Leaked figures show two thirds of people support Cycle Superhighway through Swiss Cottage and Regent’s Park
A map showing the changes proposed in Swiss Cottage (Picture: TFL) - Credit: Archant
Two thirds of people support plans for the controversial Cycle Superhighway 11, according to figures leaked to the Ham&High.
Cycling Commissioner Andrew Gilligan at Swiss Cottage Cycle super highway public meeting - Credit: Nigel Sutton
The scheme, stretching from Swiss Cottage to the West End, has provoked a fierce battle between those for and against it.
More than 4,000 residents have signed a petition against it, claiming it will bring chaos to their roads, cause illegal and dangerous levels of pollution and fails to take into account the construction of HS2.
A backlash by cyclists in favour of the scheme has seen a series of demonstrations and counter demonstrations culminating in a heated public meeting at Stephen’s in Rosslyn Hill, Hampstead, earlier this month.
The most controversial aspects of CS11 include the closure of four of the eight gates to Regent’s Park for most of the day to deter rat-running drivers and rerouting the Swiss Cottage gyratory by closing Avenue Road to motorists.
Consultation on CS11 ended on March 20.
Although official results won’t be published until after the mayoral elections in May, initial figures have been shown to the Ham&High.
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They show a total of 5,800 responses - one of the largest number of replies ever received by TfL on a cycle scheme.
Of these, 65.3 per cent support or fully support CS11, with 34.7% per cent disagreeing or strongly disagreeing with it.
On closing the Regents Park gates, 61.2 per cent are in favour with 38.8 per cent against.
A total of 62.3 per cent are in favour of the Swiss Cottage gyratory removal with 37.7 per cent opposing.
In addition to these online reponses there have also been around 400 email and written responses.
A TfL spokesman confirmed that the figures were accurate initial figures. “They are not finalised and we will publish a full report after the mayoral elections.”
London’s cycling commissioner, Andrew Gilligan, said: “I am very pleased with these figures.
“We do quite often get opposition to these schemes but we nearly always find that most people back them and see the major benefits for the community.”
