Following its survey of members in the late summer, Vauxhall One held a 10th Dec briefing for its members at The Foundry (www.aplaceforchange.co.uk).
Vauxhall One board member Aseem Sheikh introduced the findings from the member survey, which highlighted employees’ desire for TfL to make several key changes to Vauxhall’s landscape, spesicfically more leisure and retail opportunities, as well as better access for pedestrians.
Manni Randhawa from Transport for London then introduced TfL’s latest plans for the transport interchange. Feedback from members included:
- A strong feeling that the landscape and wider public realm of Vauxhall should be developed to as equally high standards as the highway infrastructure.
- A fear that the capacity of the new junction would not be adequate, and that traffic would be displaced into the smaller side streets that are predominately residential. Some members felt that an accident or breakdown in the proposed two-way system could see Vauxhall grind to a halt.
- Significant concern around the phasing and construction logistics of the proposals A number of Vauxhall One members rely on easy access to their premises for freight vehicles and customers. Prolonged traffic from construction works would be detrimental.
- Representatives from 89 Albert Embankment – home to many national and international charities – made a plea that the plans take into account disabled and more vulnerable users of the area. Legible signage, easy to navigate pedestrian crossings and good bus access should be maintained during works and play a fundamental role in all future plans for Vauxhall.
- Members asked TfL to consider the possibility of installing a taxi rank outside Phoenix House or St George Wharf to better service businesses and their customers in those locations.
- Concerns were raised over the safety of Cycle Superhighway 5, especially the crossing areas on Kennington Lane outside the Royal Vauxhall Tavern.
What happens next?
Following the December 10th business briefing TfL have added two further public consultation events:
- Wednesday, January 6th from 3-7pm at York Gardens Library, 34 Lavender Road London, SW11 2UG
- Thursday, January 7th from 4-8pm at St. Anne’s and All Saints, Miles St, London SW8 1RL.
There will be an additional session for businesses and charities based in 89 Albert Embankment, to be held in January, exact date to be announced.
Vauxhall One urges all of its member businesses and their employees to view TfL’s detailed plans online here and complete the online consultation here to ensure that business views are included.
Vauxhall One also urged both parties to give serious consideration to more far-reaching options for the scheme, including that generated by local residents.
This seeks to remove traffic from the South Lambeth Road section of the gyratory and to ‘green’ it as part of the green trail that includes the BID’s own ‘Missing Link’ public realm improvements.
