‘We need help not more challenges’: Businesses hit out at new cycleway questioning TfL data
By Ben Lynch, Local Democracy Reporter
A 175-year-old family-run butchers has warned plans to install a two-lane cycleway will drive up congestion and threaten businesses and jobs.
Danny Lidgate, 45, managing director at C Lidgate in Holland Park Avenue, said businesses are already facing a tough operating environment, “and what we need is a bit of help, not further challenges”.
Under the Transport for London (TfL) scheme, a two-way protected cycle lane will run from Shepherd’s Bush Green through to Holland Park Avenue via the roundabout’s southern side. An additional section of priority bus lane is also planned, alongside improvements to the crossing outside Shepherd’s Bush station, and more sustainable drainage and greening.
Helen Cansick, TfL head of Healthy Streets Investment Planning, said the roundabout is one of the most dangerous on its road network, and that the changes “have been carefully designed to tackle road danger while enabling everyone to travel through the area efficiently”.
The plans have however drawn concern, largely due to fears over the impacts on pollution and congestion. A petition organised by former Conservative MP for Kensington, Felicity Buchan, received 2,720 signatures supporting her opposition to the works.
TfL has said its own modelling indicated any traffic impacts are expected to be minimal. But campaigners against the proposal argue it will make the area less safe, in-part due to the introduction of unprotected crossings at the roundabout, that will increase congestion and air pollution.
On Thursday morning, Conservative London Assembly Member and Chair Andrew Boff joined a group of residents and business owners to protest the planned works.
He said: “It will result in more congestion and more pollution coming from idling traffic.
“Ironically, bearing in mind the motive behind this scheme is to improve the cycling experience, it actually becomes more dangerous for cyclists. It creates more blind spots, and creates conflict between cyclists and motorists when there shouldn’t be any.”
Mr Lidgate, who is also the Chair of the Holland Park Traders Association, said 10 per cent of his customers travel by car, and that they constitute 25 per cent of overall spend.
He said: “If we lose those 10 per cent because they can’t come because of congestion, and they just change their shopping habits and order online or use Ocado, that’ll close businesses and lose jobs.”
According to TfL, a consultation last year demonstrated that the majority of respondents thought the changes would support more walking and cycling in the area.
Ms Cansick said: “We always take congestion, including any impact on bus journey times and air quality, into careful consideration when designing schemes.
“Our detailed traffic modelling has shown that any traffic impacts are expected to be minimal. We value feedback from residents and businesses and continue to engage with the community as we move forwards.”
The next steps involve TfL working on a detailed design while liaising with the local authority, Hammersmith and Fulham council. Further engagement is planned later this year ahead of construction.
Pictured top: Danny Lidgate, Managing Director at C Lidgate (Picture: LDRS)