The Seven Stations link has a long history having been conceived by CCC in 1998, with the western end built in 2000 and the remainder up to Judd Street completed by 2007 with big delays due mainly to signal work. The path through Ampton Street was rebuilt to a high standard in 2007 and all that remains to be done is the signals at Judd Street and some signage east of Judd Street.

See the route on a map

The section of the route between Tottenham Court Road and Judd Street is in a two-way segregated track. This has apparently been successful in attracting many cyclists, but has become very over crowded. In spite of strenuous efforts by Camden Council to improve the junction at Gordon Square, cyclists do report problems with the failure of drivers to give way on crossing the cycle track.

Camden concsulted on the Bloomsbury Plan in January 2007. The following measures are relevant to the SSL CRISP:

• the restoration of two way working in Tottenham Court Road, Gower Street and removal of Russell Square gyratory.
• the introduction of shared surfaces in Byng Place, Malet Street and Montague Street. For example, in Byng Place, the shared surface consists of the area currently occupied by footways, cycle tracks and roadway. Click here to see details of Byng Place shared surfaces (page 22 of brochure)

We discussed this CRISP at the CCC Members Meeting in February and concluded that the SSL requires a parallel relief route, because:

• the existing route is already over crowded
• if the segregated tracks are taken out under the Bloomsbury Plan, cyclists will be delayed in comparison with the current situation
• we have found recently that recommended works from the Link 28 CRISP in Byng Place were not carried out because they might be undone by the Bloomsbury Plan

We then outlined a possible relief route:

• starting at Westminster border at Goodge Street via Charlotte Street the either Store Street or north side of Bedford Square, Montague Place, Russell Square, Guilford Street, Calthorpe Street to Islington border (at same place as existing route).

The introduction of two-way working in Tottenham Court Road and Gower Street and the removal of the Russell Square gyratory will help with the planning of this route.

We do not envisage any segregation in the proposed relief route. It will be an exercise in east-west permeability (i.e. will need some contraflow cycling or reversion to two-way working. It may also require some traffic calming.

Questionnaire

Notes of meetings and workshops on BV

Discussion on effect of Bloomsbury Vision on Byng Place

Members reactions to alternatives for Tavistock Place

Report on CRIM