Danny's Days - 31st March 2025
This week we are once again pushing forward with the campaign to ask local residents and businesses to express themselves and contact TfL, Joe Powell (MP for Kensington and Chelsea), RBKC and Sadiq Khan. If we don’t use our voices, we can’t be heard. Many people have emailed in, but please, numbers count. More than one person in your household can email, and please share the QR code with friends and neighbours. We’re coming up to half way of our target.
Some questions I’ve been asked by local residents these past couple of weeks:
Is there a consultation? The Consultation finished last year (May 2024). However since then TfL had to share the results. This showed 88% of participants did not want this scheme to be built. TfL, however, have stated ‘it was not a referendum and they will continue to build.’
Have TfL started the works? They have not started the works yet.
Has Joe Powell MP made an official statement? Joe has written to residents a few times and also attended a meeting with Tfl and Resident association Chairs and myself.
‘Specifically on the roundabout, I was pleased to see that TfL have taken some resident concerns on board, including improving the existing signage and waymarking for cyclists and pedestrians. As you know, Holland Park Avenue already suffers from severe congestion at rush hour. TfL have been clear they do not believe this already bad situation will be made worse, and that they will continue to monitor any impacts on traffic transparently. I will be holding TfL to account on this point. I know some residents will still disagree with TfL’s decision to continue with the scheme. For my part, I will continue to listen to residents, provide feedback to TfL and hold them to account for the commitments they have made around traffic speeds, and the suggestions from our resident associations which they have accepted.’
- Joe Powell letter to residents.
Although some might say he is being too trusting of TfL’s claims and promises.
Do RBKC support this scheme? They do not and have never at any stage supported this scheme.
Are TfL listening? Other ideas such as improving existing cycling infrastructure with better signage and generally ‘tidying the roundabout up’ the roundabout have been suggested. TfL were even given clear designs how this might be done. However, to date there has been no communication about changing their initial plans. We have also given them clear independent research that shows this 6.3 million pound scheme may not improve cyclist safety, instead will cause gridlock and pollution.
How have TfL made these claims? Many have questioned TfL’s data, and rightly so. They simply do not have any relevant modelling for this roundabout. Astonishingly, they are using modelling data from another road which doesn’t even have a roundabout in it.
Many people have written already. I know many took part in last years consultation, but we must do this again. This is a new campaign. Sroll down to the bottom of the SOS website and use the ‘Send an objection email’ button. https://sos10.co.uk/
The very best wishes
Danny