Month: April 2015

Readout from April 2015 meeting and update

Our meeting took place on 27 April at Coffee E7.  As usual lively

Headlines

  • We discussed the wide ranging review meeting which took place with the Newham Council Sustainable Transport Officer on 24 April.  Further details are annexed below.
  • We looked at the slack.com communication platform and decided to trial it for a couple of months with a view to replacing the Yahoo Group (if the trial turns out successful). (if you would like to participate in the trial and did not give your name at the meeting please indicate this via our e-mail address)
  • We discussed future rides and were grateful to Steve for volunteering to be our ride co-ordinator.
  • We decided to take the opportunity of publicising our group at (1) the Newham show, (2) the Forest Gate Festival and (3) the monthly Dr Bike sessions in Stratford.

Upcoming matters

  • The next Newham Ride is 2 May (see calendar).
  • The committee will be meeting Sustrans and the new Newham Council project officer in relation to the Quietways.
  • We will be riding the route of the proposed “A 406 Quietway” with Sustrans and Newham Council.

 

Annex

Issues discussed with Richard Wadey (Newham Council Sustainable Transport Officer) 24 April 2015

  •  LIP projects: most  ward audit schemes slated this year as “early winners”” have been implements or are shortly to be implemented  – mostly around Stratford and associated with the Greenway Diversion. 
  • Next year priorities likely to be contraflows around Stratford/Plaistow N and A 406 route – see below). We drew attention to need for priority to be along proposed quietways i.e. Ismailia Rd FG.
  •  Royal Docks: separately funded and opening up a route north of Albert Rd. We pressed for improvement to crossing of road to London City Airport. 
  • Gallions Roundabout: separately funded. Our priority is widening path to Cyprus and ensuring traffic crossing on all legs. 
  • A 406 QW: Sustrans have done initial scoping and land ownership looks helpful, as key plots owned by LBN, or TFL or (ultimately) AM Trust.  Northern section is most direct if it follows road rather than Little Ilford Park.
  • QEOP: There is a proper plan for Penny Brookes St, Montfichet Rd and Westfield Ave.  These now need funding but this may come from neighbouring developments. 
  • Quietways: Henniker Rd the preferrred route for northern QW.  LBN have appointed a project manager who we are arranging to meet with Sustrans in May.  We agreed with Richard that junctions s are key (Leyton Rd, Leytonstone Rd, Dames Rd, Woodgrange Rd, Forest Drive.) 
  • Leaway: land for route south of Cody Dock likely to become available shortly.  Plans already developed for Canning Town subject to some minor issues. 
  • Stratford Gyratory design sessions to take place this summer.
  • Newham Cycle Strategy should be put in place 2015/6.   We supported the idea of a detailed strategy drawing , for example, on ward audit projects.

Mitcham Road Scheme

Here is Newham Cyclists response to a consultation for a scheme at the  East Ham South end of Lonsdale Ave.  It is progressive in incorporating cycle contraflow but disappointing in not extending 20mph to the roads that count.  If you would like details of the scheme please use the contact address on this website.

“Thank you for consulting on this proposed scheme.

Newham Cyclists strongly support the use of cycle contraflows as part of this scheme and throughout “urban Newham” to create cycle permeability which will be an essential element of making cycling a viable and enticing form of transport for both everyday and leisure purposes.  We trust this represents a change in policy following earlier decisions rejecting cycle contraflows in similar situations (e.g. Cramner Rd).
We support 20 mph throughout the borough (except for trunk roads) and therefore oppose this particular scheme as the 20 mph is not extended to Sandford Road, Lonsdale Road and High Street South. The absence of a 20 mph limit is inconsistent with the speed reduction measures in Sandford Rd (humps) and Lonsdale Rd (point restrictions).
If this scheme has not been made the subject of a TfL standard cycle level of service assessment (CLOS) we urge this to be done and for it to be reconsidered if it achieves a score of less than 40.
A copy of this e-mail goes to Councillor Peppiatt, Councillor Masters, Councillor Shah of East Ham South Ward and Councillor Christie”