TfL Battersea Bridge Safety Improvements Scheme
While the Battersea Society is generally in favour of any proposals to improve safety and traffic flow across Battersea Bridge and along Battersea Bridge Road we are not supportive of these proposals. Having looked at the proposals in greater detail following our virtual meeting with the TfL team we have a number of concerns, not least the final balance between the benefits and drawbacks of the changes overall. The exception relates to changes at the junction at Battersea Bridge Road and Battersea Church Road where we have long called for improvements.
Our concerns include:
a) North of the River
I) Introduction of left turn only lane from Beaufort Street onto Chelsea Embankment The accompanying assessment indicates that this could increase travel times. The buses will have to move into the central lane from the bus stop in order to cross to the bridge. This will slow both buses and traffic and further north will increase the incidence of tailbacks of buses waiting to turn left from the Kings Road. This is one example of the lack of linkage between these proposals and their impact on traffic immediately outside the study area. We would urge reconsideration to allow buses to use the inside lane from the bus stops forward to the junction and review the size and placing of the grid for cyclists.
ii) Beaufort Street/ Chelsea Embankment junction proposed shared use areas. Given that the shared use area would be the only means for cyclists to turn left onto Beaufort Street there is significant chance of hazardous conflict with pedestrians especially with the crossing north/south. A separated cycle lane is needed if this cyclists’ turn is to be retained.
iii) Chelsea Embankment pedestrian crossings north of Albert Bridge: It is unclear whether the controlled pedestrian crossings across the Embankment are to be retained: both work well and should remain as now.
b) South of the River
iv) Southern end of Battersea Bridge -controlled Pelican crossings and bus gate : we have concern about pedestrian/ cycle conflict on the new pelican crossing and how the bus gate would operate for both cyclists, who seem to be sharing the bus lane, and vehicles in the middle lane.
No mention is made in the documents of the proposals to redevelop the Glassmills building on the eastern side of this crossing. There is a need to integrate the TfL proposals with any redevelopment of that site which includes part of the river path, extends south down to Hester Road and includes frontage onto the 170 bus stop.
v) Battersea Church Road junction We welcome the proposed changes at the Battersea Church Road junction with Battersea Bridge Road which should improve both traffic flow and safety.
vi) Hester Road: It is unclear what is being proposed re limiting access. We have significant concerns that Hester Road is a significant rat run between Parkgate Road and Battersea Bridge Road and is used extensively by Uber and other taxi drivers. Parts of it are private and no through route should be permitted. This could be achieved by a barrier at the eastern end where it turns towards Howie Street.
vii) Ban on left had turns into Westbridge Road: We oppose this as we consider the increased traffic this will generate along Battersea Church Road, with the narrow turns onto Battersea Square, will create greater safety issues and pollution than any benefits for buses and cyclists at the Westbridge Road Junction. It could also increase rat running further south along Bridge Lane and Surrey Lane, streets both of which are too narrow to take significant extra traffic. The current crossings work well and there seems little justification for the extension of the footway on the southern corner of the junction with Battersea Bridge Road. It appears that the controlled crossing across Battersea Bridge Road between the Ethelburga and Petworth Street bus stops will be retained and we welcome this.
viii) Ban on right hand turn into Parkgate Road: While we understand the argument for this in terms of improving flow south on Battersea Bridge Road, it needs to be complemented by sensitive traffic management and one way systems in the roads between Battersea Bridge Road and Albert Bridge Road to avoid rat running (including that mentioned above through Hester Road and Howie Street). It is also likely to increase traffic along Prince of Wales Drive onto Albert Bridge Road. The suggested controlled crossings here are welcomed.
ix) Controlled crossings at Prince of Wales Drive/Surrey Lane interchange: We oppose the changes here. The three way zebra mean that traffic only stops on this section of Battersea Bridge Road when there is a pedestrian using any two sections of the crossing. This is to the advantage of pedestrians and drivers alike as pedestrians do not have to wait for traffic lights nor do drivers have to stop when there are no pedestrians. The installation of traffic lights here will only cause even more traffic build up and pollution in the area. The present three way zebra crossings operate well and we would urge adoption of the maxim that if it ain’t bust don’t fix it!
x) 24 hour bus lane Banbury Street northwards and reduction in lanes: The combined new bus lane and extension of pavement on the southern corner of Prince of Wales Drive will funnel non-bus traffic into a single lane and is likely to exacerbate tailbacks in Latchmere Road and on Battersea Park Road. This will slow traffic and create even greater pollution than this section of road already suffers. The present arrangement although heavily trafficked works reasonably well; the proposals do not appear to present significant benefits to justify the changes.
It appeared from our consultation meeting that the team were unaware that Tesco has planning permission to open a store in the former Prince of Wales pub on the corner of Surrey Lane. This will require a loading bay on Battersea Bridge Road or its re-location to Surrey Lane and the removal of nearby local parking which could cause significant problems.
Again proposals for this part of the study fail to set them in the wider context of traffic in adjoining areas. Here the impact could further extend rush hour tailbacks on Latchmere Road with consequent delays and pollution.
Conclusion
We urge TfL to consider the overall merits of the widespread changes and to bring forward a much reduced plan covering the northern end of Battersea Bridge Road and the junction with Battersea Church Road and safety improvements to the crossings at Beaufort Street and the Embankment.