What is the reason for the proposed change?
The Heath continues to grow in popularity, with over seven
million visitors each year. This intensity of use inevitably means
that the City of London Corporation, which owns and manages the
Heath at no cost to any taxpayer, has a major duty to seek to
ensure that the Heath is as safe as possible for its users.
The proposals will reduce the larger vehicle movements on
Parliament Hill and on Hampstead Heath as a whole. The proposals
will remove the conflict between vehicles and pedestrians at the
Highgate Road entrance which is the single busiest place on
Hampstead.
Altering the layout of access routes to Parliament Hill will in
no way mean more vehicles on the Heath, but rather will ensure area
is made safer for all users.
What exactly are you planning to do?
The proposals can be further understood as follows:
- Having explored a number of alternative access routes from
Highgate Road, the creation of an access way for service vehicles
from Gordon House Road to the rear of the staff Depot, utilising
the existing access way and the construction of a new pedestrian
access path was considered the most appropriate design and
engineering solution to make the Parliament Hill area safer for
pedestrians.
- The only “new” section of track runs along the southern and
eastern edges of the existing cricket field. The track will be
approximately three metres wide and 200 metres long. Essential
heath support vehicles, which currently gain access from the
Highgate Road entrance, such as contractors and postal vans will
travel at a maximum speed of 5mph on the track.
- As part of the overall Masterplan we plan to
reduce the operational aspects such as storage and
diesel tanks from the Depot at Parliament Hill. They will be moved
to a more appropriate location off Hampstead Lane where they will
have access off a main road without pedestrian access issues. There
will be an overall reduction of vehicle traffic within the
Parliament Hill Triangle area. We also propose using existing
buildings as the headquarters for Heath administration which will
hopefully improve services to Heath users (these offices are
currently located in the Archway Road).
- There is one access point from Lissenden Gardens that already
crosses and will continue to cross this service route. With careful
design the City believes that appropriate measures can be made to
accommodate a safe pedestrian entrance (there is a similar
situation at Golders Hill Park that has operated effectively). Such
a solution needs in any event to be found, whether or not the
proposed service vehicle access route is implemented.
We fully understand that residents, particularly of Lissenden
Gardens are concerned about change happening on their doorstep. To
address these concerns both the Chairman of the Heath Management
Committee and the Superintendent have met with the residents of
Lissenden Gardens in September and December 2008. The City of
London wants further detailed discussions to take place with
Lissenden Gardens and other residents and Heath users.
It is important to emphasise that one of the key issues that the
City of London is seeking to address with the proposed changes is
improved accessibility and safety for Heath
users.
Currently the main vehicular access point to Parliament Hill is
off Highgate Road, which is the busiest pedestrian access point
onto the Heath (there are in excess of 3,500 pedestrian movements
each day). In 2003 there was a fatality at Golders Hill Park
involving a collision between a contractor’s vehicle and an elderly
man on a shared access route. Therefore the segregation of vehicles
and pedestrians was considered to be a key objective. This is what
has already taken place at the West Heath Avenue entrance to
Golders Hill Park.
What consultation process has taken place?
In 2007 the City of London Corporation produced a new management
plan for Hampstead Heath. This involved a large consultation
process with local, regional and special interest groups. The
consultation highlighted the fact that the Parliament Hill Triangle
has become an extremely important gateway to the whole Heath for
millions of visitors and potential visitors and also an area of
possible conflict between pedestrians and motorised vehicles.
To address this issue, in Part 1 of the Heath Strategic
Management Plan there are several references to the importance of
improving safety for Heath visitors. Specifically Essential Action
A10 states we must “review pedestrian entry points and the conflict
between pedestrians and delivery vehicles (especially at Parliament
Hill depot).”
Although the Plan looked at all aspects of Heath usage, given
that the Parliament Hill area has the highest number of visitors
(between 3-4 million pedestrian movements have been recorded per
annum), is a focal point for sporting activities and close to
communities of deprivation, it was considered to be one of the most
urgent issues to address.
Since then the City Corporation has produced a Masterplan,
detailing proposed future improvements to the Parliament Hill
Triangle. This has been produced in conjunction with our Heath
partners and following the usual rigorous consultation process.
Details of this Masterplan can be found on the Management and
Consultation webpage. The principle aim of the Masterplan is to
bring the rural aspects for which the Heath is renowned down into
the municipal part of Parliament Hill, this will be achieved
through landscaping and realigning paths.
Overall the results of the consultation identified significant
support for all the main principles of the Masterplan, with 84% of
respondents giving a rating of between 3 and 5 where 5 is totally
agree and 1 is totally disagree. The new service route has been
specifically supported by many local amenity and conservation
groups represented on the statutorily-established Hampstead Heath
Consultative Committee including both the Heath and Hampstead
Society and the Highgate Society, following wide consultation. A
copy of a sketch proposal showing the intentions for this area can
also be viewed.
Are you building a new road on Hampstead Heath?
The term ‘road’ implies a highway; in fact the service lane is
just 3 m wide and utilises an existing tarmaced route, already used
by vehicles. There will be a dedicated pedestrian route provided.
The only “new” section runs along the southern and eastern edges of
the existing cricket field. The track will be approximately 3
metres wide and 200 metres long. Essential Heath support vehicles,
which currently gain access from the Highgate Road entrance, such
as contractors and postal vans will travel at a maximum speed of
5mph on the track. The proposal has the “in principle” support of
Camden's Highway Officers and was generally supported in the
consultation. The proposals will reduce the overall vehicle
movements on Parliament Hill and on Hampstead Heath as a whole. The
proposals will remove the conflict between vehicles and pedestrians
at the Highgate Road entrance which is the single busiest place on
Hampstead.
Is it not a mistake to introduce the first ever vehicle-only
track on Hampstead Heath?
After examining the Briefing Note, which is available for
download, it is easy to understand the risks for visitors
associated with the existing shared use entrance off Highgate Road.
In any case, this is not the ‘first ever vehicle-only road on
Hampstead Heath; a similar service route with separate pedestrian
only footpath exists, at the West Heath Avenue entrance to Golders
Hill Park.
Why have vehicles on Hampstead Heath?
Of course it would be better to have no vehicles on the Heath at
all - but that is not realistic. We aim to keep this heavily used
London "green lung" clean and maintained for the over seven million
visitors who use it every year. Some service vehicle access is
necessary: the rubbish has to be carted away, the toilets cleaned,
the trees and grass maintained. Essential Heath support vehicles
such as contractors and postal vans will travel at a maximum speed
of 5mph on the track.
The City of London Corporation’s works hard to make the Heath
safer for all users as well as to ensure that the day to day
operation of the Heath runs smoothly. Managing a site as large as
Hampstead Heath does necessitate City staff and external
contractors using motorised vehicles, the aim of this project is to
reduce the risks that have been identified.
Isn’t the track just to Heath Staff can park outside their
offices?
Not at all . Most Heath staff will be required to park at the
Lido and walk to their offices as the number of parking spaces at
the Parliament Hill staff office will be cut to two.
Will the road replace the footpath from Gordon House Road?
No, and it mustn’t be forgotten that the existing route from
Gordon House Road up to the junction just south west of the
bandstand is already used by vehicles.
Will there be new City of London offices on the site of the
current depot?
There are already some offices within this site. Our proposal is
to move the stores and vehicle fuel supply functions to Kenwood
Staff Yard, and utilise the vacated buildings for office functions
currently housed off-site on Archway Road. Bringing the office
functions together at Parliament Hill Fields will result in better
organised and more efficient services to Heath users. There will be
an overall reduction of vehicle traffic within the Parliament Hill
Triangle area.
Why do we need change?
If the ever more-visited Hampstead Heath is to remain a green
oasis, there have to be some changes to help it cope with the
pressures of the urban citizenry that surround it. This is a modest
and carefully-planned change that will enhance the Heath for users.
The proposals will reduce the overall vehicle movements on
Parliament Hill and on Hampstead Heath as a whole. The proposals
will remove the conflict between vehicles and pedestrians at the
Highgate Road entrance which is the single busiest place on
Hampstead.
How can I find out more?
To help clarify further exactly what is proposed the Chairman of
the Hampstead Heath Management Committee is going to hold a site
meeting at 10.00am on the 14 February 2009, starting at the Lido
car park to walk the route and explain the proposals. Readers are
most welcome to attend.