Danny's Days - 28th April 2025

Last week I met a few of you as I took part handing leaflets outside Holland Park Underground Station. I was joined by a few residents and a local RBKC councillor. It was the day before many of you and the local retailers received this update from our local MP. Unfortunately, there are some major misconceptions in his reply.

To keep you all in the loop, this is what we replied with:

We have seen your letter to constituents regarding the Holland Park Roundabout cycleway scheme. Sadly, many of the things you say are repetitions of TfL assertions that are highly misleading and known to be incorrect by most local residents you’re sending the letter to. For example:

• The reference to Holland Park Roundabout as one of the most dangerous on the network is not borne out by any of the material we have seen. TfL’s own statistics show that it is NOT dangerous for cyclists, with only one minor accident in the three-year reference period used by TfL. Nor does it appear on the London Cycling Campaign’s list of most dangerous junctions for cyclists. https://lcc-dangerous-junctions.streamlit.app/ .

• The traffic modelling used by TfL was based on a scheme that bears no resemblance to the Holland Park Roundabout scheme as C34 is a quieter route that doesn’t go through a roundabout or link up major arterial routes. Additionally, this modelling was done during the pandemic and outside of rush hour when there was minimal traffic. The up-to-date local modelling commissioned by the Holland Park Traders Association shows massively increased congestion and displacement of traffic to residential streets. You say that you will hold TfL to account if their modelling proves incorrect, but it will be too late by then.

• You say that your priority has been to ensure constituents have a voice at the table. Yet, your constituents don’t have a voice at the table. TfL admitted in our meeting with them last year that they plan to proceed with their proposed cycle lane irrespective of what any member of the public says, and no matter how many objections they receive. Additionally, we haven’t seen any individualised TfL responses to residents – instead, only one standard, brush-off reply sent to everyone who has written in.

• As we understand it, TfL cannot implement this scheme without the permission of the borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, who are yet to give their consent.

Many of your constituents believe that Holland Park Roundabout would be better served by improving the existing cycleway infrastructure, which is already popular and used safely by cyclists. This work could be carried out with far less disruption and most likely at less cost, without jamming up the roads.  

As a matter of urgency, we ask that you

• Amend your narrative to residents going forward. 
• If you continue to send out assertions that local residents know are untrue, it communicates that you’re not listening to your constituents, but are conspiring with TfL.
• If you want to claim that you’re working closely with us, please use the correct facts and data that we have presented to you.
• Urge TfL to undertake proper, local scheme-specific modelling including the likely impact on the roundabout itself, and on surrounding arterial routes and local residential streets during peak hours.
• Urge TfL to improve the peripheral infrastructure immediately and to cease any other work until that improvement is thoroughly evaluated. Doing so would bring immediate benefits to cyclists and we expect would further demonstrate that TfL’s proposed scheme is not needed.

We very much look forward to your response to the above and to getting your help and support in doing the right thing for your constituents.

We will continue to lobby Joe Powell, as we have proven this scheme is terrible for local residents, local businesses, local cyclists, commuter cyclists, emergency vehicles, bus transport and anyone visiting the area. It is simply mindboggling he is quietly supporting it.

The very best wishes,

Danny