The Officer Executive Decisions meeting on Friday 11 October 2024 was scheduled to discuss proposals for the Amhurst Road and Pembury Circus Transformation. The report pack detailed plans to improve safety, air quality, and public spaces in Hackney Central.

Amhurst Road and Pembury Circus Transformation

The primary item scheduled for discussion was the Amhurst Road and Pembury Circus Transformation, a project aimed at creating a more sustainable, inclusive, accessible, greener, and attractive space in Hackney Central. The proposals included implementing a bus gate on Amhurst Road operating from 7am to 7pm, reducing lane widths, widening footpaths, and introducing areas for social interaction.

The report recommended approving the statutory process for advertising Traffic Management Orders to implement these designs. Key proposed changes included:

• Prohibition of motorised vehicles on Amhurst Road / Mare Street between Graham Road and Brett Road from 7am to 7pm, with exemptions for buses, emergency vehicles, permit holders, and vehicles for loading/unloading.
• Conversion of loading and disabled bays on Mare Street.
• Permanent removal of parking bays on Amhurst Road and replacement with waiting and loading restrictions, zebra crossings, and bus stops.
• Removal of existing loading bays on Amhurst Road to be replaced with zebra crossings.
• Revocation of existing bus lanes on Amhurst Road and replacement with waiting and loading restrictions, zebra crossings, and bus stops.
• Replacement of signalised pedestrian crossings on Amhurst Road with zebra crossings.
• Installation of banned turns from Pembury Road into Dalston Lane (east) and Amhurst Road (west).
• Installation of a raised table in Pembury Place at its junction with Pembury Road.
• Reduction of an existing northbound bus lane on Mare Street and introduction of a new northbound bus lane.
• Permanent removal of pay and display bays on Amhurst Road and within Amhurst Road car park.
• Installation of electric vehicle charging bays, car club bays, and a designated cycle hire bay within Amhurst Road car park.

The report highlighted that these proposals are intended to support the Hackney Central Town Centre Strategy, improve safety with 44 people injured in collisions in the immediate area of Pembury Junction since 2020, and enhance air quality, as Pembury Junction is one of the worst areas in the borough for pollution. The project aligns with the Hackney Transport Strategy 2015-2025, which aims for Hackney's transport system to be an exemplar for sustainable urban living.

The report detailed extensive public engagement and consultation, including the Hackney Central Conversation and a Co-Design Stage, which informed the proposals. Key themes from this engagement included a desire for improved air quality, more green spaces, and better walking and cycling connectivity. Concerns were raised by residents and stakeholders, including the London Cycling Campaign, about potential traffic displacement to surrounding roads, the design of cycle infrastructure, and the impact on businesses.

The Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) considered the potential impacts on individuals with protected characteristics. It concluded that while some private vehicle journeys might become more indirect, the overall impact of the scheme was predicted to be positive, with benefits for air quality, road safety, and active travel likely to disproportionately benefit people with protected characteristics. Mitigation measures, including exemptions for Blue Badge holders and specific provisions for emergency services, were detailed.

The scheme is to be funded by Central Government funding from the Hackney Central Levelling Up Fund grant and matched funding, along with the Mayor's Air Quality fund. The report included detailed traffic modelling, bus journey time comparisons, and air quality impact assessments, indicating significant reductions in traffic at Pembury Circus and improvements in bus journey times.