A South London council has said planned changes to a busy main road will make its walking and cycling routes better and safer, with the road described as a “mess” in its current state.
It comes after Wandsworth Council approved measures to be included in the transport scheme for Burntwood Lane, in Earlsfield, after residents raised concerns over previous plans.
The council is planning to introduce a 1.8-metre segregated cycle track on the southern side of Burntwood Lane between Beechcroft Road and Aboyne Road, along with a two-metre cycle lane on the northern side segregated where possible between Tranmere Road and Sandgate Lane.
It is also set to widen pavements on the northern side of the road and install three zebra crossings along it, in addition to three more around the Beechcroft Road mini-roundabout.
The plans were developed in response to concerns raised in a previous public consultation on upgrades to walking and cycling routes on Burntwood Lane.
The consultation, held between December 2022 and January this year, asked the public for views on two major options concerning cycling facilities on the road and supporting measures.
It received more than 1,200 responses from residents.
Labour councillor Jenny Yates, the cabinet member for transport, said the authority had changed the scheme in response to feedback given during the consultation.
She said: “This has allowed us to come up with a revised set of plans that will deliver better and safer routes along Burntwood Lane for both cyclists and pedestrians. Improving safety here will give more people the choice of making their journeys on foot or by bicycle.”
Changes made to the plans include cutting the number of parking spaces earmarked for removal from around 39 to seven, installing zebra crossings instead of toucan crossings, scrapping proposals for bus stop bypasses and proposing smaller sections of footways to be shared between pedestrians and cyclists.
The council’s transport committee unanimously approved the plans on November 2. The executive will make a final decision on November 20.
If the scheme is given final approval, council officers will draw up detailed designs of the measures and carry out further consultation before any construction works begin.
A report by officers said the scheme aims to improve safety on the road by reducing speed, upgrade the quality of existing cycle facilities, and add new facilities where possible, along with making it easier for pedestrians to cross the roads and access local schools.
At the meeting on November 2, Councillor Yates said the road “is a mess, it does need improvement and this scheme will make it a much better road”.
She added: “I’m very keen that we do get on with it. I think the committee, the previous iteration of this committee, first approved the objectives of this scheme back in September 2020 which is now three years ago – so it’s going to be four years by the time it’s all finally in place.”
