The Transport Users' Sub-Committee was scheduled to meet to discuss rail and road issues, updates from Transport for London (TfL), and school travel plans. The meeting was also scheduled to include an update from the police service.

Road Issues

The Sub-Committee was scheduled to receive a briefing on road-related issues concerning the public highway.

The discussion was expected to cover:

• Cycling: The Bexleyheath to Erith cycle network development was scheduled to be discussed. Initial investigations suggested that meeting TfL's Cycle Route Quality Criteria (CRQC) on Church Road would be difficult without significant changes to traffic flows. An alternative route via Arnsberg Way and Long Lane was explored. The key findings of the report were scheduled to be discussed:

  • Original Alignment (via Church Road):
    • Challenges: spatial limitations and high traffic volumes, achieving CRQC would require major alterations to traffic movements.
    • Benefits: connection to Bexleyheath Rail Station, connects with existing segregated cycling infrastructure along Albion Road, supports further expansion of cycling network.
  • Alternative Alignment (via Arnsberg Way and Long Lane):
    • Challenges: Long Lane bridge does not meet CRQC and would require significant engineering works, Network Rail approvals needed for any structural changes.
    • Benefits: shorter and more direct route, follows natural desire lines for cyclists, offers stronger connectivity into Bexleyheath Town Centre.

  It was recommended that the alternative alignment should be progressed. The main drawback of this route is its weaker strategic link to Bexley Rail Station and the uncertainty around funding to expand Long Lane bridge to meet TfL's CRQC. Feedback had been received from Bexley Cycling (London Cycling Campaign), which raised similar concerns regarding the original alignment and suggested the same alternative alignment. In addition, Bexley Cycling highlighted concerns about Avenue Road due to its steep gradient and suggested Park Crescent as a potential alternative.

• Residential Cycle Parking: TfL provided funding to introduce secure and sheltered cycle storage units within residential areas. Final locations have been agreed with local housing associations and the units are being installed.

• Cycle Training: Child and adult training continue to normal levels of attendees. Details of the numbers trained are not yet available due to a change in how these are collected.

• Electric Vehicle Charging: Up to 90 additional charging points are in the process of being installed on street by Trojan Energy, in clusters of six to 10 units. Bexley have issued a joint bid for government funding, under the LEVI bidding system and have been earmarked to be in the Tranche 2 round of funding for next year. Bexley is looking to enter into an agreement with a provider for charge points in a further six car parks, some Ultra Rapid units in similar sites and possibly to replace the discontinued BP Pulse 12 sites.

• Highway Maintenance and Improvement Schemes: Appendix A of the road issues report provides a list of roads on the current years resurfacing programme which are currently proposed to be treated. Appendix A also provides a list of Highway Improvement Schemes currently under consideration. The DfT have announced their Block Funding allocations for 2025/26 and introduced a new incentive element in 2025 to 2026 to ensure that best practice in sustainable highways asset management is followed. 25% of the funding uplift will be held back until local authorities can prove that they are meeting certain criteria. Funding for highway maintenance beyond 2025 to 2026 is a matter for Spending Review in 2025. Surveys were completed on 36 sites for potential new pedestrian crossings and the top sites are being progressed, where possible. Two sites have been completed and are operational, three further sites are due for installation in the coming school holidays. Further sites are being considered for feasibility for the best format of crossing.

• Road Safety: The current data on road casualty levels taken from TfL data is shown below. It should be noted that data for 2021 will be heavily impacted due to the pandemic-related lockdowns, whereby collision numbers will be lower due to actual lockdowns, but pedestrian and cycle levels could increase due to new ways of travelling and activities permitted during these periods. In addition, a recent change in STATS19¹ coding may alter some data, but this will have limited impact to the data presented. | Period | Fatal | Serious | Slight | Total Casualties | Child Casualties | Pedestrian | Pedal Cycle | Powered Two Wheeler | | --------------------------- | ----- | ------- | ------ | ---------------- | ---------------- | ---------- | ----------- | ------------------- | | 01/11/2021 to 31/10/2023 | 8 | 134 | 869 | 1011 | 98 | 174 | 68 | 157 | | Average of preceding 2 years | 4 | 67 | 434.5 | 505.5 | 49 | 87 | 34 | 78.5 | | 01/11/2023 to 31/10/2024 | 2 | 73 | 422 | 497 | 54 | 105 | 37 | 84 | | Percentage Change | -50% | 9% | -3% | -2% | 10% | 21% | 9% | 7% |

• Street Works: Major works to install a new electricity supply to the Cory Group site in Normal Road are nearing completion along Bronze Age Way, Queens Road, Northend Road and Thames Road. Thames Water have a large mains replacement project planned in the Northumberland Heath and Erith area. The work will cut through the residential area north of Colyers Lane, exit onto Bexley Road and extend along Fraser Road. The Council is replacing a large culvert alongside Bronze Age Way and at Lower Road.

• Winter Maintenance (Gritting): The Council's Winter Maintenance season has closed as is likely to commence in late October/early November.

Transport for London (TfL) Updates

The Sub-Committee was scheduled to receive updates from TfL, including:

• Bus Service Performance Monitoring: TfL London Buses produces quarterly results for each London borough, showing the operational performance of all bus routes in that borough. The most recent quarterly report for Bexley is for 4 January to 31 March 2025 (4th Quarter 2024-25). Results are presented for each of the following:
  • High frequency routes: Scheduled waiting time (SWT), Excess waiting time in minutes (EWT), Q4 2023-24 EWT (for comparison), Average waiting time (AWT), AWT divided by SWT, Chance of waiting
  • Low frequency routes: Chance of a bus departing on time, Q4 2023-24 on time (for comparison), Chance of a bus not running, Chance of a bus running early, Chance of a bus running late
  • Quality Service Indicators are set out in Appendix B as charts/tables showing historic trends for average quarterly performance over the previous 3-4 years.
  • For ease of comparison between routes and across time, results that fail to achieve TfL's performance targets have been highlighted where applicable.
  • Due to the cyberattack of TfL's I.T. systems, data was not available for the Q1 2024-25 period, resulting in gaps in the tables and charts.
• Poorly performing bus routes in the borough: TfL will provide a report on poorly performing routes in the borough.
• Factors Affecting Bus Performance (London-wide) Quarter 4 2024/25: Bus Network Performance is affected by seasonality factors such as school holidays and seasonal weather conditions.
• SL 11 Consultation: TfL's SL11 consultation, covered at the previous TUSC meeting, ended on Sunday 13 April 2025. The Consultation Report is awaited which will include responses to the Councils comments and those of the other respondents.
• Second Consultation on Proposals to Extend the Docklands Light Railway: On 23 June TfL launched a second public consultation on proposals to extend the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) from Gallions Reach, with new stations in Beckton Riverside and Thamesmead. The closing date for responses is 17 August 2025.
• Consultation on the Central London Congestion Charging Scheme: In May, TfL commenced a public consultation on various options to change the central London Congestion charging scheme. These included an increase in the charges, reductions to discounts for electric vehicles and changes to the discount scheme for residents who live within the charging zone. The closing date for responses is 4 August 2025.
• Consultation on Closing Capital Call: On 25 June 2025 TfL launched a 6-week consultation on proposals to close Capital Call and redirect funding into other assisted transport services including Dial-a-Ride. The closing date for responses is 6 August 2025.
• Previous Outstanding Issues & TfL updates: Rachel Harkes has completed actions 1,2 and 5 from the previous TUSC meeting and will provide an update on action 3 at the meeting.

Rail Issues

The Sub-Committee was scheduled to discuss various rail issues, including updates from Network Rail and Southeastern Trains.

The discussion was expected to cover:

• New and Previously Outstanding Rail Issues – Network Rail
• New and Previously Outstanding Rail Issues – Southeastern Trains
• Southeastern & Network Rail Kent Unite to Drive Investment and Efficiency

Police Service Update

Inspector Leah Macdonald from the Bexley, Greenwich and Lewisham Safer Transport Team was invited to attend, to share information about new issues affecting the borough and answer questions from the Sub-Committee.

Outstanding Police Issues from previous TUSC meetings:

• Councillor Richard Diment to share a list of locations with Inspector Leah Macdonald, where the lack of road traffic law enforcement was an issue
• Inspector Leah Macdonald to share, with the Sub-Committee, details of the community roadwatch schemes operating in the borough
• Inspector Leah Macdonald to identify a contact for the Chairman to further discuss the issue of fixed speed camera locations
• The Chairman to feed back to Inspector Leah Macdonald about the Council's new CCTV system and camera locations
• Linked to action one above, Inspector Leah Macdonald to report back to the Sub Committee about safety and enforcement of delivery drivers
• Andrew Bashford to share details of the Police and Council contacts working on improved cycling signage.

School Travel Plans

Andrew Bashford, Head of Highways, Traffic & Infrastructure at the London Borough of Bexley, was scheduled to provide an update on School Travel Plans.