TfL Ref: FOI-4706-2324
Thank you for your request received by us on 20 March 2023 asking for information about a toucan crossing at Lea Bridge Road.
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. You specifically asked:
- Confirmation of the legislation which allowed for the installation of the Toucan crossing. I acknowledge that in the attached mail, TFL mentioned that they had entered “a s8 agreement” but failed to mention of what Act, if indeed that was the relevant Act.
Toucan crossings are installed in exercise of powers under Section 23 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (as amended). However as these works involved works on a borough rather than a TfL road, a section 8 agreement under the Highways Act 1980 was used to allow TfL to build the crossing. The section 8 agreement authorises TfL to carry out works on a borough highway.
- What are the legal requirements as to notification of the installation of the crossing to the public and more specifically to residents on Lea Bridge Road, who would be directly affected by it?
Under section 23 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, before establishing a crossing a local traffic authority is required to consult the Chief Officer of the police and give public notice of the proposal. The public notice for the proposal was advertised in February 2023.
- If you maintain that there is no legal obligation to inform residents directly, then what “good practice” if any is applied to direct engagement with residents by for example letter/pamphlets direct to their homes or notices placed on the road. This would specifically be in relation to the Toucan crossing as opposed to the Cycleway project in general. Should TFL accept they have such practices then identify what they are and how you complied in this instance, providing a copy of any letter or pamphlet if applicable that was sent out specifically about the Toucan crossing.
TfL and the London Borough of Hackney carried out a public consultation on Cycleway proposals including a new location for a crossing on Lea Bridge Road from 17 October to 16 December 2019, online and through letters to local residents signposting the online consultation. TfL and Hackney also held two public drop-in consultation meetings in December 2019 at St. James The Great Church and Beecholme Estate Community Hall. Letters were sent to local residents to promote the drop-in meetings. Following a pause due to the Covid pandemic a consultation report was published in August 2021. The statutory notification for proposals including the toucan crossing was published by the borough in February 2023. We consulted on the proposals that the crossing location given was an approximation and not definite. We did not send out letters or leaflets specifically about the toucan crossing.
- When and how did TFL first convey that there would be a new Toucan crossing and its whereabouts on Lea Bridge Road.
As per the response to question 3, TfL and LB Hackney first consulted on Cycleway proposals including a new location for a crossing on Lea Bridge Road in October 2019, online and through letters to local residents signposting the online consultation. The statutory notification of proposals including the toucan crossing was published by LB Hackney in February 2023 as per the statutory requirements.
- When and where did you publish the first diagram, plan and the position of the Toucan crossing to the public.
The first drawings showing a new crossing on Lea Bridge Road at or close to where it is now were published on the TfL website as part of a public consultation in October 2019. The statutory notification of proposals including the toucan crossing was published by LB Hackney in February 2023 as per the statutory requirements.
- Confirm the date that you entered the detailed design phase.
10 November 2021.
- Confirm whether you have received any complaints from any person, group, organisation, or councillors about the crossing since its installation, in particular its positioning and the fact that cyclists are now cycling on the pavement to use it.
Cllr Ian Rathbone, member for Lea Bridge ward, specifically raised the pedestrian wait time at the crossing was too long and issues with cyclist behaviour when accessing the cycle track in Millfields Park from the crossing.
- Pleased provide, if possible, a copy of the independent air quality and noise assessment report which you commissioned prior to installation.
Please find the noise assessments attached.
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
Eva Hextall
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London
