Purpose

This report seeks approval from the Director of Environment and
Sustainability, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for a
Sustainable Camden, to implement changes to Adeline Place, Bedford
Square, and Great Russell Street, as outlined in Section 2 of this
report. This includes the construction of junction improvements and
pavement widening, the installation of a Santander cycle hire
docking station, a bike hangar, and cycle parking stands, and the
planting of five trees on Adeline Place (subject to ground
condition surveys). The proposal also includes the introduction of
two-way cycling (contraflow cycling where the traffic only flows
one-way) on the section of Adeline Place between Bedford Avenue and
Great Russell Street (northbound cycle contraflow) and on the
western section of Bedford Square (southbound cycle contraflow), as
well as some minor parking changes, on Adeline Place including the
introduction of a loading bay, and on Great Russell Street
including the removal of 5 paid-for-parking (pay by phone) spaces,
the relocation of diplomatic parking bays from Adeline Place and
the introduction of double yellow lines. The proposals aim to
transform the public realm, make the roads safer, improve
accessibility for cyclists in the area, help to make walking safer,
easier, and more enjoyable, while improving the local environment
and air quality by planting trees. 
 
A public consultation on the proposals detailed in this report
was undertaken from 2nd October to 23rd October
2023. 
 
The report follows a consideration of relevant policies and the
public consultation on the proposals. The proposals meet the
objectives of We Make Camden by helping create clean, vibrant, and
sustainable places and making it easier for people to travel by
active modes of transport, which would help to encourage residents
to cycle more instead of driving motor vehicles. This would in turn
contribute to improving air quality and lowering carbon emissions
in the borough. The proposals also meet the objectives of We Make
Camden by improving biodiversity, reducing the impacts of flooding,
and responding to the impacts of climate change.

Content

THAT the Director of Environment and Sustainability, in
consultation with the Cabinet Member for a Sustainable Camden, and
having considered the proposals in relation to the objectives set
out in the Camden Transport Strategy, the public consultation
results (Section 6 and Appendix B), the Equality Impact Assessment
(EqIA) (Section 4 and Appendix A), 
having due regard to the needs set out in section 149 of the
Equality Act 2010, and subject to compliance with relevant
statutory requirements and detailed design:
 

(i)            
approves the implementation of the proposed Safe & Healthy
Streets changes on Adeline Place, Bedford Square, and Great Russell
Street, as summarised in section 2 of this report, subject to
compliance with relevant statutory requirements; and

(ii)           
delegates to the Chief Engineer the authority to take any further
decisions required for the implementation of the recommended
proposals.