear to be an excellent opportunity to
use Brill Place to connect the stations to LCN+ route 6 on Ossulton Street, if a route could be provided between Brill Place and the Thameslink Station access. The adjacent pedestrian route through the station would then give access to the domestic side. Using this route would involve a short section of northbound cycle track on Midland Road and possibly a combined cycle/pedestrian crossing of Midland Road at the planned Pelican crossing. LB and DS would look into this.
Cycle Lanes
CCC expressed some concern about the positioning of cycle lanes inside dedicated left-turn lanes, specifically northbound on Pancras Road at the Pancras Road/Camley St junction. CCC’s preference would be for the nearside lane to be marked for both left-turn and straight-ahead traffic. LB would look into this.
Cycle Parking
CCC raised the issue of the totally inadequate cycle parking at St Pancras, with the new ‘facility’ consisting of low hoops (insecure and potentially damaging) tucked away at the back of the car park. CCC had had no response to their email to the Station Manager, TfL and DfT. LB provided details of the new station manager and agreed that the facilities were very poor. CCC to follow up.
New Cycle Park: LB will find out when it is expected to be ready.
Other Business
LB gave CC a final draft of Buchanan’s Kings Cross Cycling Strategy document which had been a long time in preparation. CCC would review this and send comments.
CCC asked why York Way and Camley Street had such wide footways and why some of this could not have been allocated to cyclists. LB replied that these road layouts had been approved up to 10 years ago by committee and cyclists’ needs had not perhaps been considered in the way they would now. CCC could ask to have the layout changed.
Platform Y: there will no longer be any access to Kings Cross station from York Way.
Goodsway: Bob Corrigan (Transport Engineering) is overseeing the work. DS will make enquiries. CCC should become statutory consultee on planning applications in Kings Cross area.
JC August 2007