Request ID: FOI-0931-2223 Date published: 11 August 2022
You asked
Dear Transport for London,
Please could you supply a copy of the letter from Southwark borough council to Transport for London of their intention to introduce a Low Traffic Neighbourhood in the Dulwich Village area now known as the Dulwich Village LTN?
Please could you also supply a copy of Transport for London's response?
Many Thanks
We answered
TfL Ref: 0931-2223
Thank you for your request received by us on 15 July 2022 asking for information about introducing a Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) in the Dulwich Village area of south east London.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require. You asked for:
a copy of the letter from Southwark borough council to Transport for London of their intention to introduce a Low Traffic Neighbourhood in the Dulwich Village area now known as the Dulwich Village LTN?
Please could you also supply a copy of Transport for London's response?
We can advise that there has been close and ongoing dialogue between TfL and the London Borough of Southwark on the Dulwich Village Low Traffic Neighbourhood scheme, covering its objectives, funding, delivery, monitoring, and impacts.
In May 2020, in response to the challenges brought up by the pandemic, including the need to promote social distancing and improve the attractiveness of alternative modes of transport (specifically walking and cycling) at a time when the capacity of public transport was reduced, TfL wrote to all London Boroughs to invite bids for the London Streetspace Programme in accordance with Guidance issued by Her Majesty’s Government, in order to deter a car-led recovery from the pandemic.
The boroughs are the highway authority for their streets and it was for the boroughs to lead on developing and decision making on the schemes on their roads. Southwark Council responded with submission of a bid for Dulwich Village (in addition to schemes elsewhere), and following assessment of that Bid, TfL informed Southwark Council that the bid was successful and met its key requirements in accordance with national objectives, and the Mayor's Transport Strategy. TfL allocated funding in stages for the scheme to be introduced initially on a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order. TfL during this period was, and still is, dependent on Department for Transport Financial Support and we have worked closely with them.
TfL has made supporting changes to transport infrastructure at the request of Southwark Council to facilitate introduction of the scheme. Two examples are changes to a signalised junction at Carlton Vale junction with Dulwich Village (as TfL are the signalling authority) and changes to advanced direction signage in A205 Dulwich Common, which forms part of the South Circular Road, which TfL is the Highway Authority for.
TfL has provided Southwark Council with monitoring data and ongoing guidance to enable it to evaluate the performance of the scheme which it has considered, particularly on the impact on bus services. We have raised concerns at some adverse impacts on buses arising from changes in behaviour and car use and worked with the boroughs of Southwark and Lambeth on suggested mitigations. This work and discussions are ongoing. We are continuing to monitor these and work with both Boroughs to achieve a more beneficial outcome for bus passengers. Monitoring has indicated a benefit for cyclists as one of the schemes’ objectives. This is detailed in the Scheme Monitoring Report available from Southwark Council.
In January 2022, a decision was taken by Southwark's Cabinet Portfolio Holder to make the scheme permanent following a public consultation exercise but with modifications in response to feedback which included amended hours of operation of restrictions. A copy of this report is also available on LB Southwark’s website. TfL were informed of this decision.
We continue to work with the boroughs of Southwark and Lambeth on measures aligned to the Mayor's Transport Strategy to encourage Healthy Streets and particularly the active travel modes of walking and cycling, and the use of public transport (subject to funding).
Please find attached copies of the following items:
PDF of TfL’s Interim London Streetspace Guidance 15 May 2020.
Email correspondence (‘Email B’) dated 22 May 2020 from LB Southwark to TfL including a bid for Dulwich Village.
Email correspondence (‘Email A’) dated 22 June 2020 notifying LB Southwark of initial funding being approved for this scheme further to their bid.
Email correspondence (‘Email C’) dated 25 October 2021 and attachment concerning the Road Space Performance Review Group meeting held on 6 October 2021.
Email correspondence (Email G’) from 24 January 2022 following the Cabinet Member’s decision.
Updated Guidance issued by TfL to all London Boroughs dated October 2021, consisting of two PDF files.
Please also note that in accordance with TfL’s obligations under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), some personal data has been removed from these attachments, as required by regulation 13 of the EIR. This is because disclosure of this personal data would be a breach of the legislation, specifically the first principle of the GDPR, which requires all processing of personal data to be fair and lawful. It would not be fair to disclose this personal information when the individuals have no expectation it would be disclosed and TfL has not satisfied one of the conditions which would make the processing ‘fair’. This exception to the right of access to information is an absolute exemption and not subject to an assessment of whether the public interest favours use of the exemption.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely
Jasmine Howard FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
