NEW bike lanes and a 20mph speed limit are part of a £500,000 package to encourage people to get out and about in Kensington and Chelsea.
It means pavements in some of the area’s most iconic shopping streets in Notting Hill Gate, High Street Kensington and King’s Road will be widened for the time being, making areas look like scenes from the film 28 days later.
Mass congestion can also be expected as the council look to install a (so called, mums the word) temporary bike lane at Kensington High Street and Queen’s Gate.
The council say they are putting in £343,000 after receiving a £185,000 grant from Transport for London, with £100,000 from the Department of Transport.
These restrictions are said to give the green light to schemes to help people maintain social distancing and encourage them back to businesses across the borough. But local business owners say, it’s making it almost impossible to get deliveries plus the restrictions discriminate against disabled customers. One local restaurant owner said we never see cyclists using our establishment.
The grants, paid for by road fund licences, driving licenses and TfL fees to certain vehicles.....(with not one penny coming from Cyclist) are paying for:
- A 20mph speed limit to be introduced across the borough
- Temporary bike lanes on Kensington High Street and Queen’s Gate
- More cycle parking spaces
- Upgrading cycle lanes Chelsea Bridge Road’s cycle lanes to light segregation
- The council will create 10 more School Streets – with roads shut to traffic at school drop off and pick up times
- There will be extended road closures at the world-famous Portobello and Golborne Market
- Bute Street in South Kensington and Pavilion Road in Chelsea are closed to traffic to encourage safe shopping and a cafe culture vibe.
Sadly, with no local tourists, these streets are mainly empty!
All of the above have been planned with no consultation of residents, local businesses and regular users.
Tom Frost, who chairs the Kensington Business Forum, one of the groups which talked to the council about ways it could help said: “Everything’s trial and error and everything’s temporary.” (We heard this about the Park Lane cycle lane but with the latest added tarmac and concrete, it certainly does give the impression of being temporary).
He said a new rule book is being created to adapt to the post lockdown rules. (Rules that will see PCN's and moving traffic fines issued by the shed load....who can forget the massive cash cow, created in Fulham on New Kings Road and Bagleys Lane)
He added that: “There’s an excitement -(from council accountants obviously)– people are happy that the high street is back operating and people are able to move more freely and there’s also a need to stay safe.” He doesn’t say just who he was talking to, but going on the deserted streets of Central London’s West End, it’s obviously not shoppers or local business users!!!
Johnny Thalassites, the politician in charge of transport said he hoped the moves will help revitalise the borough’s economy.
He encouraged people to get on two wheels to travel round the borough. Another MAMIL?
“Cycling’s an option people might not have considered before and we are doing all we can to instil confidence in both new and experienced cyclists. For pedestrians, safer speed limits and trial road closures can also bring about new, local walkable neighbourhoods,” he said.
The move’s been welcomed by keen cyclist Justin Abbott who chairs Better Streets 4KC.
Cycling should be an option, it doesn’t suit the whole of the community, discriminates against the disabled and should not be forced of people by those who love to dress up in Lycra and wear a GoPro on their headgear.
Before lockdown the council campaigned for a raft of measures, including speed restrictions and more bike lanes. Most were vigorously rejected by residents such as Jeremy Clarkson.
Mr Abbott said the 20mph limit “is transformative” and he is keen to see a protected bike lane in High Street Kensington.
In June, a cyclist lobby group created a temporary pop-up bike lane at Holland Park Avenue and called for the council to create a permanent one there. But after the dangerous behaviour of the group, putting everyone else at risk, the markings were quickly removed by the council.
TAXI LEAKS EXTRA BIT:
Local residents say if the council do not listen to their concerns about these new wave of restrictions implemented covertly under cover of the pandemic emergency, then they will take a lead out of the Islington residents book and start holding weekly protests.
Kensington and Fulham local Conservatives, Earl's Court Councillors Malcolm Spalding and Hamish Adourian, and Assembly Member for West Central, Tony Devenish, are calling for an end to the narrowing of Earl's Court Road.
Working with local residents, we are concerned that this scheme has created many problems and dangers for local pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicle users.
The petition is open to residents, local businesses and people/businesses who use the road regularly
Please sign our petition below to help us make local views known to TfL and the Mayor of London.
What the future holds... in pictures 🙄
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