Examination of Witnesses (Questions 11920
- 11939)
11920. It starts off with him publishing, as
I understand it, a draft order and taking representations on that
draft?
(Mr Zamit) Yes, we have experience with that.
We must say ours and others' representations seem to be ignored
by the Mayor, but we would make representation, as we have on
many aspects. Generally, they still go through as they were proposed
normally.
11921. If changes were proposed, there would
be a procedure that would be followed that would enable PRACT
to object to any potential changes?
(Mr Zamit) Yes, I agree with that. All I am
saying is when we have made other representations, it falls on
deaf ears in the Mayor's office.
11922. Now let us turn and deal with the taxi
issue, if I can call it that. You are aware, are you not, of the
proposals to use the Red Star deck, if I can call it that, the
land to the east of Paddington, to provide a point for the setdown
of passengers by taxis and those taxis access the Red Star, as
I understand it, via the bridge?
(Mr Zamit) The new bridge, that is right.
11923. If that were to remain permanently, that
would meet your concerns about taxis, would it not?
(Mr Zamit) If that was to remain permanently,
that would address our concerns, but at the moment, as I understand
it, they may be contemplating that, but that is not the matter
before us at the moment.
11924. Let me explain the position. I am not
being critical here, but the proposal at the moment now is to
keep taxis on the Red Star decking indefinitely.
(Mr Zamit) We were informed of that on 6 June
when we went to this meeting. It was the first we heard about
it. If that has now been replaced in the Bill in front of us,
then that is an advantage. That scheme is now being replaced?
925. That is indeed the position.
(Mr Zamit) That does not go out for any more
consultation?
11926. As I understand it, that is going to
come forward in an additional provision. I am being corrected,
there is no need for an additional provision. The scheme has just
been changed so the taxis are kept on the Red Star deck indefinitely.
(Mr Zamit) There is no public consultation?
11927. We already have the powers to do that
within the Bill. So far as Span 4 is concerned, I think you raised
concerns about the inter-relationship between Red Star decking
and Span 4.
(Mr Zamit) Yes.
11928. Is it your understanding that Span 4
and the Red Star deck scheme are mutually exclusive, that you
cannot have both together?
(Mr Zamit) I would think that if Crossrail
have changed it, it is going to be a permanent position on the
east side by the Red Star parcel. I cannot imagine that the construction
of a deck with the proposed buildings above it could take place
while that arrangement is in hand. It seems to me that if the
Span 4 development is going to go ahead by British Rail, for the
period of construction of the lower parts of the development,
the taxis would have to revert back to the west side.
11929. Yes, and so the potential importance
from the Committee's point of view of the Span 4 development would
be a temporary impact during the construction of Span 4 during
which a solution for taxis at Paddington would have to be found?
(Mr Zamit) Yes, and I do not know when that
would be, but if it was going to be in several years' time when
the taxis went back to the western side, until we have the revised
traffic forecast and figures, I am not confident that the arrangement
for the taxis to exit on the west side going up Eastbourne Terrace
are sufficient.
11930. One of the things we would need to take
into account when thinking about what the potential solution for
taxis would be is whether or not Crossrail was already operating
at that time. That would be relevant, would it not?
(Mr Zamit) Yes.
11931. Because Crossrail, once operating, will
significantly reduce the demand for taxis at Paddington, would
it not?
(Mr Zamit) That is why we are looking for further
forecast to May. Although that may make sense, until Crossrail
is in operation, we really do not know what effect there will
be on the taxis; there may be reduction. We do not know. Paddington
may still prove to be a popular place to alight and take a taxi
from. We are asking for additional information figures to be ascertained
to see what effect it has had on previous forecast figures.
11932. I see. You do not accept necessarily
that the introduction of a Crossrail route that runs from Heathrow
through Paddington and into the West End and the city will reduce
taxi usage at Paddington?
(Mr Zamit) I am not in a position. I have not
got the figures to say that would necessarily happen. I can see
it may happen, but I still think Paddington is a very popular
stopping destination now and for places to go to the north of
Westminster and places to the south. Paddington could still be,
particularly with the taxi rank, a more convenient place to get
a taxi than stopping at another stop on Crossrail. Because most
people who come in by Crossrail or from Heathrow, if they have
got luggage, will still want to take a taxi to finish their journey.
I still think it will be a very popular stopping-off place, the
main stopping-off place, as you enter into London.
11933. People who want to go to the West End
or the city will get off Crossrail at Paddington and get a taxi
rather than staying on Crossrail?
(Mr Zamit) Not necessarily the city, but certainly
for the West End. I do not know how easy it is going to be to
get a taxi on the stop-off places past Paddington in the West
End. It is not easy to get a taxi now and I am not sure how easy
it will be when you get off a Crossrail train in the West End
at Oxford Circus or Tottenham Court Road.
11934. Mr Taylor: Thank you very much
indeed. I have no further questions.
Re-examined by Mr Walton
11935. Mr Walton: Mr Zamit, could we
have the bendi bus swept path.[41]
Westbourne Terrace in the southbound direction carries traffic
coming off the motorway?
(Mr Zamit) Yes, that is right.
11936. And does that traffic proceed down Westbourne
Terrace in one lane or two lanes?
(Mr Zamit) At present traffic goes from Westbourne
Terrace and Bishops Bridge Road or from the A40, previously the
motorway, and it goes down in two lanes in a southerly direction,
most of it going down to the end of Westbourne Terrace to join
up with the direction system for the Bayswater Road and across
the park.
11937. At the approach to the traffic lights
at the intersection between Westbourne Terrace and Craven Road,
is the traffic in one lane or two lanes?
(Mr Zamit) I walk this road almost every day.
The traffic comes off the A40 or down and the way the lights are
sequenced is they are using both lanes. There are banned left
and right turns and it flows pretty well now. The lights change,
it is a steady movement and it continues through, but any introduction
of bus stands, bus stops and in particular buses having to go,
will severely restrict this free-flowing traffic movement. I believe
it will cause significant traffic delays and backup, as I have
said before, with resulting noise and, in particular these, days
pollution by the introduction of a bus service which necessitates
having to turn left slowly into Craven Road. The number of bus
routes this is going to use is going to cause a major backup which
will stretch, in my opinion, quite a long way up, probably past
Chilworth Street up Westbourne Terrace.
11938. Could I just ask you to look at the swept
diagram. It appears from that diagram the path of the bendi bus
is not in the inner lane of Westbourne Terrace.
(Mr Zamit) No. I think they proposed a bus
stop near there. They are having to manoeuvre into the outside
lane in order to enable them to do a left turn. That will cause,
as I say, considerable backup because it is a difficult but necessary
manoeuvre for them to get into that outside lane.
11939. Could I turn to the announcement that
the Network phase of the scheme is not going to go ahead.
41 Committee Ref: A131, Westbourne Terrace/Craven
Road Bendi bus swept path (WESTCC-12004-032). Back
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