Thank you for your web request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 29 March 2017 asking for information about legislative framework governing the designation, explanation and notification or traffic diversions within the Congestion Zone (central).
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require.
Could you please indicate for me the legislative framework governing the designation, explanation and notification or traffic diversions within the Congestion Zone (central). Furthermore, it would be helpful if I could get details of the exact placement of all signage along the southern diversionary route as well as copies of any notices placed in newspapers (if possible the times of publication).
The decision to provide a free route through the Congestion Charging Zone during the closure of Tower Bridge was made at our discretion. There is no legislative framework or other legal requirement governing a traffic diversion of this type. The Congestion Charging Scheme is governed by the Consolidated Scheme Order (http://content.tfl.gov.uk/consolidated-congestion-charging-scheme-order.pdf) which makes no provision for us to implement a diversion in the event of major works such as the closure of Tower Bridge. However the bridge forms part of the eastern boundary of the Congestion Charging Zone and is also part of the strategic red route network, for which TfL is the Highway Authority. As such we decided to implement the northbound and southbound diversion routes for the purposes of managing traffic flows and congestion in the area during the closure.
The placement of all signs on the approach to and along the southbound diversion is shown in the attached document “Tower Bridge SB Diversion”.
Photographic images of the signs are shown in the attached document “Tower Bridge Diversion Signs”.
Copies of the statutory notices advising of the traffic order made to support the closure of the bridge are also attached.
Please note that in accordance with TfL’s obligations under the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA) some personal data has been withheld, as required by section 40(2) of the FOI Act. This is because disclosure of this personal data would be a breach of the DPA, specifically the first principle of the DPA 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 of Schedule 2 of the Data Protection Act which would make the processing ‘fair’.
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Yours sincerely
Sara Thomas
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London
