February-March 2016
TfL Consultation on CS11 proposes the closure of four gates – Macclesfield Bridge, Park Square East, Park Square West and York Gate (except 11 am – 3pm). We prefer full time closure.
See information about the consultation here.
To try to overcome opposition to the CS11 proposals, a demo was held in Regent’s Park on 11 March 2016. Read about the demo here.
TfL reported in August 2016 that they received 6,270 responses to the consultation, of which 60 per cent supported (53%) or partially supported (7%) our proposals. This was followed by a series of stakeholder meetings. In December, TfL said they will be doing further work on the proposals for Regent’s Park and will announce a way forward for this aspect of the CS11 scheme by summer 2017. This is very worrying
Result of the consultation on TfL website.
Outer Circle Campaign for no through traffic
Revived Campaign 2013
In London Cyclist Sept 2013, Rachel Aldred gave as an example of a ‘low traffic zone’ campaign our old campaign for no through traffic in the Outer Circle and told people to contact Camden Cyclists about it. This page was written as an interim measure.
Following that, an new group: Camden Cyclists, Westminster Cyclists, Westminster Living Streets, Camden Friends of the Earth and Canal and River Trust produced a new proposal which has been sent to CEPC, Royal parks, Camden Council and Andrew Gilligan.
Previous campaigns for reducing motor traffic on the Outer Circle
Campaign 2000-04
This campaign was started by Norman Beddington of Transport 2000 London. Camden and Westminster Cycling Campaigns were involved, together with representatives from Friends of the Earth and Living Streets. CCC were represented by Stefano Casalotti and David Arditti.
The proposal
The proposal is to remove through traffic and to improve pedestrian facilites as shown in the plan below.
- to place barriers at three points on the outer circle, which will prevent through traffic, but at the same time allow access to all points within the park including the zoo and the open air theatre.
- to enhance pedestrian facilities. The majority of park users are on foot.
The document describing this proposal can be seen in:
Progress
The group met William Weston, chief executive of the Royal parks Agency in July 2004. He is interested and in principal thinks the proposal is a good idea. He was busy with problems concerning Richmond Park, where a backlash has resulted from the closure of a gate which cuts out a lot of traffic. He has suggested that the Royal Park will address their attention to this proposal in early 2005.
Support
The campaign has support from a group of local residents and letters of support from the Royal College of Physicians and Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Some of the residents of the surrounding streets are however concened about the displacement of traffic into their roads.
New campaign to improve Outer Circle – Summer 2008
Frances Mortimer proposed a new campaign in Sept 2008: CCC and Westminster Cyclists working on an idea about improving the area outside the entrance to the zoo with a view to enhancing pedestrian and cyclist safety. We obtained support from Living Streets and Sustrans. The latest version of our proposal takes account of the needs of ZSL (the zoo) (see their letter below). But this campaign was superseded by the Outer Circle Campaign in 2013-4.
Safety in the Outer Circle (2007)
We had been promised improvements. But in Spring 2007, we discovered to our horror that several big traffic islands had been built. To quote a cyclist:
“A new central island has been built which is not in itself a problem – however some genius has painted a cycle lane which extends straight into the back of a line of cars. The safe route to take (to avoid the parked cars) is about 2 metres wide of the bike lane. As can be seen from the photo, it might have been safer to have a footway build out to the width of the parked cars, so that the remaining carriageway is so narrow that there is no question of overtaking a cyclist in the gap.”
Stefano Casalotti campaigned vigorously for the removal of these islands or at least some change in the road markings. Eventually the road markings were altered which produced some minor improvements.
Cycle routes inside Regents Park
CCC with Westminster Cyclists have participated in the Royal Parks Cycling Development Group to get cycling permitted on a small number of routes inside Regents Park. We were represented on that group for several years by Stefano Casalotti. Our representative from Summer 2007 to autumn 2009 was Meade McCloughan, then Anne Boston until 2011 followed by our current representative Angela Hobsbaum.
Broadwalk north of Chester Gate a cycleway since 2010
The Royal Parks Agency ran a pilot scheme of cycling on the Broad Walk between St Mark’s Gate at the northern the junction with Chester Rd from July to the end of September 2007. In January 2010, this became a permanent cycle way, following an extended monitored second trial.
The trials on the Broadwalkand recommendations are reported on the Royal Parks website at:
The Broad Walk Shared Use Trial Monitoring and Royal Parks Info on trial
Cycle Review at The Regent’s Park – Recommendations Report
Cycle Review at The Regent’s Park – Executive Summary
Route between Chester Road and Outer Circle
Since 2012, the Royal Parks Agency are considering an extension of the Broadwalk route on what they call the “Marylebone Green Route”. This runs on a path parallel to the southern extension of the Broadwalk on the western side. It reaches the Outyer Circle opposite Park Square West.
Atkins produced a Pre-Trial Feasibility Assessment for The Royal Parks in December 2012. This recommended measures to be taken before a trial could start.
