The following article was originally published earlier today by City AM.
Transport for London (TfL) and Westminster city council could face another clash in court over a decision to block a cycle superhighway project in north-west London.
Construction of the cycle superhighway 11 (CS11) came to a grinding halt in August after Westminster council mounted a successful legal challenge against the project, which is intended to link Swiss Cottage and the West End.
If built, the superhighway will replace the Swiss Cottage gyratory and separate cyclists from other vehicles. Cyclists currently have to contend with up to five lanes of one-way traffic.
CS11 is the second project of Sadiq Khan's that Westminster has derailed, following its decision to pull its support for the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street, in a move the mayor called a "betrayal of millions of Londoners".
The council said it lodged the CS11 review because TfL had failed to provide it with detailed assessments for traffic modelling, displacement and air pollution, with some residents expressing concern that motorists would seek to avoid potential traffic jams by diverting along residential streets.
Westminster councillor and cabinet member for environment and city management Tim Mitchell said TfL's decision was "extremely disappointing news".
“We’ve called and written to TfL asking them to get around a table and work with us on a solution to cycle superhighway 11 but they are clearly not interested.
“TfL has already lost in court once. We want to do the best thing by residents and cyclists, and that means accepting the judge’s verdict and working together on a way forward, but instead TfL are trying to cut corners with another costly court battle.
“We don’t know what they’ve got to hide. We say to them, share the additional modelling you promised and let’s get on with planning CS11.”
In its submission to the Court of Appeal, TfL claims that the council's legal challenge "seriously undermines the ability of the mayor ... to secure transport facilities in London".
It said the previous judge was wrong to conclude that Westminster had the ability to "completely refuse" consent for the project. "The legislation provides for one transport strategy, not a strategy for all London bar Westminster," it said.
London’s walking and cycling commissioner Will Norman said: “Cycle superhighway 11 will play a crucial role in making the area safer for cyclists and pedestrians, removing the outdated, dangerous, and traffic-dominated gyratory at Swiss Cottage.
“There is an urgent need for more safe cycling and walking routes into central London, and Westminster council is obstructing plans that will improve the local environment and road safety for all Londoners.”
