Camden Council in partnership with UCL proposes to trial some changes in Gordon Street and Gordon Square west between just south of Endsleigh Gardens and Byng Place. See the drawing on the right (click to enlarge).
The main proposal is to restrict through traffic in this section as an 18 month trial
A short section of Gordon Street just south of Endsleigh Gardens contains an EVCP (light green) and a loading bay. Motor vehicles entering this section will turn round and leave the way they came.
Northbound access from Byng Place will be limited to emergency and refuse services, blue badge holders and for loading at any time.
They propose three new loading bays; one existing and one new Blue Badge bay (blue) adjacent to one another; the existing dockless hire bike parking near Byng Place (purple) is to stay.
All parking bays are to be suspended.
The closure at Gordon Square north will be retained.
Proposed improvements at the junction Gordon Square east and Gordon Square south (green circle)
Camden says: “Motor traffic between Tavistock Place and the northern end of Gordon Street is likely to use the junction on the east side of Gordon Square”. (The consultation describes this as a northbound movement but surely it must also apply southbound even if a lesser number).
Traffic Counts on Gordon Square west
Motors NB 731, SB 483; cycles NB 430, SB 293
Camden says : “We are looking to introduce improvements for walking and cycling at this junction similar to those introduced at the junction of Gordon Square (west) and Gordon Square (south), these measures would raise the cycle lane across the junction to slow motor vehicle speeds”.
Consultation
Drawings
CCC’s response
For our response:
- pleased to see traffic counts;
- safe design for the junction at the green circle
- how will the ban on the closed road be enforced?
- we would hope to see an LTN bounded by Euston Road, Woburn Place, Tavi Place, Gower Street (pink area in map below)
- the problem with just closing the western road is that motor traffic is transferred to roads further east doing nothing to reduce through traffic.
- The C52 route uses Gordon Street and continues to the Euston Road junction. There is currently very heavy traffic at the junction with Endsleigh Gardens.
Discussion
Should we reject the proposal, saying we think an LTN would be much better because it would reduce through traffic on all of the inner roads?
CCC Response
CCC Response to Transforming Gordon Street and Gordon Square west consultation
Decision due 4 Dec
Officers’ reply to our response
The Camden Cycling Campaign responded to the consultation via email. While they welcomed the proposed improvement to the junction of Tavistock Place at Gordon Square East, they did not support the overall proposal. Instead, they suggested a Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) bounded by Euston Road, Woburn Place, Tavistock Place, and Gower Street, arguing that such an approach would benefit all roads in the area.
Although they appreciated specific elements of the proposal such as seating, greening, and Blue Badge Bays, they preferred these enhancements to be distributed more evenly across the neighbourhood.
Additionally, they urged Camden to continue working with TfL to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians crossing Euston Road between Gordon Street and Melton Street.
Officers’ response:
Officers thank CCC for their feedback and note their response. The suggestion for a wider Low Traffic Neighbourhood for the area is not within the scope of this project however this does not rule out such measures at a later date, and any potential further measures in the area would be carefully considered alongside the monitoring data from the trial, if approved.
The request for a crossing of the Euston Road is acknowledged, and Officers would raise with Transport for London.
CCC Review of Consultation and Decision Details
Summary of Major Changes
No major changes
Comments
Disappointed that Camden has not accepted our points about an LTN and not putting all the improvements in a single street
Major Deficiencies in Scheme
Concentrating on a single street to the detriment of others – particularly leaving danger at junction Gordon Street /Endsleigh Street
Statistics
Consultation: Overall in favour 74%, opposed 21%, neutral 5%
AMAT (Benefit/Cost Ratio): Not mentioned
Table 1: Summary of CCC suggested improvements, officers’ response and impact
| CCC point raised | Outcome and justification | Impact | Suggestions |
| We mentioned the danger at the Endsleigh St junction | Camden didn’t mention it and isn’t going to deal with this | NEGATIVE | We should have listed this in our summary as well as the introduction |
| The request for a crossing of the Euston Road | Acknowledged, and Officers would raise with Transport for London. GREEN | POSITIVE | |
| We asked for an LT | they said ’not now’. | SLIGHTLY NEGATIVE |
Table 2: Summary of other changes made to the proposal following the consultation
Change | Justification | Impact | Suggestions/mitigations |
| Gordon Street: move the EVCP and have no entry except cycles from the junction of Endsleigh Street | Easier to move the EVCP than had previously been thought | POSITIVE | We should have mentioned this |
Note: the proposals for the junction of Gordon Square east/Tavi Place are positive
Also the officer’s argument that traffic won’t go onto other streets is fallacious in this case. In the consultation, they noted that it would move east by one block.