Positive consultation response to proposed changes to King's Cross gyratory

Transport for London (TfL) has announced the results of a consultation into possible improvements to King’s Cross gyratory. Of the 1,042 responses, 70 per cent expressed support for the overall proposals with 18 per cent opposing them.

TfL has been reviewing the road network at King’s Cross with the aim of delivering substantial improvements.

In 2011, Min Joo Lee, known as Deep, was killed at the junction. The lorry driver involved told the 2013 inquest that the road layout was “outdated.”

While initial safety improvements for cyclists were completed in May 2015, more fundamental changes are now on the cards.

Consultation respondents were asked to rank what they considered to be the most (and least) important elements in improving King’s Cross. Improved pedestrian facilities were ranked as the most important consideration (221 respondents), very closely followed by improved cycling facilities (218).

67 per cent of respondents expressed support for the introduction of new cycle facilities including contra-flow cycle lanes and the installation of new cycle crossings at key junctions. 15 per cent were against.

63 per cent of respondents agreed with converting traffic from operating on one-way streets into two-way streets, while 16 per cent opposed or strongly opposed such a move. The majority of those supporting the proposals put forward by the London Cycling Campaign and Camden Cycling Campaign were in the latter group.

73 per cent of respondents were in favour of reducing traffic on the roads affected by the proposals while 11 per cent were opposed.

TfL will now work with the London boroughs of Camden and Islington to further develop the design of the scheme. The plan is to consult on detailed proposals for the wider Kings Cross and Euston Road area in 2017.