Agenda item

Report attached

The Committee considered a report that set out the responses to a consultation for the provision of fully accessible bus stops along Coronation Drive.

The report detailed that improvements to the bus stop environment such as raising kerbs, relaying footway surfaces, providing short footway links to stops and (in exceptional circumstances) providing pedestrian crossing facilities could help with making bus stops fully accessible to all people. In some situations, it may be appropriate to build the footway out into the road to provide an accessible bus stop, although this would only be appropriate where carriageways were very wide.

The introduction of bus stop clearways improved the accessibility of bus stops by providing sufficient space for buses to pull in close to the kerb. It was important with the provision of buses in London that were fully wheelchair accessible, because the benefits of low-floor/ kneeling buses were considerably reduced (if not removed) if the bus could not be positioned next to the kerb.

The proposals for accessibility improvements for various bus stops along Coronation Drive were set out in the following table:

By the close of consultation, six responses were received as set out in  Appendix I of the report.

London Buses were content with the proposals, but requested the hard standing be extended with the bin relocated for the southbound stop shown on Drawing QN008-OF-A127&128A.

A resident raised concerns about a displacement of parking created by the bus stop clearways, but went on to raise wider issues of parking in the area being obstructive to traffic flow with suggestions of paid for parking being provided for commuters using Elm Park Station.

Three residents objected to the proposals for the southbound stop shown on Drawing QN008-OF-A127&128A stating that there was already a “dropped curve” and yellow line next to the bus stop and the clearway does not need to be as long at the request stop.

In officers view, the report informed the Committee that although 37 metres of clearway was desirable, a reduction of 2 metres would be possible thus making it easier for the resident concerned to reverse onto their premises.

In accordance with the public participation arrangements the Committee was addressed by a local resident. The resident was of the view that if the scheme went forward, then all of the clearways should be 37m. She was concerned about the impact the scheme would have on visitor parking and her ability to reverse off the road onto her premises.

During a brief debate a member suggested that these scheme should take in to account local residents quality of life as a result of reduced parking spaces.

A member felt that we should be making more provision for on-street parking as part of these schemes and in this case, creating hardstanding on the verges would allow for the clearways to be reduced in length.

Officers confirmed that 4-wheel footway parking may be provided in some suitable locations which allow people to park “behind” the clearway, but in this case we could only provide 2-wheel parking which would not necessarily be used. If a car were to be parked on the carriageway, then buses would not get to the kerb.

A member asked why the accessible footway zones were of different lengths and was there enough stagger between opposing stops.

Officers confirmed that the footway zones were governed by the gaps between vehicle crossings. With the stagger, officers were guided by current stop locations and proposed relocation can cause issues for new residents. In this case, officers considered that they were sufficient.

Following the debate it was RESOLVED:

·               To recommend to the Cabinet Member for Environment that the bus stop accessibility improvements on Coronation Drive set out in the report and shown drawings QN008-OF-A125&126A and QN008-OF-A127&128A (that the clearway length for the southbound stop is agreed at 27 metres)  be implemented

·               It be noted that the estimated cost of £15,000 for implementation would  be met by Transport for London through the 2014/15 Local Implementation Plan allocation for Bus Stop Accessibility