MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE ENFIELD TRANSPORT USERS' GROUP HELD ON THURSDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2014
PRESENT:
Lloyd Tew Cragg (Chairman) Enfield Commuter Group
Irene Wilson Willow Residents' Association
Joan Chantler Willow Residents' Association
Peter Smith Over 50's Forum
Mike Huggins Resident
Mark Mansfield Grange Park Residents' Association
David Pickles Resident
Fred Mead West Enfield R U G
David Cockle Western Enfield Residents' Association
Doreen Jones Resident
Patrick Darcy Resident
George Bushell Resident
Donald Smith Over 50s Forum
Phil Sargeant Abellio/Greater Anglia
Seumas Skinner First Capital Connect
Nicola McDowall Enfield Mental Health User Group
John Devine Resident
Warren Baylis Resident
Peter Perryman Resident
Ann Bishop Laggett FERAA
John Jewson FERAA
Janet Adams & Kingston Guide Dogs/Enfield Vision
Joan Wayland Guide Dogs/Enfield Vision
Nigel Spurgreen Chickenshed
Margaret & Tom Lambe Residents
Chris Osborne Crews Hill Residents' Association
Peter Jeffery Crew Hill Residents' Association
Daniel Campos Enfield Island Village Trust
S Moslin One to One
Sue Wilkinson One to One
Peter Howarth Transport for London
Sgt David Waite Metropolitan Police
LONDON BOROUGH OF ENFIELD:
Councillor Glynis Vince
Councillor Joanne Laban
David Taylor LBE
Ranjith Chandrasena Friend of ETUG
Tony Wallis Friend of ETUG
Pauline Bagley Clerk
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bond, Levy and Fallart, David Cockle and Nigel Spurgreen.
2. FUTURE MEETINGS
NOTED that a date and venue for the next meeting of ETUG had yet to be confirmed and it was anticipated that it would take place in a different part of the borough. As soon as details have been confirmed, they would be relayed to members of the Group. Lloyd requested that wherever possible, members should supply him with email details as he did not have the resources to contact people by post.
3. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
NOTED
(a) the Minutes of the meeting held on 12 June 14;
(b) David Taylor undertook to follow up on the feedback promised by Peter Howarth in respect of nominees to the Mobility Forum (Minute No. 3(f));
ACTION: DAVID TAYLOR
(c ) Lloyd Tew Cragg undertook to inform members of the new contact details for Paul Oxley of First Capital Connect.
ACTION: LLOYD TEW CRAGG
4. FEEDBACK FROM COMMUNITY GROUPS
Metropolitan Police
NOTED that
(a) Cycling on Pavements
A question had been raised by Enfield Vision/Guide dogs for the Blind, in respect of the nuisance of cyclists riding on the pavement. Sgt Waite confirmed that this was not a police priority and various members of the Group thought that this should not be the case and that there should be zero tolerance. Discussion on the various rules relating to cycling on pavements took place and the consensus that as motorists were fined for contraventions, the same should be the case with cyclists.
The Group further discussed the anticipated introduction of various cycle lane measures within Enfield and that this should help the situation. Sgt Waite confirmed that there had been a focus on incidents at junctions, in particular where the A406 intersects with trunk roads.
(b) Offences on Public Transport
A concern was raised on the apparent rise in incidents by 21% of sexual assaults on public transport. Sgt Waite responded that the summer had seen a relatively quiet period on the bus network and an incident free return to school at the beginning of the month. He added that much of the rise in assaults could be attributed to better reporting which was giving the police a clearer picture of what was happening. Therefore this rise should not necessarily be the cause for extensive worry.
Ms Wilkinson reported that she knew of a person who had been really supported after falling victim to an incident; the perpetrator had been prosecuted. However, Mr Smith raised a concern on the length of time it took for British Transport Police to appeal for witnesses to incidents. Conversely Mr Tew Cragg responded that he had witnessed a recent incident where other passengers were unwilling to provide statements; it was often difficult for the police to gather evidence.
5. CYCLING
NOTED that
(a) concerns were raised at the apparent lack of opportunity to comment on the implementation of cycling schemes within the borough;
(b) David Taylor confirmed that various bids had been successful and that concepts were being worked up before engagement with stakeholders. He assured the Group that there would be ample opportunity for consultation;
(c) schemes for Palmers Green and Enfield Town were the first to come forward with debate on Enfield Town already started. However, it was probable that it would be next year before detailed discussions could take place. The process would be started with consultation through three area based committees which were currently being set up;
(d) Councillor Laban confirmed that nothing had yet been approved and that scheme implementation was bound up with consultation. She added that consultation would commence through the three area based committees and that plans would need to be right before implementation. There was £27 million to spend and it was not intended to waste public money. A timetable had to be decided in terms of various forms of consultation on this major project;
(e) David Taylor undertook to ensure that the Group were kept up to date with news on the project and how members could get involved in consultation.
ACTION: DAVID TAYLOR
6. BUS REVIEW
NOTED that
(a) an interim meeting had been arranged with TfL in advance of the next PTCG meeting;
(b) TfL were currently focussing on access to health issues and that they were due to respond to the borough by October 14;
(c ) Tony Wallis said that it had taken TfL around nine months to consider just part of the submission; he asked whether TfL, at the upcoming interim meeting, could indicate a timescale when it would respond to all the other issues within the original submission. David Taylor undertook to put this question to the interim meeting;
ACTION: DAVID TAYLOR
(d) Mr Smith referred to the public consultation being carried out by the Royal Free Hospital which had not been widely publicised. He said that the consultation would be taking place on 29 September 14. Tony Wallis confirmed that he would not be able to attend this meeting and asked whether Mr Smith, as he would be attending, be able to feed back on the details.
ACTION: MR SMITH
7. LONDON TUBE MAP
NOTED that Mr Wallis referred to an indicative map in terms of what the network would look like in 2030. He asked how reliable the map was as it appeared that London Overground truncated at Kentish Town and there was no longer a link on the Enfield Lock/Liverpool Street section. Mr Wallis undertook to send the email link to Mr Tew Cragg.
ACTION: TONY WALLIS
8. BARNET HOSPITAL TRAVEL PLAN
Mr Smith referred to the required travel plan and that any impact on Barnet fell within the remit of Hertfordshire; he was concerned at the lack of consultation with Enfield Council. Ranjith reminded the Group that there was two year's worth of post code level data analysis available. David Taylor undertook to follow up this matter.
ACTION: DAVID TAYLOR
9. ACCESS ALL AREAS
REPORTED that a one day show was due to take place at the Excel Centre on 2 October 14. This show provided an opportunity for disabled and elderly people to discuss transport priorities.
10. 'TALKING' CASH MACHINES
Lloyd Tew Cragg informed the Group that Lloyds Bank had introduced some 1,200 machines nationally which should prove helpful particularly for the partially sighted; he thought that these would be less helpful for those who were completely blind. Ranjith responded that a high percentage of users would have some vision. Ms Wilkinson said that the scheme would have been trialled before roll-out and confirmed that most impaired people had a degree of vision. Mr Tew Cragg undertook to contact Enfield Vision to seek their view on the introduction of these cash machines.
ACTION: LLOYD TEW CRAGG
11. COUNTDOWN
NOTED that in his absence, Mr Cockle had raised an issue about the lack of Countdown facilities at Oakwood Underground Station. Mr Huggins added that this was the case in some other key areas such as outside McDonalds in Enfield Town. David Taylor said that he suspected that many people would now access the information through smartphones which resulted in Countdown being of less importance. Ranjith reminded the Group on the history of the review and rollout of Countdown across the borough, which had resulted in the original 36 installations being increased to 69. At the time of the review, various locations had been identified to lose Countdown but there had been no political will for this to happen.
12. TREES AT ENFIELD TOWN STATION
Mr Cockle had raised a concern about the need for pruning/felling some trees in the area of Enfield Town Station. There were various opinions as to who had responsibility for these trees and David Taylor undertook to clarify the situation.
ACTION: DAVID TAYLOR
13. RAIL FARE RISES
REPORTED that fares were now capped. However the Group raised a concern that the trains were still overcrowded with one in five people standing during rush hour periods.
14. RAIL IMPROVEMENT WORKS
REPORTED that the Lea Valley Line to Stratford between Ponders End and Enfield Lock would be the subject of improvement works between 8 November and 23 December 14. The work would be undertaken overnight and during the weekend.
15. WOOD GREEN TOWN DEVELOPMENT
REPORTED that development was now underway and would continue until March 2015. The work would affect buses along the High Road with some being curtailed early. Turnpike Lane was now closed until October 14. Mr Smith outlined some of the services affected and added that there was wrong destination information on some buses.
16. PUBLIC TRANSPORT CONSULTATIVE GROUP
The Group were informed that it was intended to ensure that PTCG had a more strategic role in the future and would avoid any duplication of work undertaken by ETUG. It was anticipated that there would be various changes within the PTCG and it was yet to be clarified how the two groups could work together. David Taylor undertook to feed back on this matter.
ACTION: DAVID TAYLOR