Issues

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This section lists issues - problems on the street network and related matters.

Issues always relate to some geographical location, whether very local or perhaps city-wide.

You can create a new issue using the button on the right.

Listed issues, most recent first, limited to the area of Epping Forest Transport Action Group:

  • Eastern Hertfordshire Area Growth and Transport Plan

    Created by JonC // 2 threads

    The Eastern Growth & Transport Plan (EGTP) is a new transport strategy to help direct and plan transport improvements and investment in Bishop’s Stortford and Sawbridgeworth and surrounding areas.

    This area faces significant levels of proposed new housing and employment development, with added pressure of new homes and jobs are also proposed in surrounding areas including Cambridgeshire, North Essex and the rest of Hertfordshire.

    Important transport links in this area include the M11, A120, A1184, A414, A1250, B1383 and B1004 roads, the West Anglia Main Line railway line, the National Cycle Routes 11 and 16 and a range of local and longer distance bus and coach services.

    To help ensure the transport network continues to work safely and efficiently, the GTP identifies packages of interventions, that could address current and future traffic congestion issues such as noise and poor air quality. Interventions can be small or large, and could be introduced now or in the future, depending on how complex they are and if enough funding is available.

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  • South East Herts Growth and Transport Plan

    Created by JonC // 2 threads

    The South East Hertfordshire Growth & Transport Plan (SEGTP) is a new transport strategy to help direct and plan transport improvements and investment in Hertford, Ware, Hoddesdon, Broxbourne, Cheshunt and Waltham Cross, and to surrounding areas.

    This area faces significant levels of proposed new housing and employment development, with added pressure of new homes and jobs are also proposed in surrounding areas including Cambridgeshire, Essex, Greater London and the rest of Hertfordshire.

    Important transport links in this area include the M25, A10, A414, A119, B1197 and A1170 roads, the West Anglia Main Line railway line, the National Cycle Route 61 and a range of local and longer distance bus and coach services.

    To help ensure the transport network continues to work safely and efficiently, the GTP identifies packages of interventions, that could address current and future traffic congestion issues such as noise and poor air quality. Interventions can be small or large, and could be introduced now or in the future, depending on how complex they are and if enough funding is available.

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  • Micromobility - Future of Transport Call for Evidence

    Created by Pearl // 1 thread

    A discussion about the Dept for Transport's new Call for Evidence about changing the law regarding e-scooters and other similar vehicles. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/873363/future-of-transport-regulatory-review-call-for-evidence.pdf 

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  • Highway Code changes

    sound+fury // 1 thread

    A bill is being put forward to sentence any cyclist convicted of dangerous cycling to a 14 year prison term.

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  • Consultation on cycling scheme for Waltham Cross

    Created by Clare Rogers // 1 thread

    Email from Highways England copied and pasted below:

    Dear consultee,

    I’m contacting you on behalf of the consultancy Atkins who are working with Highways England to investigate new cycle facilities in and around Waltham Cross. The routes are likely to comprise a range of facilities including segregated cycle tracks next to main roads, signed routes on quieter residential streets and, where necessary, some ‘traffic-free’ sections shared with pedestrians. Proposals are being considered to connect the town centre with other public rights of way and key sites including the following:

    • Waltham Cross Train Station
    • Theobalds Grove Train Station
    • the proposed Park Plaza development sites
    • the Cycle Enfield network

     The purpose of this consultation exercise is to gather the views of relevant local organisations on walking, cycling and horse-riding in the area around the scheme. We would like to hear any views you have on current conditions for walking, cycling and horse-riding in the local area affected by the proposals (shown in the attached local area map).

     This scheme is being investigated as part of Highways England’s ‘Designated Funds’ programme. The objectives of the programme include to:

    • maximise opportunities to deliver additional improvements as part of new road schemes
    • improve cycling facilities on, or near, the Highways England road network
    • reduce the impact of Highways England roads as a barrier to cycling

     Improvements in and around Waltham Cross have been chosen to act as strategic connections between key facilities such as transport interchanges and employment centres as well as existing public rights of way. These proposals are additional and independent to the Highways England M25 junction 25 Improvement Scheme. Whilst the proposals at M25 junction 25 are not part of this consultation, more information can be found on the Highways England website: https://highwaysengland.co.uk/projects/m25-junction-25-improvements/

     If you have any questions on the proposed Waltham Cross cycle route improvement scheme or any related issues, please ask. Otherwise, please could you reply to us with any views by Friday 3rd May.

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  • Redbridge LIP

    Created by Simon Still // 1 thread

    The Local Implementation Plan (LIP) sits underneath the Local Plan and sets out our commitments to make the changes outlined in the Local Plan a reality.

    This LIP also identifies how the London Borough of Redbridge will work with Transport for London (TfL) towards achieving the Mayor's Transport Strategy goals of:

    • Healthy Streets and healthy people
    • A good public transport experience
    • New homes and jobs

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  • Havering LIP

    Created by Simon Still // 1 thread

    Not clear that there is an explicit consultation for this.
    LIP link attached.
    Discussion thread added. level. This is known as a Local Implementation Plan. A Local Implementation Plan (LIP) is a statutory document prepared under Section 145 of the GLA Act. It represents a borough’s own transport strategy and is reviewed on an annual basis.

    This is the third LIP prepared by Havering and it aligns with the MTS published in March 2018 for the period up to 2041. The draft LIP explains how the borough will implement the transport elements of the draft London Plan, the Mayor’s Transport Strategy and other relevant Mayoral strategies. The draft LIP also takes into account Havering’s own plans and strategies, particularly the Havering Local Plan submitted in March 2018, and sets out the long term vision for transport in Havering up to 2041.

    The Council is undertaking a consultation exercise to seek the views of the public, local businesses and other interested parties. Responses will be taken into account when drafting the final LIP3 document to be submitted to TfL in early 2019.

    please email the Transportation Planning team: lip3@havering.gov.uk or write to:

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  • Markhouse area

    Created by Simon Munk // 1 thread

    From the council site:

    The Enjoy Waltham Forest programme is about making our streets work for everyone, and our borough a better place to live, work and travel around.

    The Markhouse Area is one of the residential areas we are investing in and it is the final residential scheme identified in our original funding bid to Transport for London. The Markhouse Area scheme aims to build on the changes already introduced in some of the neighbouring areas, including Walthamstow Village, Hoe Street-Wood Street Area and Leyton Town Centre, and will complement the improvements currently taking place along Lea Bridge Road and at Walthamstow Central.

    Summary of proposals

    The Markhouse Area scheme is framed by Hoe Street, Selbourne Road, Markhouse Road and Lea Bridge Road. The area consists of almost 5,000 households and businesses, and includes six schools, a children’s centre and learning centre, which are attended by more than 4,500 pupils.

    A key feature of the scheme involves returning the streets to local people by discouraging non-local traffic from cutting through the area, making the streets safer, quieter and more enjoyable for everyone. The scheme will help create a better environment for walking and cycling, will support the local economy by making the shopping experience more pleasant, and aims to improve the overall look and feel of the area with more greenery and planting, which the community can take pride and ownership of.

    The Markhouse Area scheme aims to:
    Reduce the non-local traffic
    Improve the look, feel and safety of the streets for everyone
    Improve routes to and from local schools, shops and places of interest
    Encourage people to use sustainable, active and healthy modes of transport.
    The proposals combine a mixture of timed and permanent road closures, traffic direction changes, safety improvements and environment enhancements. To ensure the proposed improvements are effective, some of them have been combined into Series of proposals. This is because the proposed improvements in each Series are reliant on each other to be effective and need to be delivered together.

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  • DfT Policy Paper - Inclusive Transport Strategy

    Created by Matthew // 1 thread

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inclusive-transport-strategy

    Lots of interesting stuff about inclusive transport regarding trains, buses, cars, public realm, streets and yes a bit about cycling too. Quotes:

    Shared Space:

    8.11 While we consider CIHT and DPTAC’s recommendations and how to take them
    forward, we are requesting that local authorities pause any shared space schemes
    incorporating a level surface they are considering, and which are at the design stage.
    We are also temporarily suspending Local Transport Note 1/11. This pause will allow
    us to carry out research and produce updated guidance.

    Objectives regarding Cycling:

    • Update Local Transport Note 2/08, which sets out the Department’s guidance to
    local authorities on designing safe and inclusive infrastructure for cyclists, to take
    account of developments in cycling infrastructure since its publication in 2008 and
    the responses to the draft AAP consultation and publish a revised version by early
    2019;
    • By 2020, explore the feasibility of amending legislation to recognise the use of
    cycles as a mobility aid71 in order to increase the number of disabled people
    cycling.

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  • Rate my route - software / app ideas anyone?

    Created by GG // 1 thread

    For a long time I have wondered about a crowd-sourced cycleability map.

    In this, people cycle along a link (accepting the first question of how to define the beginning and end of this) then give it a thumbs up or down. After enough people do this, then others can see how popular it is.
    Some people wonder about subjectivity but I think this should be less of a problem with more voters.

    The reason I am asking is because this method could apply to a potential commercial project for a Council which wants to drive around 100km of rural roads and use a panel of 4 experts to grade meaningful segments on a 1 to 7 scale according to their suitability for HGV movements.

    Any views on whether this is already done within an app I am not aware of, or could be it done by anyone as an add-on to something else, or is it something CamCycle could offer as a commercial package (there may well be more than one local authority looking for this sort of thing)

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  • Walthamstow Town Centre. Hoe Street

    Created by Simon Still // 2 threads

    "We’re working in partnership with Transport for London (TfL) to deliver a range of improvements to make the Hoe Street and Selborne Road junction a more attractive, safer and better transport interchange for all.

    "We've been working closely with TfL and Network Rail to install a new traffic bridge to replace the existing Victorian-era structure. The first stage of the bridge installation is now complete. This means that costly future maintenance work that would require total closure of the gyratory area, from the Selborne Road and Hoe Street junction to First Avenue, has been avoided. The Network Rail (former road bridge) is being converted into a public space.

    We're now asking local residents, businesses and road users to help us decide on the final look and feel of the public areas the project will create.

    The town centre transport improvements will improve journey times and overall reliability, increase access for pedestrians and cyclists, and create public green spaces to boost air quality.

    "The illustration below shows how the improvements could look:

    Hoe Street railway bridge: create a new public space with high quality surface finishes, seating, space for market stalls and kiosks, trees and planting.
    Hoe Street junction with Station Approach junction: new trees and plants in level and raised beds
    Hoe Street junction with First Avenue: enhanced public green space with new trees, seating and cycle parking.
    Hoe Street junction with St Mary Road: new accessible green space adjacent to an upgraded walking and cycling track towards Walthamstow Village.
    Plant new trees and a variety of plants to complement the existing species in the area, and improve air quality"

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  • A121 Goldings Hill to Wake Arms

    Created by George Lund // 0 threads

    The A121 is a fast road and the network currently proposed by the CAP lacks a connection from Loughton to the various forest route proposals that meet at the Wake Arms roundabout.

    There is an existing footway on the west side of the A121 but it is entirely inadequate even for pedestrians, being at the level of the main carriageway and in a poor state of repair.

    A properly made unsegregated shared use path would be appropriate for the low levels of pedestrian traffic on the route. This proposal would open up access to the forest to many potential cyclists from Loughton, as it would also connect to the Epping Forest (Corporation of London) trails at Furze Ground.

    At Baldwins Hill, cyclists coming from the Wake Arms toward Loughton can join that road and either cross Goldings Hill and continue into Loughton, or join the existing quiet route to Buckhurst Hill.

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  • Buckhurst Hill (from Loughton)

    Created by George Lund // 1 thread

    Approaching Buckhurst Hill along the High Road A121 from Loughton is a significant hill. Being on a fast (40 mph) road, this is a major barrier to potential cyclists - the speed differential is approximately 40mph and close passes are not uncommon. Recent accidents have led to the painting of "cycle" signs on the main carriageway: this is a useful reminder for motorists regarding cyclists descending the hill, but is of little benefit for cyclists trying to go uphill.

    My suggestion is that the footway on the SE side of the road could quite easily be converted to Shared Use, and cyclists heading SW would be encouraged to use this. There is in fact plenty of width available to provide a wider footway, and narrowing the carriageway would help to keep general traffic to the 40mph speed limit.

    Through Buckhurst Hill itself there's room for on-carriageway cycle lanes in both directions, if the centre hatchings are removed. Existing pedestrian crossing points could be converted to zebra crossings in order to allow cycle lanes to continue uninterrupted.

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  • Colebrook Lane (CAP 11.3-C)

    Created by George Lund // 0 threads

    A route from Colebrook Path to Willingale Road via Hereward Primary School. The purpose would be safe routes to schools, and to the playpark on the green; the route would link houses on Colbrook Lane with the rest of the proposed network.

    This road is quite steep, has many parked cars, and motor traffic frequently travels in excess of 30mph.

    From Colebrook Path (see discussion of an alternative route for CAP 11.3) the footway alongside Colebrook Lane would be significantly widened, to become shared use (preferably segregated). Parking on the west side of the road would be formalised (providing a barrier from fast-moving vehicles for cyclists going uphill) but parking on the Jessel Green side would be likely need to be prohibited.

    There should be a large speed table and recommended 10mph speed limit opposite the playpark on Jessel Green.

    Cyclists travelling southbound could use this speed table to access the shared-use path if desired.

    At the junction with Castell Road / Jessel Drive, the shared-use path would cross the road, perhaps via informal crossings over speed tables.

    Colebrook Lane between Willingale Road and Jessel Drive would be significantly narrowed, and become one-way southbound (i.e. complementing the existing one-way system along Castell Road). This makes room for a cycle track on the eastern side allowing two-way access for cyclists to the school and up to Willingale Road.

    The one way system and road narrowing would discourage school drop-offs by car, and provide much-needed extra space for pedestrians outside the school frontage.

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  • Grosvenor Drive to Hereward School (CAP 11.3-B)

    Created by George Lund // 0 threads

    This route would connect Grosvenor Drive to Hereward Primary School, a journey which is currently not possible for cyclists except via Willingale Road, which far too heavily trafficked to be easily accessible to primary school children.

    From Grosvenor Drive, a link cycle track (or shared use path) along Grosvenor Path connecting to Chester Road.

    Going north along the western side of Chester Road, a shared use (but preferably segregated) footway brings cyclists to opposite the private parking area at the back of Hereward Green. There is a significant pavement parking problem along Chester Road that would have to be mitigated with bollards, however the effect of doing this on the speed of traffic along Chester Road would be beneficial.

    A parallel zebra/cycle crossing takes cyclists across the road and into the Hereward Green estate, presumably by arrangement with the landowner although there is probably already a right of way here for pedestrians that could be extended.

    The route continues on-road through Hereward Green to opposite the primary school on Colebrook Lane, and connects with CAP 11.3-C.

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  • Clays Lane: Goldings Hill to Debden (Grosvenor Drive) (CAP 5.1-A)

    Created by George Lund // 0 threads

    Additional proposal expanding on an idea mentioned in CAP 15.1.

    This is a route from Goldings Hill into the Debden estate and linking with schemes 12.2 and 11.3 etc.

    Clays Lane should be a 20mph lane, and it might be possible to designate the section from the last house at the top of the hill to the golf club as a "Quiet Lane" (see ).

    A cycles-only connection through the Cleland Path roadblock would make a convenient way to connect residents of Englands Lane and the western section of Cleland Path into Debden and the rest of the proposed network.

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  • B1393 Wake Arms to Epping

    Created by George Lund // 1 thread

    Per discussion at https://eftag.cyclescape.org/threads/3748 this is a major route for cyclists heading through the forest toward Epping, and potentially connects to scheme 15.2 (etc). It currently has no cycling facilities at all and is a fast (40mph) road. The Crown Hill junction is particularly dangerous.

    We might propose widening the existing pavement that runs on the west side of the B1393 and converting it to shared use.

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  • Proposals for the Creation of a Major Road Network (London)

    Created by Simon Munk // 1 thread

    From the DfT:
    As part of the Transport Investment Strategy, the government committed to creating a Major Road Network (MRN).

    This consultation asks for views on:
    how to define the MRN
    the role that local, regional and national bodies will play in the MRN investment programme
    which schemes will be eligible for MRN funding

    A new MRN would help deliver the following objectives:
    reduce congestion
    support economic growth and rebalancing
    support housing delivery
    support all road users
    support the Strategic Road Network

    The creation of an MRN will allow for dedicated funding from the National Roads Fund to be used to improve this middle tier of our busiest and most economically important local authority ‘A’ roads.

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  • North Loughton to Loughton Town Centre (Church Hill)

    Created by George Lund // 0 threads

    The CAP currently lacks any good connection for cyclists between North Loughton / Debden, and Loughton Town Centre.

    I think there is the potential for improvements on Church Hill (for example, Hybrid Cycle Tracks on the uphill section in each direction) that could fill this gap.

    Other routes (e.g. Stony Path / Baldwin’s Hill / York Hill, or Wellfields / Traps Hill) are simply too steep in comparison to Church Hill (or too indirect) to be of value for utility cycling such as to/from shops.

    A major feature of this scheme would need to be adjustment of the corner geometry at the Church Lane junction, which currently encourages excess speed (pedestrians find it unnecessarily hard to cross Church Lane, and I've frequently seen cyclists travelling southbound cut up by left-turning cars).

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  • Rectory Lane to Debden Station via Brickclamps Path

    Created by George Lund // 0 threads

    (This is proposal for a route that I'd potentially like to include in along with our response to the Epping Forest Cycling Action Plan. I use this route myself, but it currently includes sections where cycling may not currently be allowed.)

    Purpose: this signed "Quietway" route is intended to allow access to the shops at Debden (Loughton Broadway) and to the Tube station, without having to use the Rectory Lane / Broadway junction itself, which is not at all cycling-friendly. It would reduce traffic on the Broadway by providing clear encouragement that cycling to these shops is an easy option, bringing highly-visible cycling infrastructure right into the heart of the shopping area.

    * From the Rectory Lane / Westall Road junction, a signed route to Debden Station and the Broadway Shopping area would lead down Ibbetson Path (which is actually a highway leading to Barrington Road);

    * the entire area including Ibbetson Path, Barrington Green, Barrington Road and Doubleday Road is residential, including sheltered accomodation, and should have a 20mph speed limit;

    * from Barrington Road, the route would turn onto Brickclamps Path which would be a Segregated Shared Use path. There is plenty of width so conflict between cyclists and pedestrians seems extremely unlikely, indeed the existing central barrier suggests that at some point explicit cycle/pedestrian segregation was intended but never signed;

    * the railings at the junction of Brickclamps Path with Vere Road are an obstruction to both cyclists and pedestrians and should be replaced with bollards, which would be perfectly adequate to prevent cars using the path;

    * the area around the cycle parking where Brickclamps Path meets the Broadway should probably be shared space for cycling and pedestrians: very low speeds would be expected here;

    * turns across the central reservation would be permitted for cyclists, so that the route could continue south-west along the Broadway;

    * an unsegragated shared-use footway alongside Torrington Drive would allow cyclists a direct route to the station from the Broadway (and vice-versa). Pedestrian volumes next to the former post office are not high, and the main carriageway is not wide enough for two-way cycling because of the bus stop;

    * where Torrington Drive becomes two-way after it meets Burton Road, cyclists would rejoin the carriageway;

    * access for cyclists from Torrington Drive to the station would be made easier by installing drop kerbs and clear route signs;

    * the railings where the footpath meets Station Approach would (by agreement with Transport for London) be modified or removed - they are already a serious obstruction to pedestrian flows at peak times (e.g. students arriving in the morning for Epping Forest College). A single railing or bollard would be sufficient to discourage motor vehicles.

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