As work on the first mini-Holland cycle scheme gets underway in Kingston we look at how the other boroughs are spending the cycling money

The revised Portsmouth Road cycle track plans

The project was shrouded in controversy at the beginning of the year when it was announced the cost had doubled and artist impressions of the scheme showed just a painted line separating traffic and cyclists.

But after extensive public consultation the scheme was redesigned and Councillor Terry Paton, who is looking after the mini-Holland project, says it is now time to “crack on”.

Coun Paton said: “I am delighted that our first scheme is about to get under way. “This particular scheme will dramatically enhance cycle safety and pedestrian routes along Portsmouth Road.

“The public consultation that we ran earlier this year clearly showed support for the scheme and, after a lot of preparatory work, it is time to crack on with the main works so that everyone can benefit from the improvements.”

After the public consultation in January a two-way cycle track segregated from road traffic, new steps and ramps to the Queen’s Promenade as well as additional zebra crossings were added to the design.

This more than doubled the original £1.4m cost to £3.2m, but appeased cycling groups.

Jon Fray, from Kingston Cycling Campaign, said: “We are pleased that the council listened to our concerns and feel they really improved the scheme.

“This path will not just benefit cyclists, but pedestrians and motorists too.”

Last year Kingston became one of three London boroughs to be awarded £33m by the London Mayor’s office to improve cycling.

Below is a look at how the other two boroughs - Waltham Forest and Enfield- have been spending their share of the £100m pot.

WALTHAM FOREST 

Mini-Holland protesters outside Waltham Forest town hall (Barnaby Davis) 

Hundreds of furious mini-Holland protesters were denied access to a crucial council vote on Waltham Forest’s mini-Holland project last week.

The anti-mini-Holland pressure group, E17 Streets for All, organised a protest outside the borough’s town hall against road closures caused by the project that they claim are “tearing the community apart”.

Rival petitions from both anti and pro mini-Holland groups gathered thousands of signatures before last Thursday’s council meeting.

Although the Labour-controlled council has completed one mini-Holland scheme many residents say they are fed-up with the road closures going on.

It has also been criticised for not consulting residents properly.

Aarif Gearay, of E17 Streets for All, told the council the group was not completely against the £33m scheme, but the road closures could not go on.

”It is very sad, but with such a strong majority, Labour thinks it can do whatever it wants,” the 29-year-old told the Waltham Forest Guardian, a sister paper.

”We are just asking for a more equal scheme that takes into account the rich and the poor, the cyclists, the disabled and elderly, who were not consulted fairly.”

So many people wanted to come to Waltham Forest’s meeting last Thursday’s that it became a ticketed event.

During the meeting the council agreed to improve engagement with residents, businesses, the disabled, and emergency services.

Councillor Grace Williams said: “Mini-Holland is about road safety and road safety is not just about accidents, it is about encouraging people to get out of their cars.”

Iain Duncan Smith, MP for Chingford and Woodford Green, has also waded into the debate saying the consultation for the £33 million scheme was carried out ‘incorrectly’ by the council.   
He told the Waltham Forest Guardian: "My constituents are up in arms and I call upon the council to rethink and re-consult on this issue."

ENFIELD

Enfield Council is still consulting on its six cycling schemes

Enfield Council is still consulting on its six mini-Holland schemes and will not start building until at least the spring next year.

Concerns were raised when the Labour-controlled council first won the money in 2014 and announced it would be turning some streets into bus and bike only roads.

The council also proposed changing some of the one way streets into two-ways.

But the council has spent months consulting and has seen no protests over the project.

An Enfield council spokesman said: “It is a lot of money and we do want to get this right.

“It is a very wide and long consultation and we know that.

”Our consultation process has been staggered and we are consulting on each scheme in depth and individually.

”We hope to start building next year, but I cannot say when yet.

“The most important thing is we get the project right.”

KINGTSON TIMELINE

January 2015: Cycling groups were left distinctly unimpressed with early proposals for the first phase of Kingston's mini-Holland project.

March 2015: Cycling groups said they were "very impressed" at Kingston’s revised Portsmouth Road mini-Holland proposal.

July 2015: Costs of the first Portsmouth Road mini-Holland project soared from £1.4m to £3.2m

July 2015: Thames Water demanded almost the entire £1.9m budget for the second phase of the mini-Holland project be spent on the land it owns, which they said could fix damaged pipes.

August 2015: Terrorist attacks, undiscovered unexploded bombs and a potential to poison the London water supply were all listed as reasons against a proposed cycle path between New Malden and Raynes Park by nature lovers.

October 2015: Rival protest groups for and against the mini-Holland New Malden and Raynes Park link presented their petitions to Kingston Council.

October 2015: Councillors warned Kingston could lose its £33m mini-Holland funding if it did not start spending it faster.

November 2015: Work begins on the first phase of the mini-Holland project.