TfL Ref: 2159-2021

Thank you for your request received by us on 27 January 2021 asking for copies of correspondence between Transport for London (TfL) and the emergency services regarding what was formerly known as Cycle Superhighways 9 (CS9) and is now referred to as Cycleway C9, following your previous request for information (reference: 1925-2021).

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:

copies of correspondence in the 2020 calendar year between TfL and the emergency services in which the emergency services have expressed concern to TfL regarding the cycle route CS9/CW9 and its potential (or otherwise) to cause a delay to the emergency services.

Please see the attached requested correspondence between TfL, the Metropolitan Police and the London Ambulance NHS Trust, discussing the construction of Cycleway C9. Please note that the email received from the London Ambulance NHS Trust was discussed at a regular meeting between TfL and the emergency services as it was felt that the regular meeting was the most appropriate forum to discuss their concerns and we are not aware of any concerns following completion of construction. No response was received from the MPS and we do not have any other correspondence with the emergency services which is covered by your request.

Emergency services are able to use the cycle track where required – we have undertaken swept path analysis using a fire appliance vehicle in both directions for the length of the facility. TfL and the boroughs continue to work closely with the emergency services on all projects and value their feedback. TfL has also recently acted to strengthen the liaison between boroughs and the emergency services, and to ensure that feedback about projects continues to be listened to after the introduction of projects. This has allowed any specific local issues to be raised and addressed, and has led, for example, to the much more widespread use of camera enforcement rather than physical barriers to close roads with easy access for blue light response vehicles.

In accordance with our obligations under Data Protection legislation some information has been withheld, 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 Article 5 of the General Data Protection Regulation 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 exemption 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 regulation.

If you are considering submitting a further FOI request please think carefully about whether the request is essential at this current time, as answering FOI requests will require the use of limited resources and the attention of staff who could be supporting other essential activity. Where requests are made, please note that our response time may be impacted by the current situation.

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

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