TfL Responds to the Croydon Cycling Campaigns Concerns Over Waddon Flyover

Below is the response from Oliver Birtill at TfL to our response to the Waddon Flyover Proposals

Dear Croydon Cycling Campaign,

Thank you for your letter and your keen interest and engagement with us during the recent consultation on the proposals for a road modernisation scheme at Fiveways Croydon. The specific points you have raised will be carefully considered by the project team as the scheme develops. However, we would like to take this opportunity to respond more generally to your concerns.

Traffic demand and modelling
Overall, the TfL Road Modernisation Plan will decrease road space in London. However, the scheme at Fiveways addresses a localised demand for increased road capacity to address predicted economic and population growth in the Croydon area.

Our traffic modelling work is ongoing and the results will be available once it is complete. At this time we cannot address your specific points about road capacity and demand, but look forward to sharing information at a later stage in the project when we have a clearer idea of the predicted traffic outcomes.

The current situation
We appreciate that there is considerable opportunity to grow cycling in Croydon. We are looking at how to improve provision for cyclists in Croydon, both at Fiveways and elsewhere. We particularly want to address the barrier to east-west cycling in the area caused by the A23 and also the lack of local cycle routes. The Connect2 route along Waddon Road you mention is 1.5km away from the nearest alternative cycle route along Waddon Way. There is no dedicated cycle provision at the A23/A232 junction or through Fiveways.

Our strategic aims
Our strategic cycling aims for the area, as part of the Fiveways Croydon project include: developing an integrated and accessible cycle network; overcoming the existing severance problems; providing better cycle routes along main roads; and providing improved facilities in line with international standards of best practice. We have developed our cycle aims in line with Croydon Council’s wider cycle strategy.

We also want to create links through the area to facilitate travel into Central London, Croydon, Purley and Sutton. We will also look to create links to key local destinations and between neighbourhoods, avoiding busy main roads. Additionally, we are aiming to improve access for cyclists to Waddon station, improve junctions for cyclists, and improve the ambience for cyclists by improving the urban realm and realigning crossings.

Environment

We will conduct an environmental screening with Croydon Council which will establish if a full environmental impact assessment is required on the preferred option. This will identify the likely air quality impacts of the scheme.

Measures outside the consultation
We are working with Croydon on the development of a number of cycling schemes in the borough, including the Quietways programme. As part of the pilot phase of the Quietways programme a new route will be introduced between Croydon and Waterloo via Clapham Common. TfL is also working with the borough to develop routes that will form part of the second phase of the programme and further details of this will be available shortly.

Some of the greatest potential for cycling in London is within outer London boroughs such as Croydon. Croydon Town Centre in particular has a large number of potentially cyclable trips. TfL is keen to unlock this potential by working with Croydon and other regional partners such as the South London Partnership.

We want to reassure you that the need to improve cycling provision to support the growth of cycling in Croydon is a key consideration for the Fiveways Croydon project. We look forward to continuing to work with you and to discussing the scheme in more detail as it progresses.

Yours sincerely

Oliver Birtill

Consultation Team