Regents Park to Gladstone Park Quietway (QW)
Early in summer 2014 we had heard that some QWs had been prioritised for completion by 2016 including this one (previously named Jubilee QW) which was was not one of our chosen top five!
We were invited to a meeting by Jimmy Hall of Sustrans at the end of July. Before this meeting he told us about the proposed route for the Quietway which runs through Brent from Dollis Hill to Kilburn High Road and then through Camden on the following roads:
• Maygrove Road, Iverson Road, West End Lane, Compayne Gardens, Fairhazel Gardens and Loudoun Road
It the continues into Westminster on St Johns Wood Park and southbound on the western side of the Outer Circle
See the map of the route (as planned Spring 2015)
The Camden section of the Jubilee Quietway links up with the existing LCN route (turquoise on the map) through Primrose Hill via:
• Elsworthy Road, King Henry’s Road, Gloucester Avenue and Regents Park Road.
It the arrives at the junction Parkway/Delancey/Regents Park Road/Prince Albert Road/Park Village East/Gloucester Gate. With improvements to this junction and a two way link on Delancey Street and Pratt Street (shown in light brown on the map) it links with the Royal College Street route and Park Village East Grid routes (dark mauve on the map).
Meeting to discuss QW, 30 July 2014
The notes on that meeting can be seen here.
Click to access Notes-on-meeting-30-Jly-2014.pdf
Some highlights:
Introduction (mostly JH, also KdL)
- Andrew Gilligan has commissioned the Walthamstow-Bloomsbury (QW 38) to be delivered by 2016
- other QWs for first phase include the Jubilee QW
- funding £130million for 10years on 30-40 routes, approximately £2-3 million per project
- Sustrans standards – for unaccompanied 12 year old
Alignment
Broadhurst and Compayne Gardens are alternative alignments
CCC prefers Compayne Gardens as the buses on Broadhurst Gardens should be avoided and we very much welcome two-way cycling on Broadhurst Gardens between Priory Road and West End lane to complete a NB route on Priory Road
Belsize Roundabout
CCC disliked the proposal for the minor modifications to the roundabout and requested an alternative cross roads design.
JH supplied by email two alternative drawings for a cross roads solution (JQW-02-C-05-01 and JQW-02-C-06-01 which incorporates a protected route for cyclists between Loudoun Road and Fairhazel Gardens). These are very interesting and seem the best solution to us. We prefer the design with the protected route which should be attractive to all cyclists.
West End Lane
We discussed two alternatives:
– carriageway 6.2 m shared by cyclists and motors: CCC noted that i) having to take the lane isn’t appropriate for a QW and ii) some cyclists will find it frustratingly slow not being able to overtake
– 3m general lanes and 2m median strip (very slightly raised) but cyclists still encouraged to take primary position. May have advantage that some cyclists could use the median strip to overtake.
– a ‘shared space’ option without signals at Broadhurst Gardens and Iverson Road; surface patterns to be used to hint at possible usage e.g. ‘informal roundabout at the junctions of Broadhurst Gardens and Iverson Road; and crossing points.
Spring 2015
Sustrans has appointed Brian Madden as the new manager for this route which will now run as far as Gladstone Park. March 20th ride along the ride involving Brian Madden and two others from Sustrans, Dan Tait Camden, David Arditti and Jean Dollimore. We started at the top end of the route in Gladstone Park near the exit to Lennix Gardens. See the route on Google Map.
Points sent to Brian Madden by JD after the ride (21st April 2015)– other details on Brent Section from David Arditti
Regarding the Camden section, the following are important points:
– Maygrove Road: road closure at junction with Fordwych Road
– Iverson Road: the traffic flows on this section require separate space for cyclists
– West End Lane requires inspiration…
– alignment agreed along Broadhurst Gardens (with segregated contraflow), then Priory Road , then Compayne Gardens
– Belsize Roundabout. This needs simplification by being reduced to a cross roads for example, as in drawings in the attached file (which was on the supposition that the willow tree could be re-sited)
And we are keen to see the results of the traffic surveys.
Disappointing Response from Brian Madden 23rd April 2015
Filtered permeability on Maygrove Road would benefit Cyclists as well as residents. We are delivering those types of road closure schemes in other parts of London. They require quite a lot of time to deliver and have not been considered for Maygrove. As things stand, it is not possible to deliver as part of the route . Perhaps it is something that could be visited in the future, particularly if we can demonstrate how successful they have been on other Quietways.
I will be interested to see the traffic flows on Iversen as soon as the results are in. That should be in the next week or so and I am happy to share those with you both. I am hoping the parking /loading surveys support the segregated contraflow on Broadhurst Gardens. If not it may result in a realignment that means using Compayne Gardens instead of Broadhurst and that means more time on West End Lane.
West End Lane needs inspiration. Agreed! It also needs some firm ward councillor support to get going.
Belsize Roundabout options will be re-examined and redesigned once survey work is completed. I like the attached option, although I think it could do with some Zebras. I think the tree is the sticking point and I suspect Camden will look to retain.
West Hampstead ask for 2014 council elections
This was for a contraflow on Broadhurst gardens between Priory Road and West End Lane. The local councillors pledged to support the ask but progress has been difficult. June 2015, we tried to put political pressure on councillors to prevent failure of this task due to fear of taking out parking spaces. But the last time we saw the officer concerned (July 2015) he still; referred to difficulties.
April 2016 designs for Belsize Roundabout
See Street View
Solutions gradually became more and more disappointing as the idea of removing the tree was rejected and hence having a cross roads was no longer possible. Then we saw designs with filtering in Loudoun Road and a crossing from Loudoun Road to Fairhazel Gardens which would facilitate the QW but not help anyone else cycling through the roundabout. Then the filtering was dropped.
Autumn 2016 TfL can’t solve West End Lane so splits route
TfL decide to make a hole in the route because they are unable to work out what to do about West End Lane. To quote:
There has been a slight change to Q3, this is because improvements on WEL to Quietway standard would cause significant impact on other road users hence, cannot be implemented. TfL have decided to stop the route at Compayne Gardens near WEL junction, not implement any changes on WEL and continue the route from Iverson Road, Maygrove Road and beyond.
CCC’s position on QW3 October 2016
We think that the design for Belsize Roundabout is much improved on the preliminary draft proposal from April.
We are surprised and disappointed that TfL have decided to support a route with a gap in the middle. But, as we have already stated, we believe that the route between West End Lane and Belsize Roundabout requires improvements before it can be considered as of a suitable standard.
Motor traffic flows on Fairhazel Gardens
In April, Camden kindly provided us with a PM peak count of motor vehicles excluding motor cycles that indicated NB – 340 per hour and SB – 196 per hour, a total of 536 per hour. It is LCC policy that vehicle flows should be below 200 PCUs per hour for cycles and motor vehicles to comfortably share road space and we consider this policy particularly important in our evaluation of Quietways, which are intended to be safe for cyclists of all abilities. After making counts on 22nd April PM, we made a rough estimate of the reduction due to the exclusion of northbound vehicles in Loudoun Road. This could reduce the NB motor vehicle flows to about 200 per hour, but the total with SB motors is still about 400/hour.
Therefore, we are unable to support a QW on Fairhazel Gardens unless further attempts are made to reduce the number of motor vehicles.
Contraflow cycling on Broadhurst Gardens west of Priory Road
We have argued repeatedly that the distance on West End Lane used by cyclists should be kept to a minimum. This is all the more important now that there is no immediate plan to improve West End Lane. The case for a contraflow on Broadhurst Gardens became the ‘Ask’ for West Hampstead ward in the 2014 council elections and was supported by all three councillors. Southbound cyclists can leave West End Lane at Broadhurst Gardens and then use Priory Road and Compayne Gardens to reach Fairhazel Gardens. It is essential that northbound cyclists should be able to use the same route – in reverse.
Maygrove Road
Associated with a Camden consultation on a minor change in Maygrove Road and an invitation to suggest long-term improvements, we sent in the following ideas:
● Maygrove Road is on the proposed alignment of QW3 and is used by people cycling between the Gladstone Park area, West End Lane and Regent’s Park.
● The entrance to the new building for the Infant section of Kingsgate School is on Maygrove Road.
● Fordwych Road is on a potential cycling route to Hampstead School.
● Maygrove Road between the A5 and Fordwych Road has considerably higher motor traffic flows than the rest of the road. This section is very unsuitable for use by a 12year old on a bike.
● The motor traffic flows on both Maygrove Road and Fordwych Road are above the numbers suitable for access roads.
● To quote a local resident: “Maygrove and Fordwych Roads are major EastWest and NorthSouth rat runs.”
We believe that the best way to manage traffic levels on both Maygrove Road and Fordwych Road is to do the following:
● stop through motor traffic on Maygrove Road between the A5 and Iverson Road;
● stop through motor traffic on Fordwych Road between Mill Lane and Maygrove Road;
● avoid any increase motor traffic on the side roads and also on Iverson Road east of
Maygrove Road which is also on the QW3 alignment and on walking routes to the new school building.
Position Summer 2018
We understand that QW3 is not being funded 2018-19.
