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Proposed cycle facilities - Coombe Lane
Update - 04 March 2010
The representations received on the informal consultation carried out in November 2009 for the proposed cycle facilities in Coombe Lane along with officer's recommendations were presented to the Street Management Advisory Committee on 12 January 2010. After careful consideration the Cabinet Member has agreed to proceed with a modified scheme from that shown on the previous consultation document.
See also
Informal Consultation - November 2009
Merton Council is proposing to introduce cycle facilities on Coombe Lane as part of the development of the London Cycle Network (LCN). This scheme would form part of the London Cycle Network and is proposed to make it easier, safer and more convenient for cyclists to gain access to the south of the railway line via the existing Skew Arch. The development of the cycle network is intended to increase peoples’ choice of realistic and affordable forms of transport. The scheme supports Merton Council’s policy of promoting environmentally friendly modes of transport and should help reduce our carbon foot print.
The proposed scheme will provide both pedestrians and cyclists an improved east west route linking Coombe Lane and Kingston Road at the southern end of the Skew Arch thus avoiding the narrow Cattle Arch and the existing traffic signals at the Approach Road / Raynes Park Bridge junction.
This consultation is a repeat of a similar exercise undertaken in April last year. Following the previous consultation the Council’s Street Management Advisory Committee deferred a decision on the scheme and officers have now developed an alternative design which provides best value and has no impact on the mature trees on the railway embankment. The scheme has now been revised and your opinions are now being sought.
The revised scheme proposal has two key components:
- A new shared-use pedestrian and cycle facility on a widened footway from outside the shops next to Raynes Park Station to the Skew Arch to the east. This proposal would not involve the loss of any trees. There is a dismount section proposed outside the station as this area is considered too busy to permit cycling particularly at times of peak train use by commuters;
- An improved traffic signalled junction north of the Raynes Park Bridge incorporating a pedestrian and cycle crossing facility.
Cycle track - Cyclists currently use the Cattle Arch and travel eastwards towards Kingston Road via the traffic signalled junction south of Raynes Park Bridge. The Cattle Arch is too narrow to safely accommodate cyclists. In addition, cyclists also have difficulties negotiating the traffic signals south of Raynes Park Bridge. A new facility is proposed which will enable cyclists to join a new cycle track outside the shops and travel eastwards via the Skew Arch using a widened shared use footway. Unlike the last scheme no railway embankment land is required, hence, no trees will be lost but pedestrians will still benefit from a wider overall footway by the railway embankment. In order to provide sufficient width to allow for cyclists, the footway will be widened into the road by moving the kerb line as shown on the attached plan. Three pay and display parking bays will be retained for off-peak use. This proposal will require cyclists to dismount for the section outside the station between the end of the existing Coombe Lane cycle track to just past the bus stop.
New crossing point – A new dedicated Toucan crossing facility which allows pedestrians and cyclists to cross, will be provided just north of the Raynes Park Bridge and will be linked to the existing traffic signals either side of the bridge. Existing footways will be widened in and around the junction to provide significantly improved visibility for pedestrians and cyclists; these measures will promote a safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists crossing the north side of Raynes Park Bridge (currently it is very difficult to see traffic coming from under the bridge). The proposal will help to improve visibility, formalise an established uncontrolled crossing point, provide a safer crossing environment for cyclists and pedestrians and it is likely to reduce traffic speeds.
Improvements since the previous scheme (April 2008)
- No trees will be lost as a result of this scheme;
- The scheme cost will be around a quarter of the previous scheme;
- There will only be minor alterations to the existing island layout north of Raynes Park Bridge which is likely to reduce construction delays
- This scheme will be introduced alongside the public realm proposals for Raynes Park which will help ensure a coordinated approach to the use of materials and result in a reduction of street clutter.
How to make your views count
The decision to implement can be influenced by the responses received during this consultation.
The consultation period for this scheme closed on 04 December 2009.
What happens next
The results of the consultation exercise will be reported to the Council’s Street Management Advisory Committee on 12 January 2010 along with the views and recommendations of Council officers, after which a final decision will be made by the Cabinet Member for Planning and Traffic Management. As soon as a decision has been made you will be informed accordingly.
See also
Contact us
Traffic & Parking
Merton Civic Centre
London Road
Morden
SM4 5DX
Telephone: 020 8545 3195
Fax: 020 8545 4865
Email: trafficandhighways@merton.gov.uk
