Agenda item

Written update from 28/11/16 key stakeholder meeting notes:

Overall: the key stakeholder group seemed satisfied that their main concerns had been addressed in the design.

• Budget: Les Senior reported that there was a requirement to reduce the project cost by £200k from estimated cost supplied by TfL’s term contractor Kier Highway to meet the allocated project budget, therefore additional cost elements coming out of the meeting discussion, e.g. extra granite crossings, were not possible without other trade-offs. LBL, design consultants and TfL officers will be meeting kier Highways to resolve. Unconfirmed meeting date proposed is 13^th December.
• Programme: Works are projected to start in late February and to finish 8 to 9 months later. Works will probably proceed in sections starting from the A205 northern end, although the exact programme of works is up to the contractor to decide and agree with the Council. It was noted that during this time there will be disruption on Dartmouth Road with contra-flows employed to manage traffic flows. However, it is unlikely that the road will need to be closed during the works.
• Materials: everyone had been to view the panel. The general consensus was that the red granite wasn’t as dominant a colour as the design team had suggested, although no-one had seen it when wet, which is when it stands out most. David Pope provided samples of possible alternatives. After the meeting Cllr Hilton, Les Senior and David Pope went to review the new samples adjacent to the panel and the following palette was agreed:

·         Keep the smaller units of the deep red granite as an accent within the paving scheme.

·         Exchange the darkest grey granite for the blue grey sample

·         Add in the pink granite that varies in tone between red and blue to tie in the pinky colours with the greys.

·         Retain the other colours

Action: PCL Construction to advise the final mix for LBLe’s contractor

• Forest Lodge:. Les Senior explained the previous parking arrangements where parking occurred on the footway were not legal, as the land up to the front garden wall is Public Highway. LBLE cannot be seen to be supporting this. LBLe’s lawyers have been in correspondence with the lawyers of the freeholder of Forest Lodge and there has been no challenge to the Council’s position. Only one parking bay is shown on the proposals outside Forest Lodge, as there are constraints due to underground utilities and the proximity to the crossing and bus stop that prevent additional space being available.

• Road width and markings: Confirmed as 6.4m with no centre line. This measurement was agreed with TfL Buses and is sufficient to let 2 buses pass. It also fits in with London Cycle Design Guide recommendations of having a lane width of no more than 3.2m. Double yellow lines throughout should stop the parking problems associated with Sundays and times outside the current restrictions.

• Sylvan Post: it was suggested that the area by the Sylvan Post is already well covered with trees, therefore the new tree in a planter closest to the pub entrance should be deleted. Works to thin the existing Robinia’s crown are also required. Action:  PCL to amend drawings to include this. Additional CE to be added to Thorpewood Ave crossing CE.

• Planters: Confirmed that where there is an opportunity to include informal planters, the Forest Hill Society would be prepared to take on the maintenance. Locations and numbers would have to be agreed; prime locations would be where proposed trees may not be able to go in because of underground utilities.

Drawings attached however please note they are not final and are subject to change.