Late August MQT answers

Step free access: West Hampstead tube

Question No: 2017/2923

Andrew Dismore

What is the present position in responding to local demands for this?

Written response from the Mayor

I am committed to increasing the number of step-free stations across the network to make the Tube more accessible.  In December 2016, I announced a £200m fund to make more than 30 Tube stations step free over the next five years.

 

TfL has examined the possibility of providing step-free access at West Hampstead station in the past. I understand it is an extremely complex location: the layout of the ticket hall and the wider station presents significant constraints. There are significant limitations because it is an island platform surrounded by a very busy operational railway that must be maintained in service. The installation of lifts must also be done in a way which safeguards the potential for future capacity enhancement works should they be needed. TfL has concluded that to install a lift the existing station would have to be comprehensively remodelled (and closed for the duration) and there would need to be a second station entrance constructed elsewhere.

 

TfL has estimated that costs are likely to be well in excess of £15m, and delivering the scheme would be dependent on securing a partnership with a third party. TfL is commissioning a feasibility study for this station, and following its outcomes, TfL and Camden Council will be discussing next steps.

 

 

Finchley Memorial Hospital

Question No: 2017/2932

Andrew Dismore

What work has TfL done to examine the viability of extending the 383 bus route to Finchley Memorial Hospital, and what was the outcome of their investigations?

Written response from the Mayor

TfL’s findings can be viewed in TfL’s recent publication ‘Review of Bus Services to London Hospitals’ (http://content.tfl.gov.uk/csopp-20170713-part-1-item06-review-of-bus-services-to-londons-hospitals.pdf), which examines current and potential new bus links for London hospitals.

 

TfL has estimated that extending route 383 from Woodside Park to Finchley Memorial Hospital would cost an extra £180,000 per year and would require a bus stand and turning point to be provided at the hospital. Access could be achieved by the NHS making alterations to the car park or the drop-off point at the hospital entrance. TfL also estimates that around 100-150 extra passengers would use an extended service each day, making the net cost of the change to the route around £120,000 per year.

 

TfL will provide a full update on the status of the various hospital bus route priorities in due course.

 

Night time economy [3]

Question No: 2017/3291

Andrew Dismore

Do you disagree with Westminster Council’s view, that there is a distinction between an evening economy, which is about culture, entertainment and food, and the night time economy, which is more about alcohol and clubbing?

Written response from the Mayor

My vision for London’s night time economy and culture includes a wide range of activities for people of all ages and interests from theatres and restaurants to music venues, pubs and clubs. London’s nightlife is second to none and forms an essential part of the city’s cultural offer, bringing £26.3bn to London’s economy every year and employing one in eight people in the capital.

 

I recently launched my vision to turn London into a leading 24-hour global city. My vision does not make a distinction between evening and night time activities and outlines  the ten principles to build a night-time culture which balances the needs of all Londoners.

 

 

Night time economy [4]

Question No: 2017/3292

Andrew Dismore

How will you make a more diverse night time offering attractive if you don’t find a way of dealing with the anti-social behaviour and crime that come from the alcohol led nature of the current night time economy post 23:00?

Written response from the Mayor

London’s nightlife is diverse, from theatres and pubs, to restaurants and music venues. It is second to none and forms an essential part of the city’s cultural offer. Government data shows that alcohol consumption trends are changing in the UK. A fifth of British adults under-25 are teetotal and across the wider population, alcohol consumption fell by 26% between 2002 and 2012.

 

My Police and Crime Plan sets out how the Metropolitan Police Service, Transport for London, British Transport Police, London Councils, London’s business community and my Night Czar, Amy Lamé, work together to address safety including anti-social behaviour and crime at night. For example, by improving consistency in licensing across London, and building partnerships between the police and businesses through business crime reduction partnerships and business improvement districts.

 

 

Borough merger [1]

Question No: 2017/3294

Andrew Dismore

I am getting reports from Camden residents and ward panels that the Pathfinder (Camden & Islington) Borough has resulted in a deterioration of services provided by the MPS, including in particular the poor standard of investigations into crime allegations. What is being done to correct this?

Written response from the Mayor

The Pathfinders are a genuine test of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) plan to merge borough commands into fewer, larger ‘Basic Command Units’ (BCUs). These tests are ongoing and the MPS will continue to learn, adapt and evaluate as challenges arise.

 

The Pathfinders are designed to test a model of policing in which investigations are dealt with more efficiently and effectively. This involves the officer who first attends the call owning the investigation and means that the victim should experience a better service and deal with fewer different units and officers.

 

Work is continuing to support the development of skills and also to make sure that sufficient resources are available to manage the demands being placed on response teams. This work includes changes to the organisation and management of teams, supported by technical changes, which will take place in September 17.

 

The Commissioner and I will together consider the evidence from the Pathfinders and the views of stakeholders towards the end of 2017. No further roll out will be made until the challenges on the Pathfinders have been resolved.

 

 

 

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