Request ID: FOI-4656-2324 Date published: 13 May 2024
You asked
This FOI request relates to information released in FOI-4182-2324.
Please can you supply the original traffic management plan drafted by FM Conway and rejected by TfL.
Please can you advise the date that the filter drain, gully’s, soakaways/catch pits were emptied and cleared of silt/debris. Then please advise how many instances of flooding there has subsequently been since this date to this area.
In the "Short term mitigation recommendation" document, it is stated that "Discussion has been undertaken between Engineering and the Street Traffic Order Team (STOT). It is
agreed that the proposed lower speed limit can be made under Section 14 of the Road Traffic
Regulation Act 1984.". Please provide details of these discussions.
Please confirm the date that "STOT have agreed that a Section 14 is the appropriate Traffic Regulation Order to be used based on safety grounds."
Please confirm the rationale for having decided that a Section 14 was appropriate in or around February 2023, TFL only issued the order in October 2023. It does not feel that TFL regarded this as an emergency.
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-4656-2324
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on14 March 2024 asking for information about the implementation of the A20 speed restriction.
Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) and our information access policy.I can confirm that we do hold the information you require. Specifically you asked:
Please can you supply the original traffic management plan drafted by FM Conway and rejected by TfL.
Please see the requested document attached.
Please can you advise the date that the filter drain, gully’s, soakaways/catch pits were emptied and cleared of silt/debris. Then please advise how many instances of flooding there has subsequently been since this date to this area.
An enhanced gully cleansing regime is in place for the A20 through this section, with cleaning taking place every 6 months (the standard frequency is two years).
Gully cleansing was last undertaken in December 2023 by our maintenance contractor. We do not record individual instances of flooding, however our safety Inspections are carried out every 7 days (driven), during which any evidence of drainage issues would be reported and addressed as per the contract.
In the "Short term mitigation recommendation" document, it is stated that "Discussion has been undertaken between Engineering and the Street Traffic Order Team (STOT). It is agreed that the proposed lower speed limit can be made under Section 14 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.". Please provide details of these discussions.
A verbal discussion took place between Engineering and STOT regarding whether Section 14 is appropriate and can be made under safety grounds. The advise from STOT was that Section 14 can be implemented to reduce the speed limit under safety grounds. STOT would not permit the making of a Section 14 order without approval of the safety grounds.
Please confirm the date that "STOT have agreed that a Section 14 is the appropriate Traffic Regulation Order to be used based on safety grounds."
Initial discussions on the use of Section 14 took place in February 2023.
Please confirm the rationale for having decided that a Section 14 was appropriate in or around February 2023, TFL only issued the order in October 2023. It does not feel that TFL regarded this as an emergency.
While the outline approach to implementation was agreed in February 2023, the time taken to develop a feasible temporary design meant that it was delivered on site in September 2023. Measures that were initially proposed, including lane narrowing were deemed to be cost prohibitive and therefore redesign work was required to deliver a viable scheme.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please let me know.
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,
Mary Abidakun FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
