I just wanted to provide a response and update to some of the issues raised within this thread - a thank you to the designers and council officers for providing further information and explanations.

Purpose of the scheme

The key scheme objectives in no particular order are to:

• Reduce speed to 20mph
• Manage traffic & parking
• Support local economy
• Enhance environment
• Improve sense of arrival in Forest Hill
• Increase pedestrian activity

Consultation

• 2 Stakeholder meetings Feb 2015 and March 2016
• Presentations at 3 Forest Hill Assembly meetings
• Public consultation on concept design held between 29th May and 30th June 2015
• Public consultation on preliminary design held between 11th December to 25th Jan 2016.

Next steps

• Cellar surveys being carried out March/ April 2016 –( primary purpose is so that the existence and condition of cellars are known before construction works start. Many Victorian-era high street properties have basements and quite a few of those extend under the footway. Glass cube skylights are a sign that basements exists (see attached image from Google of no’s 2 & 2a Dartmouth Rd). When the footway above is dug up and replaced by improvement works, it is not unheard of for the cellar to be breached or damage to occur. Doing the survey helps lessen the risk of damage for both the council and the property owner)
• Detail design starts April for 3 months
• Scheme plans publicised September 2016
• Construction starts early 2017
• Estimated 6 month construction period for completion late spring/ early summer 2017

Other issues

Frontage outside of shops

The council are at present are examining land registry records and highway records. They also pointed out that although land may be owned by businesses, it can at the same time be designated as highway and subject to highway laws and rights.

Loading bay at Laurels

Regarding the loading bays outside the Florist, the project co-ordinators have reservations about moving the loading bays to the other side of the road as they are keen to provide bays where loading activity takes place, otherwise it is highly likely that businesses will continue to load where it is most convenient - crossing the road with plants etc is not ideal and could easily lead to unofficial loading. It is always best to cater for business activity and design these issues out, rather than rely on enforcement which will always be ad hoc and subject to human nature. I have been assured that they will do what they can to allow a display at the florists, and are sure the design team can look again to see if anything can be done to minimise the impact of the bays - whether they can be offset slightly for instance.

The other concern with introducing bays outside Paddy Power is that these would significantly detract from the public space that we are trying to create. The strong view from the initial community-led design workshop was to create an attractive space for seating/community use and much of the design philosophy has been built around the idea of creating spaces/places. A loading bay in this location may impact on the existing tree canopies and would significantly reduce the size, quality and utility of the space, and we are constrained if the telecoms companies do not allow us relocate the telephone boxes as planned. Therefore, if we can avoid it by the solution above that will be our preference.

For further information contact: transport@lewisham.gov.uk