Bank junction
(Picture: Daily Mail)An immediate review of the weekday traffic ban at Bank junction has been ordered.
The City of London Corporation is to consider “all options” as it reviews the restrictions that only allow buses and cyclists to cross the junction between 7am-7pm between Monday and Friday.
The review was sparked by a motion backed by at least 45 members of the City corporation, the local authority for the Square Mile, calling for black taxis to be readmitted to the junction “at all times”.
However, the review that has been agreed will be much wider in scope – and could potentially pave the way for changes to the access for cars, vans, minicabs and lorries, which are also banned at weekdays, to the seven-arm junction beside the Bank of England.
The corporation’s ruling Court of Common Council has also agreed to wider review of all temporary and permanent traffic restrictions currently in place across the entire Square Mile.
Traffic restrictions were first imposed at Bank in May 2017 under a £1.7m scheme to address road safety concerns.
She was the second person killed at the junction in four years. There had also been 105 casualties, making it the most dangerous location in the city pre-pandemic.
A compromise motion agreed on Thursday afternoon requires the City’s planning and transportation committee to immediately “begin a review of the nature and timing of current motor traffic timing restrictions at Bank Junction, to include all options”.
The committee is required to present its recommendations “as soon as practicable”.
City chiefs decided to widen the review’s focus from black taxis to all forms of transport to minimise the risk of having any decision challenged in the courts.
Alastair Moss, the City’s planning and transportation committee chairman, said the ending of the pandemic and gradual return to offices meant it was now an appropriate time to reconsider the restrictions at Bank.
He said: “Everyone is coming back to the City. We can start this work now. It’s imperative we get this right. I emphasise that all options – all options – are on the table.”
He said the wider review of traffic restrictions across the City would be “dateless” and would reconsider all measures, regardless of when they were first imposed. However the review would initially target locations where issues with traffic flow were known to exist. “We will look for problems, for issues,” he said.
However, the Court of Common Council also agreed that both the Bank junction and city-wide the reviews should “take account” of its transport and climate action strategies.
The transport strategy includes targets on prioritising space for pedestrians and cyclists, reducing vehicles, improving air quality and “eliminating” road deaths and serious injuries.
The climate plan aims to make the Square Mile “net zero” in terms of carbon emissions by 2040 and to dedicate more space to walking and cycling.
Ahead of Thursday’s meeting, cycling and walking groups expressed “grave concerns” about readmitting black taxis to a junction that, pre-pandemic, was used by 18,000 pedestrians during the morning rush hour.
Taxis want their Bank cut-through back. W/ @Wheels4Well @livingstreets @LDN_LS @ActionVZ & @PGSMurray have signed letter below to @cityoflondon Common Council following a motion supporting taxi through routes that this risks making Bank Junction more dangerous again. #VisionZero pic.twitter.com/Mt7Nypad3e
— London Cycling Campaign (@London_Cycling) April 21, 2022
Oliver Sells QC, deputy chairman of the planning and transportation committee, said the amended motion – which was passed with a clear majority - allowed the City Corporation to reach “calmer waters” after a “bumpy period” sparked by the initial bid to axe the weekday ban on black taxis.
Mr Sells said: “One of the things that concerns us is that the review must be open-minded… any steps we take will be subject to judicial review.
“If there is to be a review it must be one which stands outside scrutiny. It must stand up for all stakeholders and all people who have an interest in what goes on in and around the streets.
“Much has changed in the last three years since the transport strategy was put in place. Today we see a very different streetscape to that which we saw three, four, five years ago.”
Alderman Tim Hailes, who proposed the initial motion seeking to readmit black taxis 24/7, told the Evening Standard: “We are very pleased that there was consensus across the Common Council that a review of traffic flow - including at Bank - will be commissioned in conjunction with other stakeholders and a full consultation.
“Whilst the specific issue of Hackney carriage access was not resolved either way that will now be properly re-examined and we very much hope to see a positive change.”
A recording of the meeting can be viewed on YouTube. The debate starts about one hour 10 minutes from the start of the meeting.
The amended motion, as agreed by the Court of Common Council, said:
This Honourable Court notes and reaffirms its support for the Transport Strategy (adopted in May 2019) - including the prioritisation of the needs of people walking especially considering the imminent and very welcome opening of the new Elizabeth Line - the Climate Action Strategy and the Corporate Plan.
THIS HONOURABLE COURT THEREFORE RESOLVES:-
1. That the Planning and Transportation Committee be requested to task officers to commence a detailed survey of current traffic flows and other relevant metrics of public highway usage in the City with a view to creating a body of evidence to inform a review of experimental or permanent traffic orders in force. The Planning & Transportation Committee should report to this Honourable Court no later than October (2022) this year and details of any proposed consequential review of traffic orders by December 2022.
2. That the Planning & Transportation Committee be requested immediately to begin a review of the nature and timing of current motor traffic timing restrictions at Bank Junction, to include all options. This review will include full engagement with Transport for London and other relevant stakeholders, data collection, analysis and traffic modelling. The Planning & Transportation Committee should then present its recommendation to this Honourable Court as soon as practicable.
3. Both the above reviews should take account of the Transport Strategy, Climate Action Strategy and Corporate Plan, as previously adopted by this Honourable Court.
