Consultation survey points of note

• To fill in the survey, you should have a reference number.

• Reference numbers are on the hard copies sent to all Wapping residents by post.

• They are in the format of W*1234; each form has a unique four-digit number.

• The council should have sent one form to each home and business in Wapping.

• The reference number can be used more than once for each person in the home/business. Link

• Everyone can respond to the consultation. If you live outside the area and wish to reply, please leave the field that requires a reference number blank. Link

• The council will count all responses; those without a reference number or an incorrect one will count as someone from outside the area when they tally them. Link

• If you have not received the bus gate survey, please email Mohammed.Chibou@towerhamlets.gov.uk, and he will ensure you get one.
  

Why do we want to keep the Wapping bus gate?

1. The council introduced the Bus Gate in response to a campaign from Wapping residents. It was specifically designed to prevent rat-running through Wapping and keep traffic on the Highway. The council wrapped this scheme into its Liveable Streets initiative. However, it was distinct and different from other measures under that initiative.

2. Rat-running blighted the lives of Wapping residents, causing pollution, noise and nuisance. It caused a danger to pedestrians, including children and parents approaching and leaving St Peter's London Docks School and Hermitage School.

3. Much of this traffic was commercial, unsuitable for narrow residential streets, and passing through Tower Hamlets rather than originating in the borough.

4. The bus gate was hugely effective in reducing unnecessary traffic and reduced Wapping traffic by a third.

5. The effect of the bus gate is to keep traffic on the TFL-managed major route of the Highway where it should be. It does not cause traffic to be diverted elsewhere and therefore does not have an adverse effect on other residential parts of the borough.

6. The bus gate had no impact on the emergency services’ ability to access any part of Wapping as it is not a road closure.

7. The bus gate had no impact on Taxis and Hackney cabs, including those for people using taxi cards. They can continue to access all parts of the district on either side of the bus gate through the five access roads into the area

8. Removing the bus gate would reverse a measure which has improved public health, quality of life and safety in Wapping. It would lead to a return of dangerous, polluting, noisy and unsuitable traffic and worsening air quality. There would be no compensating benefits in other parts of the borough, so there would be a net detriment to the residents of Tower Hamlets.

Where can I find out more information?

The St Katharine and Wapping Safer Neighbourhood Ward Panel has lots of background information, discussion points and studies linked on their website - https://www.skw-wardpanel.org/

Example of an Email of complaint to the Mayor of Tower Hamlets

To the Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman

And by copy:
The Director of Public Realm - Dan Jones
London Assembly member for East London - Unmesh Desai
Wapping councillors - Cllr. Abdal Ullah and Cllr. Amy Lee
London Mayor - Sadiq Khan

I oppose the removal of the Wapping bus gate. I wish to lodge a formal complaint about the council's handling of this consultation.

• Surveys have been distributed inconsistently, with many developments not receiving one.

• The wording of the survey is deliberately confusing and misleading. You must choose the "Oppose" option if you "Support" retaining the Wapping Bus Gate.

• The Consultation period is just 21 days; best practices as outlined in the 'Gunning Principles' are for consultations to be a 6-12 week period with pre-engagement with the community before that. However, there was also no pre-engagement and the consultation period is just three weeks.

• The Consultation has broken the Mayor's manifesto pledge to adhere to the 'Gunning Principles', which dictate best practices for a legitimate consultation exercise.

• The Consultation fails to supply sufficient data for the reasons for the Bus Gate removal and has many unsubstantiated statements.

• The Bus Gate was Not erected as part of the Liveable Streets Programme. The council introduced the Bus Gate in response to a campaign from Wapping residents. It was specifically designed to prevent rat-running through Wapping and keep traffic on the Highway for road and environmental safety reasons. It is, therefore, not part of the Mayor's Election Pledge to remove LTN barriers that are part of the Liveable Streets Programme.

Since the Wapping Bus Gate installation, residents have a significantly improved quality of life, with significant falls in pollution levels and less traffic as per the council's findings and data. The historic rat run passed two primary schools, potentially endangering young children and parents trying to cross busy roads.

Kindly acknowledge receipt of this complaint and include its contents within your current consultation.

Regards,
XXXXXX

A Wapping Resident.

Useful Email Addresses

• The Mayor of Tower Hamlets - Lutfur Rahman: Lutfur.rahman@towerhamlets.gov.uk

• The Director of Public Realm - Dan Jones: Dan.jones@towerhamlets.gov.uk

• London Mayor - Sadiq Khan: mayor@london.gov.uk

• London Assembly member for East London - Unmesh Desai: unmesh.desai@london.gov.uk

• Wapping councillor - Abdal Ullah: cllr.abdal.ullah@towerhamlets.gov.uk

• Wapping councillor - Amy Lee: cllr.amy.lee@towerhamlets.gov.uk

• Survey coordinator - Mohammed Chibou: Mohammed.Chibou@towerhamlets.gov.uk