Transportation Department
Director: Martin Low
This matter is being dealt with by:
Martin Low
DfT Olympic Route Network Consultation
Research Services House
Elmgrove Road
Harrow
HA1 2QG
By post and email to
ornconsultation@dft.gsi.gov.uk
Direct Line: (020) 7641 1975
Fax no: (020) 7641 2621
Email: mlow@westminster.gov.uk
Date: 19 March 2009
Dear Sir,
Consultation on the designation of the Olympic Route Network (ORN)
I am writing on behalf of Westminster City Council to express major concerns
about the likely impact of the measures, which might be introduced on or close to
the very extensive proposed Olympic Route Network (ORN) in the City of
Westminster as shown on the attached plan.
It is unfortunate that consultees are not being given the opportunity to see the
detailed measures likely to be implemented on the proposed ORN.
The City Council has a daytime population in excess of 1.2 million people and a
successful Olympic Games and Paralympic Games means we need to minimise
disruption for all people who live, work and visit Westminster.
The City Council has sought active engagement of LOCOG as well as the ODA to
better understand the full impact of the ORN to try to develop appropriate
mitigating measures.
The City of Westminster has up to 40 per cent of London's hotel accommodation
and there are five star hotels in it such as the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in
Knightsbridge and the Savoy Hotel in Strand, which are not adjacent to the Core
ORN.
The City of Westminster also has four Olympic venues, so the impact will be huge.
It is not clear yet how LOCOG and the ODA intends providing parking for the many
buses or coaches required for the Games Family being brought to the West End
from east London or taken from the West End to east London and other venues.
Some officials in the ODA have suggested that Park Lane may be used for some
bus and coach parking. If that happens where is traffic that is usually on the Inner
Ring Road being diverted to? What happens to the normal buses taking some of
the 1.2 million people who live, work and visit Westminster?
There are also likely to be times when parts of the ORN might be needed for some
of the road based events like the Marathon and some cycling events.The City
Council wants to work closely with the Department for Transport, Greater London
Authority, Transport for London, LOCOG, ODA, emergency services, utilities and
other partners to make help make the Games an acclaimed success. The City
Council welcomes the decision to involve it through the Mayor of London's City
Operations Group.
The City Council recognises the need for the ORN, but is concerned that the daily
life of residents and businesses can continue, as far as possible, with minimal
disruption and that there is full consultation on any network changes, particularly
those that could be permanent changes. There is an expectation that changes
needed for the Olympics come out as soon as possible after the Paralympics.
The City Council’s response outlines a number of concerns:
• Possible traffic problems from the ORN at Parliament Square caused by the
intended designation of Parliament Street and Whitehall, which could be lessened
with alternative arrangements;
• Possible road safety problems where the ORN passes by stations with step-free
access being used as main venue stations, such as at Baker Street, as there could
be a greater number of vulnerable road users;
• The need to carefully plan any parking suspensions on the ORN, which would
otherwise have a negative impact on residents and businesses;
• The need to consider what security measures might be introduced in the public
realm and their impact on the ORN;
• The need to consult the City Council further on detailed measures in order to
help the City maintain its services and businesses to continue as normal as
possible.
The attached plan shows how extensive the proposed ORN is within the City of
Westminster. It comprises the core ORN in use throughout the Games, the venue
specific ORN in use for only part of the Games and alternative routes ORN
included as a contingency. There is no ORN designated to provide access to
training venues, so the City Council assumes that the other parts of the ORN will
meet these needs in the City of Westminster.
Questions 1 and 2 of the consultation: which roads should not be included
and what are the alternatives?
The City Council is concerned about the wider effect on the road network n
including Parliament Square in the core ORN, but can appreciate the lack of
practical alternative routes.
The wider congestion impact could be further worsened when the affect of cultural
events is considered.
The impact and road space taken by the ORN at Parliament Square could be
reduced though by removing the venue specific ORN, which passes the Palace of
Westminster (Margaret Street, Old Palace Yard, Abingdon Street, Millbank,
Vauxhall Bridge) and diverting it south of the river over Westminster Bridge.
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The impact could be further reduced by removing Parliament Street and Whitehall
from the core ORN. Parliament Street and Whitehall only seems to be required for
access to the rear of the beach volleyball venue at Horse Guards Parade. Access
to the rear could be provided instead from Horse Guards Avenue via Victoria
Embankment thus avoiding some vehicles travelling from east London using
Parliament Square. It would also remove the need for implementing any olympic
lanes in Parliament Street and that section of Whitehall from Parliament Street to
its junction with Horse Guards Avenue. Parliament Street and Whitehall both have
very high flows of buses, cycles and taxis and there are several very well used
bus stops between Parliament Square and Horse Guards Avenue. These streets
have been reduced in width to a bus lane and a general traffic lane in each
direction with some local right turning lanes at junctions. There would be severe
traffic disruption if the current arrangements get suspended.
Questions 3 of the consultation: to express interest in being consulted on
detailed measures in the future
The City Council wishes to be consulted on all measures being considered for the
ORN in the City of Westminster. This reflects the City Council’s local knowledge ,
and experience that is required for safe and successful major events and the
extensive effort that is needed in working with others to respond swiftly to any type
of incident. The City Council also has a strong desire to minimise delays to
residents and businesses that are inconvenienced by the Olympics.
Particular areas of interest on detailed planning include:
• Ensuring road safety at critical danger spots. Potentially these could include
places where the ORN passes next to stations with step-free access being
promoted as main stations for visitors to Olympic venues. At these locations there
is potential for greater conflict between increased vehicle traffic and increased
pedestrian traffic, which would include a more than usual number of disabled
people, who are in a more vulnerable road user group. In Westminster this occurs
at Baker Street Underground Station, but also at other stations which may not be
promoted as main stations for visitors, but which are nevertheless on or close to
the proposed ORN and to Olympic venues, such as Westminster and Green Park
Underground Stations.
• Any alterations to turning movements and traffic signal timings at junctions
because of the wider affect on the local road network.
• Any proposed suspensions of disabled persons', residents', diplomatic, visitor
and motorcycle parking bays on the ORN or on side roads near junctions with the
ORN. Such alterations will need careful management and, in a congested central
area, might require ensuring no net loss of disabled persons' or residents' parking
bays by temporarily using visitor parking bays in the wider area for these
purposes, for the duration of the suspensions.
• Any suspension of coach parking on the ORN, which would need to be relocated
elsewhere.
• Providing public realm security measures, for which Westminster City Council is
acknowledged as a leading expert of best practice.
• Any forthcoming proposals to restrict street works in the vicinity of the ORN for
the duration of the Games. While some suspension of street works activity is an
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essential measure to minimise disruption during the Games, a blanket suspension
on all roads within a certain distance of the ORN might be equally inconvenient
and unnecessary. Consequently we would suggest a more targeted approach
where works are suspended on key routes only.
• Timing of ORN restrictions in order that essential services such as refuse
collection and other services to the community can still be carried out.
• Helping businesses plan alternative servicing arrangements. The City Council is
able to help inform businesses through its connections with business associations
and three Business Improvement Districts.
Questions 4 and 5 of the consultation: to comment on the draft Impact
Assessment
Although the cost of implementing the ORN has not been quantified the draft
Impact Assessment has identified all the broad impacts. In relation to the City of
Westminster we would like to clarify that:
•There will be a significant loss of income from visitor parking bays on the ORN if
the alternative route network is to be kept clear as well as the core network. In the
City of Westminster we would need to look to relocate some lost residents' parking
bays in visitor bays on the wider network, reflecting the high demand for on-street
residential parking. It should also be noted that the City of Westminster manages
some residents' parking bays on the Transport for London Road Network.
•To note that some disabled persons' bays are designated in the City of
Westminster separate to the blue badge scheme.
Question 6 of the consultation: other comments
The City Council would appreciate assurance that the restrictions will only be in
place for the duration of the Games and no longer. In addition, that every
consideration be given to using police motorcycle and vehicle escorts to pilot
priority vehicles instead of full lane closures in order to minimise the time per day
that the ORN restrictions are in operation.
It should be remembered that the number of people visiting venues and social and
cultural events in both daytime and evening in the City of Westminster is
significantly above the numbers expected to attend the Olympic stadium itself.
These large numbers of people exclude the Olympic family who will also want to
take full advantage of visiting iconic sights in the Central London.
I look forward to discussing the details over the coming months.
Yours faithfully,
Martin Low
Director of Transportation
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Appendix 1: See map showing the ORN in the City of Westminster
Appendix 2: List of ORN streets in the City of Westminster with parking
(provisional)
Street
Park Lane
Aldwych
Victoria
Embankment
Northumberland
Avenue
Millbank
Edgware Road
St John’s Wood
Road
Wellington
Place
Prince Albert
Road
Lisson Grove
Gloucester
Place
Baker Street
Allsop Place
Park Road
Grove End
Road
Disabled Residential Visitor or Diplomat Coach
parking
parking
motorbike parking
parking
parking
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Bus
parking
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