Following Terry Farrel's schematic proposals, urban design specialists Burns and Nice have been commissioned to develop proposals for improvements to the physical environment of Bloomsbury in the following key locations

• Byng Place - Malet Street - Montague Place - Great Russell Street

Bloomsbury Vision : workshop 1

Held at British Museum on Wednesday 2nd April. Led by Stephen Nice and attended by reps from surrounding CAACs, English Hertiage, British Museum, Malcolm Grant (Provost UCL), John Futcher (leading for Camden) and Chris Nicola from LB Camden, Paul Braithwaite and Penny Abrams.

Introduction from Burns and Nice

From the start it became clear that Stephen Nice is very aware of the important presence of cyclists and their movements in the area - a welcome change from Farrels' report. He introduced the following ideas:

• Byng Place typified by important and heavily used cycle route, a vast number of pedestrians and a lot of vehicle traffic; it is an active focus and should form a better link between the University Church and Senate House to enable more coherent N-S ped movements. Desire to make changes which would invalidate 2-way cycling on one side of the road.
• Malet Street is quiet, are segregated cycle facilities required?
• Montague Place. Try to minimise impact of coaches and improve cycle facilities. Issue of jnct with Russell Sq.
• Great Russell Street. Area by BM. Can we reduce 2-way traffic, what can be done for cycling?

Brainstorming Session

We were divided into four groups and each group had to study each of the four streets and report back. Summary of points made:

• Byng Place. Make it 1-way westbound by stopping left turn from Gower Street. Make it greener. 2-way cycle track doesn't work. Continue to encourage cyclists, shared space, traffic calming. Improve cycle tracks by having 1-way track on each side of the road, direct traffic (specially taxis) away.
• Malet Street. Close street. Widen footways, consult students. Safe but not pleasant street, no specialist cycle measures needed. No coach parking, little traffic, widen footway, if Gower becomes 2-way risk of increase in vehicle traffic.
• Montague Place. Make shread space, take out bike lanes. Quite, pedestrianise, improve north entrance and minimise coach movements, retain 2-way for cycists. Maintain 2-way cycling, improve lighting, no coach parking, guidance for peds, close west side Russell Sq.
• Great Russell Street, One way westbound only for busese and taxis, no parking. Buses out, promote Bllomsbury Way as barrier. It is lively, keep slow and 2-way, retain current cycle routes, raised table by BM entrance, only buses and taxis. Id 1-way, retain 2-way for cyclists, close to traffic, remove hamburger stand, improve security.

Conclusion-John Futcher

Feedback will sent to participants in 2-3 weeks

Camden will do further work with consultants

Another workshop early in Summer.