Traffic and the Environment

Crossrail

We have continued to keep a close eye on developments with Crossrail, with representatives from the Marylebone Association attending regular meetings of the Paddington Community Liaison Panel, as well as the new Bond Street Community Liaison Panel. The Crossrail Bill has now been enacted, receiving Royal Assent on 22 July 2008, with Cross London Rail Links Ltd. (CLRL) being the nominated undertaker for the majority of works detailed in the Act.

In December 2008, we made detailed submissions in respect of the planning application for the renovation of the Baker Street underground station, noting our concerns over the closure of the existing public subway and inadequate provision for pedestrians crossing the Marylebone Road.

Zebra Crossings

After much discussion and delay the zebra crossing requested by many parents at the northern end of Seymour Place outside the Seymour Leisure Centre, is in operation. Further sites for crossings are being planned: across George Street (at the southern end of Montagu Square) as this is part of the walking to school plan for the new school in Bryanston Square and also forms part of the Portman's ‘Bryanston Walk' route, from Oxford Street up to Marylebone Station; a crossing on Seymour Street will be created as part of the refurbishing works for Old and New Quebec Streets; Upper Berkeley Street; and there is a chance that there will be scope for another crossing in the future, especially once the Sylvia Young Academy opens on Seymour Place.

Parking

Although we continue to press for more residents' parking (or at least shared use space), residents in Marylebone do not always find it easy to find spaces. There are particular ‘hotspots' near Oxford Street, near Edgware Road, Marylebone Road and the Wimpole Street area. We have even had some cases of parking being converted to pay and display without residents being forewarned!

Marble Arch

The surface level crossings have been completed and, although we were told there would be a trial period before the underpasses were removed, these have been in-filled. The timing of the crossings mean that you may have to wait on three occasions in the middle of the traffic roundabout that is Marble Arch! We have pointed this out to Westminster City Council, who are in touch with Transport for London, which has responsibility for the works and maintenance.

Bicycle Hire Points

We were consulted by Westminster City Council regarding locations for the cycle hire points in our area as part of the Mayor of London's plan to provide hire bikes throughout the city. The scheme is due to be implemented over the next year, and it was difficult for the Council to come up with space, given that we are already struggling to find parking space, open space, and wide enough pavements! We have commented on the sites in our area and hope that some are moved, as we found them in inappropriate locations e.g. in front of the new building on Baker Street blocking the open entry, and beside the open space in Great Cumberland Place, in the improved Old Quebec Street area.

Pollution

We attended a meeting with London Assembly members alongside the pollution monitoring site on the busy Marylebone Road in order to express our concern about the increasing levels of pollution affecting our area. Members were very concerned about the very high levels being recorded at this site and others in London. A report is to be published shortly with the results of the London-wide consultation on this topic.
Royal Parks
We wrote in response to the consultation issued by the Royal Parks about changing some of the regulations, in particular those applying to vehicular use in the Parks. We objected to the relaxation of rules to allow licensed private hire vehicles to use the Parks, unless in use for someone with a disability. We also commented that parking rates should not be raised to be on a par with adjoining rates in central London, as this may deter public use of the parks.

Heather Acton & Tristram Smith

Action Plans

Oxford Regent And Bond Streets (ORB) Action Plan

Elements of the ORB Action Plan are being implemented, and we should see great improvements in Oxford Circus with the diagonal crossings planned for the next year. We consult regularly with the New West End Company which represents the retailers in the area and they are working with Transport for London in an effort to reduce bus numbers along Oxford Street (but without diverting them along parallel streets, such as Wigmore Street). The New West End Company was offered a second ‘traffic free' day per annum for Oxford Street by Westminster City Council, in an effort to boost retail activity in the economic downturn. This will be taken on 23rd May, involving Selfridges in particular, which celebrates its centenary this year. Traffic monitoring is to take place to assess the impact on Marylebone in an effort to minimise this impact in the future.

Edgware Road Action Plan

The works to improve Nutford Place should be implemented shortly, involving lighting, seating, greenery and surface treatments. One of the intentions is to make the walk to Hampden Gurney School safer and more pleasant.

There are also ongoing discussions about initiating a Business Improvement District for Edgware Road with the involvement of the landowners and larger businesses in the area.

Once the external work on Waitrose is completed, it is hoped that the footway repair works will radically upgrade Edgware Road. The Council has been putting pressure on Transport for London to implement improvement works on the road.

Heather Acton