Croydon Cycling Campaign Response to Waddon Flyover Proposals

– 15 March 2015

Below is the complete consultation response submitted by the Croydon Cycling Campaign to TfL regarding their proposals for a new flyover and road widening in the Waddon/fiveways area.

Motivation for the Scheme

The Croydon Cycling Campaign (CCC) notes that the Fiveways scheme currently being consulted on has the purpose of increasing traffic capacity in the area in order to meet an expected increase in traffic due to economic and population growth. The CCC opposes this aim on the following grounds

    • It is unclear why the scheme is necessary as we know that the current road network can support 28% more traffic. Traffic volumes in the area have decreased by dramatically over the past 15 years. TFL Traffic count data for count point 6268 (on A23 between Epsom Road and A232) shows a 28% drop in motor traffic between 2000 and 2013. Car parking demand in the town centre has also dropped to a level such that car parking capacity is dramatically underutilised. This includes periods of economic boom and economic downturn. Therefore we know that the roads can support 28% more traffic than at present, and there is a long-term downward trend also at play
    • The scheme is focussed on supporting an ever smaller section of society. The percentage of households in Croydon with access to a car fell from 62.5 to 58.4 between the 2001 and 2011 census suggesting a long term trend of reduced car ownership. The current development schemes in Croydon with their emphasis on large tower blocks are likely to hasten this decline. This means road building schemes continue to serve the interests of a smaller and smaller section of society
    • The cost of the scheme seems high to support a mode of transport which is declining and it diverts money away from other modes of transport, particularly cycling, which need additional investment. Croydon Council has committed £20m to the proposals and TfL is expected to pay £40m. This currently dwarfs all funding committed to cycling in the borough. If the council proceeds to spend far more on motor traffic than it does on cycling then it will get more car journeys and less bike journeys, and so targets to increase modal share of cycling will not be met
    • It is unclear how this scheme will support the Mayor of London’s target to increase cycling by 400% by 2026. The London Assembly has called on the Mayor of London to boost the modal share of cycling to 10% of journeys. Approximately 2/3 of journeys by car in Croydon are under 5 miles and are therefore could be made by bicycle. As such, Croydon and TfL should be building infrastructure so existing and predicted traffic demand is replaced by cycling journeys instead
    • The scheme is inconsistent with longer-term plans for cycling and will make cycling more hazardous in the Borough. Purley Way is an important cycle route and needs protected cycling lanes to make it accessible to people of all ages and abilities. Pushing for increased traffic capacity is inconsistent with a longer term plan to add cycle lanes to this main road. Increasing traffic volumes will also put more cars on the quieter roads preferred by local cyclists, which will have a detrimental effect on cycling across the borough
    • The scheme will worsen Croydon’s already poor record on air quality and obesity. Facilitating an increase in motor traffic will have a detrimental effect on public health, worsening the existing air quality and obesity crises in the borough. The air quality monitoring site on the A23 has recorded an annual mean of 51ug/m3 Nitrogen Dioxide levels, well above the “Government Air Quality Strategy Objectives” limit of 40ug/m3

Proposals

On the specific proposals put forward, Croydon Cycling Campaign believes:

  • A bridge over the railway line offers very little advantage to cyclists who can already cross the railway line either using the A23 or using Waddon Road upon which the Connect2 route runs. Cyclists can also continue along Epsom Road, Waddon New Road and Ruskin Road to reach the town centre and cross at London Road, else access the Town Centre without crossing the rail lines via St John’s Road
  • The Croydon flyover is noisy, polluted and dangerous and unlikely to ever provide the kind of conditions that will make cycling in Croydon an attractive option for the majority, so improving access to it for cycling is of little benefit
  • A direct connection for cyclists from the A232 to the north section of Epsom road would better serve the interests of those cycling than a connection to Duppas Hill Rd
  • The scheme needs to recognise the need for protected cycle lanes on the A23 Any plans for changes to Purley Way between the A232 and Epsom Road should include protected cycle lanes, and that there should be plans in place for the introduction of protected cycle lanes along the entire A23 corridor
  • That the protected cycle lanes planned for Stafford Road would be very welcome

Necessary Complimentary Measures Not In The Consultation

The Croydon Cycling Campaign believes the following additional complimentary measures are needed:

  • An upgrade of the cycling infrastructure (two way cycle track) provided on the A232 to bring it up to the new LCDS cycling standards
  • Prevent Waddon New Road and Rectory Grove being used as through-routes to connect to the Roman Way for traffic using Epsom Road and Waddon Rd
  • A step-free rear entrance to Waddon Station with cycle parking
  • Change of priority where St John’s Road meets Waddon Road so that the cycle route maintains priority
  • Ensuring safe, two-way cycling provision at Old Street roundabout. There is two-way cycling provision along the West side of Old Town A236 between St John’s road and the Old Town roundabout, but this comes to a dead-end at Old Street roundabout. This could be upgraded to provide safe connection across the roundabout and to the town centre
  • Additional traffic reduction and/or protected cycle tracks are needed. Traffic reduction or protected cycle tracks on Denning Avenue/Warham road to provide an alternative east/west route for cyclists to Duppas Hill Road and the Croydon flyover. Protected Cycle tracks along Brighton Road are also needed to provide an alternative north-south cycle route to the Purley Way