Members Meeting 11 October 2004
Discussion with Doug Amer and Christopher Nicola
Doug Amer (Head of Street Policy at Camden Council) and Christopher Nicola (Traffic Planner within Street policy)came to this meeting to discuss the future planning of cycle routes in Camden.
Doug assured us that TfL is committed to their promise to build 900 km of cycle route in London by the year 2009.
The map (now taken off line) shows the LCN+ routes, both planned (in green) and under construction (in pink). CCC’s suggestions for local links are shown in blue
Note that links are local sections of LCN+ routes, e.g. link 27 is part of what will eventually be a longer route, whereas route 50 refers to a complete route
In Camden, the bid for the LCN+ program for 2005-6 consists of:
- completing the SSL (Seven Stations Link) or route 0.
- doing a design study for link 27 which goes from Tottenham Court Road to Tufnell Park via Hampstead Road and Kentish Town Road.
The news regarding link 27 was very well received, CCC will now be able to start thinking about the details of the route so that we can feed them into the CRISP process when it starts.
The next LCN+ route to be tackled would probably be 50.
Christopher Nicola then spoke about the work he is doing putting together Camden’s programme for cycling over the next five years, including bids for non-LCN+ improvements. Any ideas we have for small schemes which do not involve red routes (as these are run by TfL) should be forwarded to him. Christopher has already incorporated a number of ideas put forward by CCC.
Doug added that although red routes are generally out of bounds in this respect, opportunities do occasionally present themselves for the Council to make minor changes, so CCC should include them on their list of suggested improvements.
Doug suggested that we put forward proposals for links between LCN+ routes (ideally ones already in place) which could then be developed incrementally.
The blue links shown on the above map show some suggestions for routes that were made by members prior to the meeting. These include
- West Hampstead to Swiss Cottage, Swiss Cottage to Primrose Hill, Primrose Hill to the West End with a possible extensions from West Hampstead to Kilburn and from Swiss Cottage to Route 6.
- Links from Euston and St Pancras to the SSL
- a link from Swiss Cottage to Tufnell Park (no details shown)
Doug said that Camden can’t get local funding for large-scale local routes but can do small interconnecting pieces, e.g. as
- links to LCN+ route which can be funded by TfL (we discussed a link at Swiss Cottage from Finchley Road down the steps into Swiss Terrace as a link to LCN+ 50).
- as a series of small measures
Christopher took a copy of our map showing these routes and a written description giving their details for use in future planning.
CCC will be consulted on the draft text of the LIP (local implementation plan) early in 2005.
