Regent’s Canal & Grand Union Canal Green CRISP – Final Report

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

British Waterways undertook a Green Cycle Route Implementation and Stakeholder Plan (CRISP) Study for the Regent’s Canal and Grand Union Canal Paddington Branch between Regent’s Park in the East and Ladbroke Grove in the West. The study was funded by Transport for London (TfL) and was undertaken by Camden Consultancy Service.

The increased use of the towpath by cyclists has lead to dissatisfaction from some other canal users over the volume of cycle traffic and the manner in which some cyclists travel on the towpath, especially the inconsiderate speed and lack of courtesy to other users. As increasing numbers of people in London are being enticed to take up cycling, British Waterways has been developing the concept of an east-west off-towpath route which has the potential to offer more attractive conditions, for commuting cyclists at peak times, following necessary infrastructure improvements.

The route, which runs from Scrubs Lane in the west to Tottenham in the north east, was surveyed by Atkins in 2007 and is being taken forward via the “Green CRISP” process. Between Harrow Road and Park Road there are a number of constraints for cyclists which make the towpath unavailable and unsuitable for cycling. These include:

• A busy mooring site (parallel to Delamere Terrrace)
• A busy pedestrian, tourist and boating area (Little Venice)
• A section of canal with no towpath (Blomfield Road)
• A tunnel with no towpath (Maida Hill Tunnel)
• A long set of steps (Aberdeen Place)
• A steep ramp (Lisson Grove)
• A stretch of towpath adjacent to residential moorings unavailable for cycling (Lisson Grove moorings)

This study aims to make recommendations that will:

• provide a continuous east-west route for cycling which is currently not available
• encourage faster moving commuter cyclists to use the off towpath route
• make minor improvements to the towpath that will provide more comfortable pedestrian and recreational cycling use
• encourage more people to use the towpath for recreational pursuits
• resolve conflicts with other road and towpath users and ensure they have a greater awareness of cyclists.

This reflects the three principal LCDS criteria that routes should be categorised as being Fast, Safe and Comfortable.

This report is the fourth stage in the delivery of the Green CRISP report and outlines the Green CRISP methodology, strategic context, features and characteristics of the route. The report provides background information regarding the route as a basis for scheme appraisal, decision-making, scheme delivery and promotion of cycling along the towpath and off-towpath route. This report contains a series of datasheets which present issue areas along the study route and proposals to remedy these highlighted issues. These recommendations are then costed and presented in a programme for completion.

The sum total of recommendations made in this report amounts to an estimated £1,676,500. As the route in question falls under the jurisdiction of three different authorities; this figure breaks down as £1,351,500 for the City of Westminster, £222,000 for British Waterways, £93,000 for Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and £5,000 for the National Grid.

The highest priority recommendations are for the contraflow of Blomfield Road and the shared- use path along Delamere Terrace. These schemes will allow the suggested route to work in both directions.

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