The Transport and Air Quality Committee of Richmond upon Thames Council met on Tuesday 09 June 2026 to discuss a range of transport-related issues. Key decisions included the approval of the 2026/27 Highway Maintenance Programme, noting an underspend in revenue services, and agreeing to a work programme for the Transport Strategy 2040.

Petition to Improve Safety at Queens Road/Manor Road/Sheen Road Junction

Felicity Barkas presented a petition signed by over 530 residents requesting a review of the road layout and signal phasing at the Queens Road, Manor Road, Sheen Road junction to improve safety for vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians. Ms Barkas highlighted issues such as vehicles running red lights due to congestion from the North Sheen level crossing, unsafe turning manoeuvres, and the width of the junction making it difficult for pedestrians, particularly schoolchildren, to cross safely. The committee acknowledged the petition and confirmed that the junction is on the priority list for collision intervention measures. While immediate solutions like dedicated right-turn arrows are complex due to existing road markings, Transport for London (TfL) will be installing pedestrian countdowns at the crossings in the coming months. A further review of longer-term solutions will be undertaken.

Richmond Corporate Plan 2025/26 End-Year Performance Report

Jamie Fisher, Head of Policy and Strategy, presented the end-year performance report for the Richmond Corporate Plan (RCP) 2025/26. The committee noted progress on RCP actions and performance against key performance indicators (KPIs). Of the 18 indicators relevant to the committee, six were rated green (meeting targets), none amber, and four red (more than 5% off target). Areas of underperformance included air quality objectives for nitrogen dioxide and PM2.5, the number of on-street cycle parking spaces added, and the percentage of residents living within 400 metres of the London-wide strategic cycle network. Discussions focused on the reasons for these red ratings, including target profiling for air quality and potential data artefacts for the cycle network indicator. The committee also discussed the challenges in delivering the target for on-street cycle parking spaces, noting the prioritisation of more expensive but higher-demand facilities like bike hangers. The process for reviewing and updating KPIs for the next corporate plan was also discussed, with a commitment to bring the revised framework to the committee in September.

Q4 Outturn Report 2025/26

Alex Moylan, Assistant Director of Finance and Performance, presented the Q4 outturn report for the 2025/26 financial year. The committee noted an overall underspend of £483,000 on revenue services. This underspend was largely attributed to higher-than-anticipated income from parking policy, particularly from penalty charge notices (PCNs), following a London-wide increase in PCN rates. While the increase was intended to improve compliance, the behavioural change was not as significant as initially projected, leading to higher income. An overspend was noted within the Growth and Place Directorate, primarily due to increased highway maintenance activity. Significant energy savings were recognised from the multi-year street lighting investment programme. The committee also noted the outturn position on the approved capital programme, which showed an underspend of £958,000.

Department for Transport (DfT) Roads, Pavements and Structures Additional Funding 2026-27

Nick O'Donnell, Director of Growth and Place, presented the report on additional funding for the Highway Maintenance Programme for 2026/27. The committee approved the additional programme, which includes an increase to the capital programme budget of £60,000 funded from Transport for London grant. This funding, combined with DfT allocations, represents the largest ever programme for road planned maintenance, with an investment of just under £9 million. The report detailed the criteria for scheme selection, primarily based on condition ratings. Discussions also touched upon the DfT's incentive funding, which Richmond has secured due to its demonstrated best practices. Councillor Carey Bishop raised concerns about the long-term integrity of Richmond Bridge, which was listed as a potential scheme for DfT funding for structures. Officers confirmed that while there are no immediate structural concerns, investment is planned to enhance its longevity. The committee also noted a reserve list of schemes that could be brought forward if needed.

Bus and Rail Service Review

David Tidley, Head of Transport Strategy, presented an update on bus and rail service performance. The report highlighted a continued decline in bus mileage and usage across London, with Richmond upon Thames experiencing a similar trend. While bus reliability in the borough has improved over the last 12 months, coverage and frequency in areas like Heathfield, Hampton, and Ham remain a concern. The committee noted the current and impending arrangements for rail services, agreeing priorities for improving local station connectivity and frequency on lines such as the Hounslow Loop and Shepperton Line. Support was also expressed for improving the reliability and accessibility of the District Line. The committee agreed that the paper would form the basis of a Public Transport Plan to be reviewed annually. A public question from Gary Evans regarding bus driver discretion and service disruptions was addressed, with officers stating that drivers operate within TfL policies and that the council will continue to lobby TfL on these issues.

Transport Strategy 2040 - Work Programme

David Tidley presented the work programme arising from the recently approved Transport Strategy 2040. The committee agreed to the proposed work streams, which include the development of a Public Transport Plan, a new Walking and Cycling Strategy, an Accessibility and Inclusion Plan, and Area Transport Plans for Ham, Heathfield/Whitton, and Hampton. The work programme also includes an annual report on the progress of the Transport Strategy as a whole. Councillor Alexander Ehmann, Chair of the committee, raised concerns about the resource implications of conducting three parallel area transport plan consultations simultaneously and suggested they might be conducted in series. Councillor Carey Bishop inquired about the format of consultation with ward councillors, expressing a preference for working groups to capture lived experiences. Councillor Jeremy Davis sought clarification on the terminology used, distinguishing between strategies, plans, and reports, and ensuring that the outputs would be sufficiently detailed and actionable. The committee agreed to the recommendations, with a commitment to ensuring the outputs are plan-like and include specific targets.

Committee Work Programme

Nick O'Donnell, Director of Growth and Place, presented the provisional committee work programme, outlining papers expected to be considered in forthcoming committee cycles up to February of the following year. The list is considered a starter and is subject to change. Councillor Michael Butlin raised a query regarding the consultation timeline for the Hampton Court Road plans, which officers stated would proceed once a scheme was ready for consultation. The committee noted the work programme.