The meeting of the Advanced Publication of Reports for Enfield Council was scheduled to discuss the progression of a new walking and cycling route. The primary focus was on the New River to Brick Lane Walking and Cycling Route, with detailed reports outlining its purpose, background, and potential impacts.

Progression of the New River to Brick Lane Walking and Cycling Route

The meeting was scheduled to consider the progression of the New River to Brick Lane Walking and Cycling Route, a project aimed at enhancing active travel within the borough. The report pack detailed the scheme's purpose, which is to create a 1.5km cycleway connecting the Enfield Town to Broxbourne Walking & Cycling Route (Cycleway 54) with Cycleway 1. This new route is intended to provide a better connection to the existing active travel route through Enfield Playing Fields and improve walking facilities at Brick Lane.

The project aims to address several issues, including a lack of cycling connection between the east and west sides of Enfield, poor walking and cycling facilities at Brick Lane, and limited active travel options for Bishop Stopford's School and Suffolks Primary School. The objectives set for the project include improving the east-west walking and cycling connection, linking the New River to Cycleway 1 via Brick Lane and Enfield Playing Fields, enhancing walking and cycling provision, and contributing to a long-term increase in active travel.

The scheme is divided into six sections:

• Section 1: Tenniswood Road/Ladysmith Road link.
• Section 2: Donkey Lane/Cambridge Gardens link.
• Section 3: A10 Great Cambridge Road junction, which will be delivered by Transport for London (TfL).
• Section 4.1: Brick Lane area phase 1.
• Section 4.2: Brick Lane area phase 2.
• Section 5: Hertford Road.

The report recommended agreeing to the progression of the route through the implementation phase, including statutory consultation. It was noted that the project would be delivered incrementally over several years as funding is secured. Authority was to be delegated to the Programme Director for Journeys & Places, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment, to approve the incremental implementation, subject to consultation outcomes and funding availability.

The total estimated cost of the project is £1.2 million, to be funded by external TfL grant. Currently, £435,000 of TfL grant is secured, which will enable Sections 1, 2, and phase 1 of Section 4 to proceed. The remaining sections are dependent on securing further external grant funding.

The report also included detailed implications regarding legal matters, equalities, environmental and climate change, public health, property, crime and disorder, and procurement. The Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) highlighted potential differential impacts on various protected characteristics, including age, disability, sex, race, and socio-economic deprivation, and outlined mitigating actions to address these. For instance, regarding disability, the assessment noted that some disabled people find cycling easier than walking and that inaccessible infrastructure is a significant barrier. Mitigating actions include ensuring designs are suitable for adapted cycles and considering rest stops. For socio-economic deprivation, the report noted that those on lower incomes are more likely to rely on walking and public transport, and the scheme is expected to benefit this group by providing affordable active travel options.

Extensive communications and engagement activities were planned, including a project page on the Let's Talk Enfield website, letter drops, webinars, and online surveys. Stakeholders identified included Ward Councillors, schools, resident and business groups, emergency services, TfL, walking and cycling groups, and community groups. The engagement approach aimed to inform the community, gather feedback, and consider this input in the design process.