Appendix to Report to Mayor's Board

Timetable

Traffic Survey Data 1

London Transport Impact Survey 3

Halcrow Fox 4

National Environmental Technology Centre 5

Consultation Response

Consultation Leaflet 6

Local Authority Responses 7

Emergency Services Response 8

Representative Organisations 9

Consultation Response Data 10

Comments made on Option 1 11

Comments made on Option 2 12

Appendix 1

Halcrow Fox were appointed by the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham to assess the traffic and environmental impacts of the closure of Hammersmith Bridge.

Their report shows; (the full report is a long document and may take some time to load)

Link to Full Halcrow Fox Report

• Putney High Street,
• Putney Bridge,
• Lower Richmond Road,
• The Terrace (Mortlake)
• Fulham Road;

• Hammersmith Bridge,
• Hammersmith Flyover,
• Castelnau and
• Upper Richmond Road.

• Traffic counts on bridges
• Traffic counts on roads in the vicinity of the bridge
• Origin-Destination data from 1991 LATS survey
• Interview surveys of bridge users
• Bus Wayfarer data and Quality of Service (QSI) Indicators

• data collection errors
• drivers changing their behaviour in response to traffic congestion
• ‘normal' week to week and month to month variation in traffic flows
• road and bridge strengthening works

• Castelnau (March only)
• Upper Richmond Road - Priests Bridge (March and October)
• Kew Road (March only)
• Sheen Lane (March and October)
• Mortlake Road (October only)
• The Terrace (October only)

[Link to Halcrow Fox Report]

The Halcrow Fox report commissioned by the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham into the Impact of Hammersmith Bridge closure found:

• A significant reduction in emissions in Barnes;
• Moderate reductions in emissions in Hammersmith and Roehampton;
• Moderate increases in emissions in Putney, Fulham and Mortlake; and
• Overall the levels of emissions across the study area are negligibly lower than with the bridge open ( a change of less than 0.5%).

LFCDA

"attendance times to calls to the Hammersmith (north) side of the bridge are unlikely to have been affected, as traffic congestion has always meant that a number of calls will not be attended within the standard times set by the Home Office. Statistics suggest, at worst, a very slight increase in this number. However, very few statutory attendance times have been recorded as 'not achieved' for calls south of the river since the bridge has been closed."

1    HAMMBAG Survey of residents in Barnes & Mortlake area. 50% are in favour of the current restrictions being maintained and 47% want the bridge re-opened for vehicles up to 7.5 tonne. Of the commuters 20% no longer use their car, but use public transport instead and those that do still use their car say that journey times are no worse than prior to the closure.

Unable to express a unanimous view and would welcome a public enquiry.

2    Response for West London Road Watch by MTRU (May 98)

Support Option 2 maintain partial closure, with proposal for an alternative option of partial peak hour and weekend restrictions.

3    Barnes and Mortlake Traffic Action Group

Support Option 2

4    CTC (Cyclists’ Touring Club)

Support Option 2

5    National Federation of Bus Users

Support Option 2

6    North Barnes Residents Association

Support Option 2

7    Barnes Community Association

Refer to Public Enquiry

8    Digby Mansions Residents Association

Support Option 2

9    North End House Residents Association

Support for Option 2

10    Barnes Residents Survey

200 people asked to comment, of the 150 who replied 90% want the bridge to remain closed to private cars.

11    Barnes & Mortlake Traders Survey

Petition and Survey of traders by "A Bridge too far" 93% of traders in favour of a full reopening of the bridge.

12    Niton Action Group

102 signature petition in favour of fully reopening the bridge.

13    The Hammersmith Society

Nominated the "Closure of Hammersmith Bridge" for an Environment Award

14    Friends of the Earth (Hammersmith and Fulham)

Support Option 2

15    Friends of the Earth and The London Cycling Campaign

5400 signature petition in favour of Option 2

16    Licensed Taxi Drivers Association

Support for Option 2

17    London Regional Transport Committee

The Committee therefore sees several compelling grounds for the adoption of Option 2 (the retention of the present closure)

 

A total of 6371 responses to the consultation, of these 2648 support Option 2, 3639 support Option 1 and 84 were uncommitted.

The following table details the responses by location;

Others include all respondents whose address was not identifiable.

The names contained in the Friends of the Earth petition from outside the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham have not been included in the above figures.

Responses from Hammersmith and Fulham detailed by Postal District;

Responses from outside Hammersmith and Fulham by total;

'Much as though I value the fact that it is now safe to cross the river as a cyclist, I am conscious that the Fulham Palace road, which I live very nearby has become even more congested than it was before. Although the Barnes area is now a haven of peace, it has been bought at a cost of reducing quality of life and transport options around my home.'

'If Hammersmith Bridge is to remain closed, action is required to find an alternative to the Fulham Palace road for the traffic that did once use the bridge.'

'There is so much traffic along Putney Bridge and its approach roads - if Hammersmith Bridge is not reopened to general traffic in Fulham will keep getting denser and denser. In Munster Road we already suffer greatly from traffic jams outside our front door, especially from heavy goods vehicles. How about improving public transport in London.'

'I believe that the proposed closure of the bridge is totally unrealistic.'

'I live just off the Fulham Palace Road. Since the bridge closed the increased vehicles on the Fulham Palace Road has become unbearable. Both pollution, noise and overall inconvenience have more than doubled. I feel it is totally unacceptable to have the bridge closed to cars at the moment or in the future. Even public transport i.e. the 220 bus on the Fulham Palace Road are now infrequent and journey time has increased dramatically. Of course the residents around Hammersmith Bridge find the reduced traffic a good thing but the problem has been pushed to the Fulham Palace Road. I am seriously contemplating moving from the area. The bridge should be reopened immediately and a further bridge should be built.'

'The bridge is essential to traffic across London. The effect of its closure has only diverted car users to other major roads and increased congestion in Fulham Palace Road and Putney Bridge.'

'For those residents with a car who live in a street off the Fulham Palace Road. I am not alone in considering leaving the district. Until Hammersmith Bridge is re-opened the traffic on the Fulham Palace Road makes it almost impossible to get into, or up and down, it. From Harbord Street it can take 20 minutes to get to Hammersmith roundabout, Equally so to Putney Bridge something must be done.'

'1/ It is wrong to restrict or close any Thames bridge.

2/ Hammersmith has always been a major gateway to the west. This fact has been ignored by vested interests for too long. Restrictive practices such as borrowing the use of Hammersmith bus station to long distance coaches acts against public interest and convenience. Most provincial towns use bus stations for all public transport.

3/ Car drivers have not switched to public transport. Recent reports confusion on certain days the volume of traffic using Fulham Palace Road is witness to this.

4/ Environmental pros and cons remain the same, restrictions pass one problem to another.'

'The traffic in south Fulham has become horrendous since the closing of Hammersmith bridge. The air pollution has greatly increased. It has taken far too long for action to be taken. London is very short of bridges and especially in West London. This must be a priority - all the small back streets of Fulham are being used to avoid the all day queues in Fulham Palace Road.'

'There is nearly no time of the day when one can freely cross the river one way or the other.'

'Closure of the bridge brings benefits to few, added pollution to many and congestion to the same.'

'Give us a proper unrestricted river crossing'

'The use of public transport is just not an option'

'Please re-open the bridge to cut the extra traffic on Fulham Palace Rd, Woodlawn Rd and surrounding side streets before there is a fatal accident. There have already been a number of accidents outside my house (corner of Langthorne St and Woodlawn Rd) and there are 2 schools in Woodlawn Rd, which is used as a rat run. Fulham Palace Rd simply cannot cope with the extra traffic either on Putney Bridge or Hammersmith Broadway.'

'I am astonished at being asked to decide. The New Kings and Fulham Roads were badly congested before Hammersmith Bridge was closed - afterwards the problem became unbearable, and still is. I thought the reopening was merely a matter of time: it is essential for all Fulham and Barnes and Wandsworth residents that it opens as soon as possible.'

'The closing of the bridge has resulted in great traffic congestion in affected areas such as Fulham Palace Road, Putney, Lower and Upper Richmond Roads etc., and so a traffic "spin off" into parts of Fulham. Traffic congestion and consequent parking difficulties are having an adverse effect on trade, where the small shop keeper is suffering serious loss of business as for example, Goldstrands the chemist shop at the junction of Fulham Road and Fulham High Street, will confirm this.'

'The closure of Hammersmith Bridge has caused great inconvenience for the residents of Fulham. We get twice the amount of pollution and traffic congestion in Fulham Palace Road seven days a week when it is almost impossible to turn from Fulham Rd into Fulham High St. without waiting in a very long queue. Please reopen the bridge.'

'The increased traffic in Fulham Palace Rd is making life intolerable both in terms of the delays caused by the excess traffic and environmental pollution. It is now impossible for us to shop in Hammersmith, which means that we are now spending money outside the borough. It has increased my journey to work time causing an untold waste of resources.'

'Reduces the quality of life of residents who are close to Fulham Palace Road.'

'A new bridge should be built and perhaps the old one could be erected in Ravenscourt Park. It is an essential link across the Thames at this part and is generally an inconvenience to car drivers when they wish to get to Barnes from Hammersmith etc. Also there is a lot more traffic coming through Woodlawn Rd when Fulham Palace Rd is congested causing more danger to school children on their way to and from school as drivers do not drive at a reasonable speed. Although it would be better for the residents round that area to keep it closed it isn't for the rest of us who have to suffer because of it. I'm sure a new bridge would be better economically in the long term than keep repairing it.'

'Since the bridge closed the traffic on Fulham Palace Road has increased adding time to our journey home. I saw a program on TV stating that the increase in traffic was not related to the closure. I do not feel that I have enough evidence to support either view and unless you provide me with some I have to trust my instincts and decide that my increased travel time is due to the closure. I can only hope that things get better when the bridge reopens.'

Comments made by respondents favouring Option 2 include:

'Likes the current environmental benefits and would like public transport improved.'

'Local authorities have a duty to improve public transport at the expense of other services'

'I am in favour of all measures designed to cut down on traffic in Hammersmith and London generally'

'Encourage public transport - discourage private car use.'

'Preserve the bridge and restrict to public transport only.'

'Keep it closed provided taxis and buses are allowed to cross, and that Putney Bridge / Fulham Palace Road traffic congestion is improved.'

'I am in favour of preventing cars using the bridge. This has encouraged more use of more environmentally friendly forms of transport. I am against allowing motorcycles to use the bridge because of their noise pollution and the threat they pose to cyclists.'

'I have changed my mind on this subject. I was once a strong proponent of either option 1 or building a new bridge. This was following several frustrating attempts to navigate Fulham Palace Road in the rush hour. But now: -

1) I have talked to residents living closer to the bridge than I, on both sides of the river, including some with children attending St. Paul's. Most of them seem to have adapted to the new circumstances.

2) I read in the press of a survey, which seemed to indicate that excess traffic "melts away" when a major thoroughfare is closed, rather than migrating to the surrounding streets.

3) I have come to the conclusion that only really drastic measures can do anything to drive excess traffic out of central London and give it back to its residents.'

'Improved the local environment, even though Putney Bridge traffic flows are worse.

Wants commuters to be encouraged to leave their cars at home and use public transport.

Concerned about small businesses in the area while bridge is closed. more bus lanes and stringent enforcement to ensure bus lanes are not blocked.

Reduce congestion.

Thinks traffic hasn't changed on fulham palace road since bridge closure. it had always been busy.

Other restrictions needed to cope with traffic overflow.

Local authorities have a duty to improve public transport at the expense of other services

This is a great opportunity to reduce the use of cars by people in Southwest London

The effect of traffic on the air quality and as a consequence on peoples health is a major concern to me more ways need to reduce traffic in London need to be found

I am in favour of all measures designed to cut down on traffic in Hammersmith and London generally

A toll might be a good idea if opening the bridge or moving it and using it as a tourist attraction (pedestrianised with shops) and replacing it with a stronger one

Implement option 2 for Putney, Barnes, and Wandsworth bridges as well

Reduce cars.

Despite much heavier traffic in Hammersmith Broadway & Putney Bridge .It is a great idea to keep it closed?

Keep bridge in good condition

Thinks it more environmentally friendly & will reduce congestion.

Feels bridge should only be open for pedestrians, public transport, cycles/motor cycles. Anything really, except cars.

Wants tolls included.

The more bridges and roads you build, the more traffic we create. The more bridges we close to private vehicles, the more people will use public transport

This could be the beginning of no private cars etc. in London and a vast improvement in public transport.

Option 2 may produce problems elsewhere, but I support it as the better of the two options as we must begins to try to move travellers from private to public transport if we are to keep long-term aims.

I would like to see a lot more restrictions on private motor cars. I think public transport should receive higher subsidies and encouragement to run faster services. London is now so clogged with private cars and their exhaust fumes - time to take serious action.

A Vital Link - West London has not stopped since bridge closure. Residents local to the bridge are delighted with the effects of bridge closure.

Allow quality of life to take consideration over vehicle traffic.

It has been fantastic since its been shut and should stay shut

It should remain closed

I am in favour of preventing cars using the bridge. This has encouraged more use of more environmentally friendly forms of transport. I am against allowing motorcycles to use the bridge because of their noise pollution and the threat they pose to cyclists.

This page was last updated on 25/02/05   

Telephone 

020 8753 3085

e-mail

General Information: hbrep@hammersmithbridge.co.uk
Webmaster: webmaster@hammersmithbridge.co.uk