Sub-Regional Priorities
1) Abolition of the Western Extension of the Congestion Charge zone (WEZ)
There was an overwhelming response in favour of the removal of WEZ to the Mayor's informal consultation in the autumn of 2008.
Hammersmith & Fulham council and our residents and businesses have consistently opposed the extension. We held a public meeting in October 2008, with a presentation from TfL and speakers for and against the extension, and 81% of those present were in favour of the extension's removal.
Firstly the extension has done nothing to relieve congestion in Hammersmith & Fulham, which is just outside the zone boundary, even though TfL's figures show that congestion levels in Hammersmith & Fulham are the highest in London. We have a limited number of north-south roads in the borough and measures to improve traffic flow on these roads, without attracting commuter traffic from a wide area, should accompany the removal, which should be effected as soon as possible.
There are quite large pockets of Hammersmith and Fulham and Kensington and Chelsea which have poor public transport, and many people are reliant on cars to visit relatives, schools and hospitals, and find the £8 charge a heavy additional burden. The charge is unfair in that residents of the zones receive a 90% discount whole those just outside it have to pay the full charge. As residents of Hammersmith and Fulham are, in general less well-off than those of Kensington and Chelsea, this amounts to a regressive tax which falls most heavily on poorer people
Local trade has been adversely affected and businesses such as florists, estate agents and dry cleaners are losing customers who are deterred by the £8 charge.
There has been additional parking pressure around tube stations near the border in Hammersmith & Fulham , where parking stress is already extremely high.
2) Provision of Crossrail/High Speed 2 Station at Old Oak Common
We welcome the commitment to build Crossrail but we are deeply disappointed that the strategy does not make any mention of a possible interchange station in the Mitre Bridge/Old Oak Common/Willesden Junction area. Crossrail (Great Western main line) crosses several lines here, including the West London Line, and by not providing an interchange station, Crossrail is repeating the missed opportunities of the nineteenth century railway companies by ignoring the presence of other lines. We are aware of the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea's aspiration for a Crossrail station nearby at Ladbroke Grove and are working with them to devise a solution that best meets the needs of both boroughs, the sub-region and London as a whole.
Added impetus for such a station comes with the development of High Speed 2 between London, the Midlands and the North. We welcome the Mayor's support for such a line and note his view that the main terminal should be in Central London. High Speed 2, the company set up by the government to develop proposals for such a line is currently developing proposals for the line. We believe that the transport case for a station at Old Oak Common, providing interchange with Crossrail, Heathrow Express, the North and West London Lines and Great Western Main line is extremely strong. It would act as a secondary distributor for London area passengers, relieving underground networks at the main central London terminus. It would give rapid access to Heathrow Airport and would be efficient in terms of High Speed Rail operation, in that it would not require trains to slow down after getting up to their maximum speed - they would not reach high speeds between the terminus and Old Oak Common. Most importantly from the point of view of the boroughs and the sub-region, the station would give a very strong impetus for the regeneration of this part of west London and Park Royal. We therefore ask that the Mayor includes in-principle support for an Old Oak Common hub station in MTS2.
3) Relocation of A40 Northwards
There is great potential to improve the environment and stimulate regeneration, as well as smooth traffic flows in the north of both Hammersmith and Fulham and Kensington and Chelsea if the A40 were to be moved towards the Great Western railway alignment between Westbourne Park and north Acton. This would release land for redevelopment in North Kensington and White City, eliminate the barrier effect which the road has in these locations, and serve regeneration sites at Kensal Green and Old Oak Common, connecting with possible Crossrail and High Speed 2 stations in these areas. This is a longer term aspiration but we ask the Mayor to undertake feasibility studies into this proposal, taking to account its environmental, social and economic effects as well as its transport benefits.
Borough Priorities
4) Improve traffic flow on North-south Borough Roads
TfL's figures show that Hammersmith & Fulham's roads are the most congested in London (TfL Road Network Performance & Research Team Technical Note 3, April 2006). We have a very limited number of north south roads and the Western extension of the congestion charge is likely to have displaced more traffic on to them. Of particular importance is the Putney Bridge-Fulham Palace Road-Shepherds Bush Road-Wood Lane-Scrubs Lane corridor. We are working with TfL on a scheme to improve flows at the Fulham Palace Road junction with Hammersmith Broadway, and Hammersmith Bridge Road and we wish to see a more comprehensive programme of improvements for the corridor. These should be for the benefit of all road users, but should be designed not to attract traffic from a wider area, e.g. by not increasing capacity at Putney Bridge, and by continuing to improve the reliability of bus services, improve services on the West London Line and continue with the implementation of school and workplace travel plans . The improvements are necessary both for existing users and also to facilitate regeneration of the White City Opportunity Area, Earl's Court, Fulham Riverside and Old Oak Common.
5) Improve District Line in Fulham
We welcome the Mayor's commitment to improving the Underground Network, but we believe that the upgrading of the District Line, in terms e.g. speed, capacity and reliability should be a very high priority. Hammersmith and Fulham residents use the Underground to get to work more than those of any other borough (36%) and the Wimbledon branch of the District Line is the most overcrowded section of the underground in West London. Passengers are often unable to board trains in the morning peak at Parsons Green and Fulham Broadway, and delays are incurred by the flat junctions at Earls Court.
6) Improved East West Links at Fulham Riverside
The Council is developing a plan for redeveloping brownfield sites in the Fulham Riverside area, which could add over 10,000 more residents to this area. The recently opened station at Imperial Wharf has opened up access to this area and we believe that the Chelsea-Hackney line should be re-routed south of Victoria to serve this area. Road access also needs to be improved and we would ask the Mayor to support improved road permeability between Hammersmith & Fulham and Kensington and Chelsea.
The Mayor should revisit proposals to provide a pedestrian/cycle bridge across the Thames at Imperial Wharf/Chelsea Harbour to improve connections between this regeneration area and those at North Battersea.
This is supported by Wandsworth and Kensington and Chelsea councils as well as LBHF.
Other Points on MTS2
7) Shepherds Bush should be recognised as a major interchange between the Underground, buses, and West London Line, as it is recognised in the London Plan as a Metropolitan Centre. As such high priority should be given to overcoming the difficulties in providing step free access to the Central Line platforms here.
.
8) Cycling: We welcome the Mayor's initiatives to increase cycling but cycle superhighways should be implemented in consultation and agreement with boroughs, not imposed on them. We note from TfL's Transport for London Road Network Improvement Plan (TIP) that TfL intend to install cycle facilities on the A4 footway between Hammersmith gyratory and the Chiswick roundabout in 2011/12, but would urge that this be brought forward to provide faster moving cyclists with an alternative to the riverside path. TfL should join the boroughs in pressurising the Department for Transport to allow “No Entry” signs with “Except Cyclists” plates underneath. We support the continued provision of cycle training, which will give cyclists the skills and confidence to ride in traffic and reduce their propensity to ride on footways. Most cyclists are younger males and efforts should be focussed on enabling more women, children and older people to cycle.
9) Buses: The use of smaller, quieter, lower emission (possibly electric) and less intrusive vehicles should be considered, particularly where services run through residential streets with tight corners and intensive parking.
10) The West London Line: As well as an interchange with Crossrail /HS2 (see item 2 above), the through service to Gatwick Airport should be restored to increase the convenience of passengers who are encumbered with heavy luggage, and platform 1 at Clapham Junction station should be reopened to enable a more frequent service to operate on the West London Line.
11) Electric Cars: we have some reservations about the Mayor's proposals to encourage the use of electric cars. People may switch from walking, public transport and cycling, and some may purchase a second, electric, car rather than replacing an internal combustion engine car. The disposal of batteries is problematical and on-street charging points could add to parking stress. It is better to continue our existing approach of providing charging points in off-street car parks.
12) Better streets: We welcome the Mayor's commitment to improve the streetscene, particularly by de-cluttering and providing more street trees. Street trees can assist in traffic calming by changing drivers' perception of the type of area they are driving through. However, in some areas it may be difficult to find space for more street trees because of the congested infrastructure under the streets, such as vaults and basements.