Issue No.: A1 Step 1: Clarifying Aims · Document No.: F1457 Issue No.: A1 Step 1: Clarifying Aims Q1. Outline the aims/objectives/scope of this piece of work Tolworth is a district

Title: Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) form Document No.: F1457

Issue No.: A1

Step 1: Clarifying Aims

Q1. Outline the aims/objectives/scope of this piece of work

Tolworth is a district centre located adjacent to the A3 in outer London in the Royal Borough of Kingston.

New developments are planned in the area adjacent to the A3 and Tolworth junction that includes over 1300 new homes and new office development for Lidl that will bring up to 750 jobs into the area.

These developments are likely to increase the demand on carriageway space on the approaches to Tolworth junction roundabout. Traffic modelling has shown that the traffic impacts of the committed developments (which included car parking numbers not supported by TfL) will result in a significant adverse impact on an already poor road performance including bus journey times.

Tolworth junction performs poorly against a number of the TfL outcomes set out in the draft Mayor’s Transport Strategy and Healthy Streets approach. High volumes of traffic use the junction and create a poor environment for pedestrians and cyclists and result in poor air quality. Delays and congestion negatively impact on the reliability and journey time of all vehicles including buses.

The outcome definition work concluded that as a number of large developments (including a new Lidl HQ) at Tolworth are already committed it is critical that improvements at Tolworth Roundabout are delivered in the short to medium term to mitigate their impacts and support future growth in the area.

The outcome definition work also recommended that the potential improvements identified at the Hook junction could be a beneficial additional longer term intervention to help support longer term growth aspiration in the area. However, this will be considered separately and is not within the scope of this project.

TfL has worked closely with RB Kingston upon Thames to undertake outcome definition workthat has agreed scheme objectives and identified a potential improvement scheme at Tolworth Roundabout.

The proposed scheme aims to:

Manage forecasted congestion Deliver bus journey time improvements in the area Extend the existing Greenway segregated cycle link south improving the

connection for cyclists to Tolworth station Improve the quality of the street environment

During construction, attention will be given to ensure barriers to accessibility, safety and inclusion are managed and minimised (see Appendix i)


Issue No.: A1

Project Scope This scheme seeks to address a number of the local project objectives, and whilst not transformational in nature, it would deliver good benefits in the short to medium term supporting the delivery of the consented developments planned in the area. The scope of the scheme is limited to the approach roads to the Tolworth Roundabout on the Kingston Road with some minor changes to north side of the roundabout and a bus stop on Tolworth Rise North:


Issue No.: A1

Project Timetable

A number of developments at Tolworth are already consented, so it is critical that proposed improvements at Tolworth Roundabout are delivered to mitigate the impact of these developments

Further feasibility work will focus on surveys, utilities searches, further design development and work with property and legal around land acquisition. Presently, it is assumed that a single stage public consultation will take place after Gate 2 during the concept design stage. This is subject to the production of a consultation strategy in the feasibility stage and the outputs from that informing the consultation strategy.

As noted in section 1 the project likely requires land purchase. While every effort will be made to acquire by private agreement, this may require the application for compulsory purchase powers, introducing a significant unknown into the project timeline.

Outline assumptions on the amount of time required has been included in the table below, however, this is subject to production of a full schedule once a project manager has been commissioned to work on the project.

Table 1: Summary of project timetable

Stage Gate Milestone completion date

Gate 2 – Option Selection April 2019

Public consultation October 2019

Gate 3 – Concept Design July 2020

Gate 4 – Detailed Design December 2020

Gate 5 – Construction February 2022

Gate 6 – Project Close September 2022

Outcomes and Benefits

To keep London moving, working and growing and make life in our city better, continuous improvement of London’s Transport Infrastructure is needed so as to meet future demand and changing uses of land and buildings.

TfL’s commitment to make Every Journey Matter includes the ambition to be a customer-focused, commercially driven service provider and the envy of transport authorities, cities and Governments around the world.

TfL is continuously striving to achieve six priorities:

1. To put customers and users at the core of all of our decision making

2. To drive improvement in reliability and safety across our network

3. To accelerate the growth and increase the capacity of our network

4. To invest in our people and lead them to be the best they can be every day

5. To cost less, be more affordable and to generate more income

6. To exploit technology to produce better and faster results


Issue No.: A1

Objectives matched with TfL Outcomes:

Objectives TfL Outcomes (MTS)

Support current and future growth in the Tolworth area

Good Growth

Unlocking

Active

Safe

Qualtity

Reliability

Accessible

Connected

Green

Space efficient

Encourage a mode shift to bus by improving the journey times and reliability of buses serving Tolworth town centre and station

Encouraging more cycling and walking by enhancing connectivity across the A3

Improve quality of urban realm and facilitate active travel

Improve road network efficiency and reduce congestion by increasing carriageway capacity

This scheme addresses a number of the local project objectives, and whilst not transformational in nature, it would deliver good benefits in the short to medium term supporting the delivery of the consented developments planned in the area.

The desired outcomes from the scheme are:

Address existing congestion by increasing the efficiency and traffic capacity of Tolworth roundabout and wider local road network

Improve the bus connectivity with faster and more reliable service

Improve pedestrian and cycle connectivity with Tolworth rail services and town centre

Facilitate planned local developments.

This will be achieved with the following key scope items:

A new dedicated lane for traffic turning left from Kingston Road on to the A3

Strengthening parpets on the roundabout to widen carriageway and increase capacity

Extend Greenway along Kingston Road

Improved signalised junctions with new signs, road markings and SCOOT activation

Improved urban realm with new trees, landscaping, lighting and wayfinding


Issue No.: A1

Q2. Does this work impact on staff or customers? Please provide details of how.

The project will impact on pedestrians, bus passengers, cyclists and motorists during construction and this will managed safely ensuring that there is minimal disruption. The infrastructure changes will have the following impacts: Pedestrians The project depends on the removal of one subway (south west side of the roundabout) which is least used. The project also proposes to remove a set of stairs to a subway on the south eastern side of the roundabout. Legion modelling was completed to ascertain the impact of the scheme comparing base data collected in 2017 with a Future Base for 2021. Overall, there is negligible impact on pedestrians in closing the south western subway and stairs on the eastern side. There are slight increases in journey times and walking distances along with some reductions in walking speeds, but these are to be expected with the re-routing of pedestrians from the existing south-western subway to using the main surface level crossing on the south side of the roundabout. In addition, the pedestrian comfort levels all remain within an acceptable range, suggesting that there is little congestion and pedestrians will retain their current free movement around the footways and crossings. Cyclists The project proposes to address the existing gap from Tolworth Town Centre to Tolworth rail station via an off-carriageway cycleway. This will give cyclists the opportunity to have a continuous journey off the main carriageway which will be safer and reduce journey times. Bus passengers There are six scheduled bus routes, three school routes and a special service managed by London Bus Services Ltd that traverse and depend on the Tolworth Roundabout to maintain reliable journey times. Applying re-calibrated modelling data to Bus journey times with the proposed measures delivered by the project, journey time improvements of 56.64 seconds (13.9%) in the AM peaks and 20.65 seconds (4.78%) in the PM peaks is achieved. All traffic There will be a severe adverse impact on journey times from the predicted future increase in traffic volumes if no investment is made at the junction. The introduction of the 4th traffic lane on the Kingston Road, northern approach to Tolworth Roundabout, will improve journey times by an average of 31.64 seconds (9.3%) in the AM peaks and 36.3 seconds (8.19%) in the PM peak.


Issue No.: A1

Step 2: The Evidence Base

Q3. Record here the data you have gathered about the diversity of the people potentially impacted by this work. You should also include any research on the issues affecting inclusion in relation to your work Consider evidence in relation to all relevant protected characteristics;

- Age - Other – refugees, low income, homeless people - Disability including carers1 - Pregnancy/maternity - Gender - Race - Gender reassignment - Religion or belief - Marriage/civil partnership - Sexual orientation

1 Including those with physical, mental and hidden impairments as well as carers who provide unpaid care for a friend or family member who due to illness, disability, or a mental health issue cannot cope without their support

Pedestrian counts were commissioned during Outline Definition by City Planning in 2017 and focussed on crossing and subway use at 15 locations in AM and PM peaks during one day.

The data has informed the basis for the Business Case and the calculation of ambience benefits, but more detailed surveys will be required to evaluate predicted use of the proposed extension of the Greenway. This will be collected during Concept Design

Modelling used; Legion modelling using pedestrian counts ONE and VISSIM modelling to identify traffic movements and flows Traffic counts to identify cycling counts

Modelling outputs Overall, the changes in infrastructure demonstrate a slightly adverse but negligible impact on pedestrians. There are slight increases in journey times and walking distances along with some reductions in walking speeds, however these are to be expected with the re-routing of pedestrians from the existing western subway to using the main surface level crossing south of the roundabout. In addition, the pedestrian comfort levels all remain within an acceptable range, suggesting that there is little congestion and pedestrians will retain their current free movement around the footways and crossings. Please see Appendix 2 for detailed analysis from Legion modelling.


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Crime and Disorder Assessment Rational completed by CPOS in 2018

The majority crimes were related to cycle theft, with intelligence reports around travel fraud for routes 406 and 281

From July 2017 to January 2018, 25 crimes have been identified in the area, of which to note:

5 are for Violence & Sexual Offences 3 for Criminal Damage

Most Violent and Sexual Crimes occur outside the scope of the project; 1 crime is recorded near or on Tolworth Rail station.

There are no recorded crimes within the roundabout at Tolworth The preferred recommendation is to remove all subways; but the

project proposes only to remove one pedestrian subway and part of the access to a second subway are subject to public consultation.

The scheme will include widened footways and an extension of the existing “Greenway”. This will enhance natural surveillance in the area and deter crime and anti social behaviour.

Improving signage and wayfinding has been noted from this report and will be considered when the project approaches Detailed Design (Stage 3).

Maintenance of trees and planting will also be considered post delivery and during Benefits Realisation.

The detailed CPOS report is a restricted document and not for publication. It can be made available on request.


Issue No.: A1

Step 3: Impact

Q4. Given the evidence listed in step 2, consider and describe what potential short, medium and longer term negative impacts this work could have on people related to their protected characteristics?

Protected Characteristic Explain the potential negative impact

Age Y The shared foot and cycleway (extension of the Greenway) on the Kingston Road risks conflict between pedestrians and cyclists

The closure of the subway on the south western side of the roundabout will cause small increases in journey times and walking distances along with some reductions in walking speeds. This will specifically affect pedestrians accessing the stairs from Hook Rise South which is currently the least used of all the subways.

Measure Time Conclusion

Journey times

AM and PM 25% more journeys taking greater than two minutes to complete, compared to the Future Base model run and 23% more than in the Base model run.

Walking speed

AM 12% fewer pedestrians experience a Fast walking speed in the AM Option model run compared to the Future Base model run.

PM 11% fewer pedestrians experience a Fast walking speed in the PM Option model run compared to the Future Base model run

Walking distance AM and PM 22% fewer pedestrians have a walking distance of 120m or less and 22% more pedestrians have a walking distance of greater than 120m.

Disability including carers

Y The shared footway and cycleway (extension of the

Greenway) on the Kingston Road risks conflict between pedestrians and cyclists

The closure of the subway on the south western side of the roundabout will cause small increases in journey times and walking distances along with some reductions in walking speeds. . This will specifically affect pedestrians accessing the stairs from Hook Rise South which is currently the least used of all the subways.


Journey times AM and PM 25% more journeys taking greater

than two minutes to complete,


Issue No.: A1

compared to the Future Base model run and 23% more than in the Base model run.

Walking speed




Gender N None

Gender reassignment N None

Marriage/civil partnership N None

Other – e.g. refugees, low income, homeless people

Y The closure of the subway on the south western side of the

roundabout will cause small increases in journey times and walking distances along with some reductions in walking speeds. This will specifically affect pedestrians accessing the stairs from Hook Rise South which is currently the least used of all the subways.


Journey times


Walking speed





Issue No.: A1

Pregnancy/maternity Y Women are more likely than men to be travelling with buggies

and/or shopping, and to be travelling with children. will find that some journey times from the western side of Kingston Road will increase slightly due to the removal of a subway.


Journey times


Walking speed




Race N None identified

Religion or belief N None identified

Sexual orientation Y/N

None identifed

Q5. Given the evidence listed in step 2, consider and describe what potential positive impacts this work could have on people related to their protected characteristics?

Protected Characteristic

Explain the potential positive impact

Age Y Cycling is currently a more popular mode of transport amongst people in the 25 to 40 age group than amongst under 25s and over 65s. The reasons for this are likely to be complex but one key reason is perceived lack of safety of cycling in London. This project aims to improve cycling safety and the perception of safety through the extension of the shared footway/cycle way provision of a segregated cycle lane. This will help encourage people who are under 25 and over 65 to cycle, allowing them to realise the health and financial benefits that cycling can deliver. Lower


Issue No.: A1

numbers of Londoners aged 65 and over cycle as a means of transport. Eight per cent sometimes use a bicycle to get around London compared with 17 per cent of the wider London population

The project will provide a more pleasant and accessible urban realm environment through the extension of a shared footway and cycle way. This will benefit some older people in particular, who generally find it harder to cross the road and who will benefit from uninterrupted walking. In addition, safer crossings will benefit younger people as the area is served by three school bus routes.

Underpasses are perceived to be a risk to personal safety as there is little visibility and natural surveillance. The TfL CPOS Crime and Disorder analysis recommends the removal of underpasses. It is therefore potentially beneficial to improve at level crossings as an alternative to the south western subway that is proposed to be removed.

Improved pedestrian accessibility will be delivered with easier crossings with SCOOT traffic management.

Enabling walking and cycling for as many as possible as part of a journey, or as the entire journey will be an important aspect of reducing emissions and improving Londoners’ health. Many Londoners suffer health problems from lack of physical activity. The number of walking trips per day for people under 20 between 2001 and 2011 has decreased. Similarly, in the period 2013-14 obesity in children in London was over 18% higher than across the rest of England. Transforming the area into a more attractive environment will help to encourage more to walk.

Footways on the eastern side of the Kingston Road will be improved which will benefit local residents and improve access to a bus stop.

Improved wayfinding will be achieved with Legible London signage.

Consideration will be given to creating a safe feeling with light and open spaces which will aid those with a disability

Disability including carers

Y This project aims to encourage active travel through the delivery of

improved pedestrian crossings, renewed footways and a more pleasant, sociable and accessible urban realm.

Research conducted and published in Overcoming Barriers And Identifying Opportunities For Everyday Walking For Disabled People, May 2016, highlighted that “the most common physical barrier to walking identified by the participants was crossing the road….Participants preferred wide, level, smooth, uncluttered and well maintained pavements. The condition of the pavement had a direct impact on individual’s confidence walking outdoors. Uneven surfaces were associated with the fear of falling…reducing the pleasure in walking” (p.5). Through this scheme, disabled people will benefit from new and improved pedestrian crossings. The new crossings will be designed in compliance with inclusive design guidance, with appropriate tactile paving and dropped kerbs to allow mobility impaired pedestrians to cross safely and efficiently. The crossing timings will be calculated using


Issue No.: A1

industry standard protocols that take into consideration additional time for pedestrians with mobility impairments to cross. Where possible, the crossings will also incorporate pedestrian countdown at traffic signals (PCaTS) infrastructure that will convey to all pedestrians the amount of time they have left to cross, allowing them to make informed decisions regarding whether they are able to safely cross at that time. The lengths of signalised pedestrian crossings throughout the scheme are not particularly unusual in an urban environment. As with all signalised pedestrian crossings, the push button units will be fitted with a rotating tactile cone underneath that indicate to visually impaired pedestrians when the green man is lit. Where possible, audible signalling will also be provided to indicate to visually impaired pedestrians when the green man is lit.

The footway improvements will create level surface and therefore safer underfoot for those who are unsteady or require the use of a walking aid. Footway widths will also provide enough space for slower movers not to feel pressured by those travelling faster. Footways will also be wider which should see wheelchair users finding the area easier to orienteer. Other improvements include straight road crossings, tactile paving, countdown systems, new level paving and dropped kerbs. The 2011 Census recorded that there are 8,173,941 people who usually live in London and this is set to grow in the coming decades. Disabled Londoners make up 14 per cent of the population. This project will consider inclusive design requirements of this group further in concept and detailed design.

“95 per cent of blind and partially sighted people have collided with an obstacle in their local neighbourhood over a three month period” (p.7 RNIB: Who Put That There!). This project will aim to design out obstacles where possible to make the area more open and accessible.

The Tolworth Roundabout scheme would improve conditions for disabled cyclists and help make cycling attractive to more people. Fifteen per cent of disabled Londoners sometimes use a bike to get around London, which is a smaller proportion than among non-disabled Londoners (where 18 per cent sometimes use a bike in the Capital). There is a significant opportunity to increase cycling for some disabled people and help promote the health benefits of cycling by improving the cycling environment.

“Conflict between different road users emerged as both a physical and attitudinal barrier. Cyclists on the pavement were an annoyance because they can be hard to hear and move fast.” (p.5 Overcoming Barriers And Identifying Opportunities For Everyday Walking For Disabled People, May 2016). The scheme will provide an off-carriageway shared footway and clearly defined cycle lane adjacent to the Kingston Road which will allow cyclists, pedestrians and wheel chair users to travel continuously from Tolworth Roundabout to Tolworth rail station.

Easy Legible London signage will be a feature of the scheme.

Consideration will be given to create a safe feeling with light and open spaces which will aid those with a disability.


Issue No.: A1

Urban realm improvements will create welcoming and safe places to stop and recuperate should rests be required through seating. “Providing comfort facilities can improve walking conditions and enable people with limiting conditions to make every day walking journeys.

Gender Y The project will provide a more pleasant and accessible urban realm

environment. This will increase footfall and therefore increase surveillance, and safety. The urban realm design will also provide seating in the area for mothers and expectant mothers.

The improvement in cycling provision as a result of this scheme forms part of a series of measures aimed at encouraging cyclists from typically underrepresented user groups to take up cycling in London. Statistics show that women are less likely to cycle than men: 21 per cent of men cycle in London compared with 14 per cent of women.

This project will provide a safer and more comfortable cycle route through what is currently a traffic dominated environment. Cyclists will be provided with physically separated space and to reduce the likelihood of interactions with motorists.

Engagement has been limited to TfL stakeholders and Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames during Outline Definition and Option Selection during the project life-cycle. Public consultation is planned by January 2020 which will include engagement with TfL’s EqIA team and IDAG which may uncover unknown impacts on the scheme

Gender reassignment

N None

Marriage/civil partnership

N None

Other – e.g. refugees, low income, homeless people

N The project will change Tolworth Roundabout from an under performing

junction characterised by traffic congestion to an improved and more integrated pedestrian and cycling environment for everyone.

Socially excluded groups will be welcomed and have better access to facilities and services.

Local residents will benefit from improved infrastructure that will facilitate cycling and walking and have better connections with less severance.

The scheme will compliment and deliver the MTS by applying a Healthy Streets approach to urban design.


Issue No.: A1

Pregnancy/maternity N The project will provide a more pleasant and accessible urban realm

environment.

This will increase footfall and therefore increase surveillance, and safety. The urban realm design will also provide seating in the area for mothers and expectant mothers.

Engagement has been limited to TfL stakeholders and RBK during Outline Definition and Option Selection during the project life-cycle

Race N None identified. The positive benefits for pedestrians and cyclists are for

all.

Religion or belief N None identified.

Sexual orientation Y/N None identified


Issue No.: A1

Step 4: Consultation

Q6. How has consultation with those who share a protected characteristic informed your work?

List the groups you intend to consult with or have consulted and reference any previous relevant consultation?2

If consultation has taken place what issues were raised in relation to one or more of the protected characteristics?

Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames

Previous consultation regarding bus service changes had been poorly received by local residents

Likely concerns from residents of Dean Court to the proposal to remove car parking spaces outside their residence

Overall support for scheme and enthusiasm for the project to start soon

Lambert Smith Hampton

Land agent for BNP Paribas who own land needed for the project

Engagement and consultation started in 2018 to identify opportunities to avoid compulsory purchase.

Needs of the leaseholder, Hollywood Bowl, had to be addressed

Hollywood Bowl Access for disabled people and adapted mini-buses at the front of the building requires protection

Adjustments to design and detailed surveys of car park use organised by TfL Project team to inform design change.

Public consultation Starts in October for six weeks

1900 addresses identified for letter drop which includes

o 14 schools and Colleges

o 3 Healthcare organisations

o 3 Religious organisations

o 1 Youth Group

Static display showing scheme to be installed in local library.

TfL website to also detail consultation details

2 This could include our staff networks, the Independent Disability Advisory Group, the Valuing People Group, local minority groups etc.


Issue No.: A1

Q7. Where relevant, record any consultation you have had with other projects / teams who you are working with to deliver this piece of work. This is really important where the mitigations for any potential negative impacts rely on the delivery of work by other teams.

There are 21 internal TfL stakeholders who are included the Tolworth Working Group

There 10 external stakeholders who include:

o RB Kingston upon Thames o Meyer Homes o Guinness Partnership o Lidl o Network Rail o South West Railway o RATP Dev London o Hollywood Bowl o Bowlrite o Lambert Smith Hampton

Monthly Working Group meeting with TfL stakeholders involved in

developing the project which has included Traffic Engineering, Urban Design, Consultation Specialists, Legal and Land specialists, Traffic modellers, CPOS,

Engagement with Hollywood Bowl occurred during 2018 and 2019 to adjust the proposed design to protect access for adapted vehicles and disabled customers

Regular engagement with Lambert Smith Hampton to purchase land needed for the scheme

Regular engagement with Meyer Homes and Lidl who are funding partners for the scheme

Presentations to Borough officers and regular engagement. Presentations to two Neighbourhood meetings involving Ward

Councillors and local residents occurred in September 2019. A detailed record and list of stakeholders is found in the following

Pathway documents that support the Project: Stakeholder Engagement and Consultation Plan Working Group Terms of Reference Tolworth Engagement Log Monthly Working Group notes Project Board minutes HSPB Authority paper for Gate 2


Issue No.: A1

Step 5: Informed Decision-Making

Q8. In light of the assessment now made, what do you propose to do next? Please select one of the options below and provide a rationale (for most EqIAs this will be box 1). Please remember to review this as and when the piece of work changes

1. Change the work to mitigate against potential negative impacts found

A Design change has been made to accommodate the access by disabled customers to a popular leisure facility: Hollywood Bowl.

Negative impact to pedestrians accessing the steps from Hook Rise South to the subway that is proposed to be removed has been identified; however this can be mitigated with and improved, existing, at-grade crossing on the Kingston Road that will give a safer and more direct route to and from Tolworth town centre.

Construction plans that will include Traffic and Pedestrian management plans will be developed at Detailed Design when a contractor has been appointed to deliver the project.

2. Continue the work as is because no potential negative impacts found

3. Justify and continue the work despite negative impacts (please provide justification)

4. Stop the work because discrimination is unjustifiable and no obvious ways to mitigate


Issue No.: A1

Step 6: Action Planning

Q9. You must address any negative impacts identified in step 3 and 4. Please demonstrate how you will do this or record any actions already taken to do this. Please remember to add any positive actions you can take that further any positive impacts identified in step 3 and 4.

Action Due Owner

Adjust proposed design so as to protect access to Hollywood Bowl for disabled customers

August 2019 Sponsor

Traffic Design Engineering (TDE)

Increased journey times and distance for pedestrians accessing the steps from Hook Rise to the removed subway steps; will be mitigated with improved crossing facility on the Kingston Road which will be safer and more pleasant to use with natural surveillance and a more direct journey to and from Tolworth town centre.

November 2020 Sponsor

Project Manager

TDE

Define in detailed design the delineation between cyclists and pedestrians in the new shared pedestrian and cycle space to Tolworth Rail station

November 2020 Sponsor

Project Manager

TDE

Develop detailed pedestrian and traffic management plans during construction so as to ensure minimum disruption, safe access and minimal noise and environmental pollution.

November 2020 Project Manager and appointed contractor

Documents

Issue No.: A1 Step 1: Clarifying Aims · Document No.: F1457 Issue No.: A1 Step 1: Clarifying Aims Q1. Outline the aims/objectives/scope of this piece of work Tolworth is a district