Resounding majority back new road layout in Bloomsbury

A new road layout in Bloomsbury, central London, which allows better access for cyclists and pedestrians has been supported by a large majority in a consultation carried out by Camden council.

The public were asked for their views on the trial, featuring wider pavement and stepped cycle tracks, which began in November 2015.

Some 78% of the total were in favour of making the trial street layout permanent, 21% were not in favour and 1% had no opinion. Of residents, 61% were in favour, 38% were not in favour while 1% had no opinion.

In total, the council received over 15,000 responses, which included 1,387 residents, making it the highest number ever for a Camden council consultation.

The change to the layout had been criticised by black cab drivers, who said that new road increased congestion and pollution in surrounding streets. The London Cycling Campaign helped mobilise thousands of cyclists in defence of the cycle lanes. It accused the London Taxi Drivers Association of a “calculated attack on cycling infrastructure” and said the trial had the benefit of reducing traffic in the area by 3,500 vehicles a day.

Phil Jones, cabinet member for regeneration, transport & planning, said: “The impressive number of responses received demonstrates the importance that many people, of differing viewpoints, hold with regards to the street layout in this location.

“We are now in the process of fully collating and analysing the responses. Due to the high number it will take officers some time to fully collate and analyse all the views and comments received before we can share the detailed results more widely and use them to inform our final decision.”

The council’s cabinet will make a final decision on the results of the consultation in early 2017.

The trial changed the route that motor traffic used along the corridor of streets that includes Torrington Place, Byng Place, Gordon Square, Tavistock Square and Tavistock Place. Improvements were installed for pedestrians and cyclists by making the corridor mainly eastbound only for motor vehicles and introducing a partially segregated (protected) cycle lane on the southern section of the street. The existing segregated cycle lane on the north side was kept and some changes made to parking and loading. 

There have been improvements to air quality since the trial began, said Camden council. Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) emissions at Tavistock Place have dropped 21% compared with levels before the trial while NO2 levels have dropped 10% at Russell Square and 9% at Gordon Square.