Responding to the recently published “Improving safety at Streatham High Road St Leonard’s junction with Mitcham Lane and Tooting Bec Gardens” (September 2018) report. This excerpt is taken from the September 2018 TFL report outlining changes at the St Leonard's Junction. The report covers in detail the changes which have been, and are being implemented, including the introduction of a bus lane on Tooting Bec Gardens. “General traffic We anticipate journey times for general traffic through the junction will fluctuate with increases and decreases by 1-2 minutes. There are some routes that are predicted to have more significant increased journey times such as those for vehicles along Tooting Bec Gardens. In the AM period the journey time for general traffic is generally unaffected, with three routes predicted to experience an increase of up to one minute. The remaining routes experience a decrease in journey time, in particular Mitcham Lane to Streatham High Road of -3 to -4 minutes. In the PM peak the journey time increases for most routes are predicted to be in the order of 1 to 2 minutes. Tooting Bec Gardens is predicted to have the greatest impact with an increase of 3 to 4 minutes. Again Mitcham Lane to Streatham High Road is predicted to decrease by -3 to -4 minutes.” I am concerned that a very important issue – one that I, a resident of Tooting Bec Gardens, raised during the consultation – has been ignored in the proposed changes: Tooting Bec Gardens is already an incredibly congested part of the TFL network. Vehicle idling is constant during the evening (between 4pm and 8pm) and at weekends it is not uncommon to see the whole road gridlocked with idling vehicle engines. This has worsened dramatically since the beginning of 2018 and the introduction of new traffic light priorities at the junction with the A23 (see attached short video to give an insight into the reality of Tooting Bec Gardens). The impact of this is felt most immediately and acutely by those living along this stretch of road. This road is not only home to dozens of families with young children, it is also the location of a large and populous care home, St Mary's. However, the consultation report places an emphasis on impacts and benefits to ‘road users’ (in particular bus users / customers) and not those that live alongside the road. During the consultation I raised concerns about the impact of the proposed changes to the lives and physical health of residents on Tooting Bec Gardens. In part this is due to the terrible air conditions and general levels of pollution caused by the congestion on the road. But I also raised a concern about the potential growth in prevalence of motor vehicles including motorbikes and scooters using the pavements along Tooting Bec Gardens to circumvent the gridlocked traffic - a concern which is based on my own (previously reported) experiences and those of my neighbours. Yet, the consultation report does not pick up these issues and simply focuses on the primary need to improve bus journey times – seemingly to the detriment of those of us living along Tooting Bec Gardens. The result of the proposed changes are ‘longer journey times’ along this stretch of road which has already manifest in greater volumes of gridlocked traffic for longer periods each day. Any air quality benefits to be brought about through the introduction of a bus lane are more than eliminated by the increased volume and duration of static ‘general traffic’ along Tooting Bec Gardens. I would therefore like to reiterate a point I made during the consultation; that the impact of these changes will be to dramatically increase noxious pollutants, noise and congestion along Tooting Bec Gardens with damaging implications for the health of residents living along this stretch of road. TFL have options to manage this, including the stacking of more traffic along this corridor on Tooting Bec Road - a wider and longer carriageway which runs along one side of Tooting Common and which is set further back from residential properties on the far side. At the very least this option could be considered during peak periods in the day when congestion on Tooting Bec Gardens causes the most damage to the lives of those living in the immediacy. A second option is to look at the introduction of ‘smart traffic lighting systems’ which would demonstrate the greater need to ease congestion on Tooting Bec Gardens at times when the traffic lights give priority to free-flowing traffic on Mitcham Lane. I would be grateful for an acknowledgement that TFL understand the likely impact of an increase in pollution on Tooting Bec Gardens a result of these changes. Further, please could you provide answers to the following questions under the freedom of information legislation: 1. Will TFL carry out further monitoring of pollution levels on Tooting Bec Gardens in light of the changes to the road system? If so, when will this take place? If not, why is this not being carried out? 2. Did TFL consider the option to reduce traffic congestion and idling on Tooting Bec Gardens by stacking more traffic along Tooting Bec Road? If so, what was the outcome of this consideration? 3. Do TFL have any plans to introduce monitoring equipment, signage or road furniture to discourage the use of pavements on Tooting Bec Gardens by motor vehicles? 4. When will TFL carry out a review of the changes and will this include analysis of vehicle congestion along local roads including Tooting Bec Gardens?

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TfL Ref: FOI-1820-1819

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 8 October 2018 asking for information about safety at Streatham High Road.

Your request has been processed in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) and our information access policy. I can confirm we do hold the information you requested. You asked:

 1.Will TfL carry out further monitoring of pollution levels on Tooting Bec Gardens in light of the changes to the road system? If so, when will this take place? If not, why is this not being carried out?

We are not planning to undertake any air quality monitoring on Tooting Bec Gardens. Air quality monitoring is generally only undertaken on much larger projects. Small alterations, such as this one, are expected to have minimal impact on air quality.

2.Did TfL consider the option to reduce traffic congestion and idling on Tooting Bec Gardens by stacking more traffic along Tooting Bec Road? If so, what was the outcome of this consideration?

This was not considered. The Mayor’s Transport Strategy has a strong focus on walking, cycling and public transport and therefore implementing a bus lane was preferred as it will protect bus journey times and reliability. The predicted delays to general traffic are from the alterations at the St Leonard’s junction which were implemented in March 2018. Implementing the bus lane is not expected to have a significant impact on general traffic journey times as the majority of space that is being converted to a bus lane is currently used for parking, and not movement of vehicles. The bus lane will therefore be in addition to the two lanes that will remain for use by general traffic on Tooting Bec Gardens.

3.Do TfL have any plans to introduce monitoring equipment, signage or road furniture to discourage the use of pavements on Tooting Bec Gardens by motor vehicles?

We do not have any plans to introduce monitoring equipment, signage or road furniture to discourage use of pavements although enforcement will be undertaken, as it is across the TLRN, which will prevent this being an issue.

4.When will TfL carry out a review of the changes and will this include analysis of vehicle congestion along local roads including Tooting Bec Gardens?

We will review the impact of the changes on bus journey times and general traffic (including on Tooting Bec Gardens) over the 6-12 months following implementation. We will review the impact of the changes on road safety over the 36 months following implementation, as this allows for sufficient data for a fair and robust comparison with before the scheme was implemented.

Please note that the forecast delay to general traffic was as a result of the changes at the junction and not as a result of the implementation of a bus lane on Tooting Bec Gardens (as this removes parking, and not a lane of general traffic, so capacity will be maintained). The changes at the St Leonard’s junction were implemented in March 2018 and therefore any increase in congestion would already be realised, and the bus lane is not expected to increase this any further.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

Yours sincerely,

Melissa Nichols

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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