Present
Val Shawcross CBE – HATF (Chair)
Mark Frost – HATF (Independent Technical Advisor)
Sophie Chapman – Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL) (Surface Access Director)
Tim Leech – HAL (Head of Strategy and Sponsorship, Surface Access)
Lucas Taylor – HAL (Sustainable Travel Manager)
Tom Prowse – HAL (Head of Surface Access – Commercial)
Kristian Matthews – HAL (Commercial Performance Manager)
James Holmes – HAL (Head of Local Strategic Engagement)
Councilor Puja Bedi – Representative from CISHA Local Community Forum
Christian Wolmar – London Cycling Campaign (Trustee)
Matt Furniss – Surrey CC and Transport for the South East (Board Member)
Anna Scannell – Network Rail
Joanna Grew – Network Rail (Industry Programme Director [Heathrow & TVA])
Shamal Ratnayaka – Transport for London (Aviation Strategy Lead)
Dr Roger Green – Local Community Forum (Chair)
Baroness Liz Sugg – CISHA (Council for the Independent Scrutiny of Heathrow Airport) (Chair) Laura Keith – CISHA
Alan Tilly – Borough of Hillingdon (Transport Planning and Highways Development Control Manager)
Liz Garlinge – Highways England (Strategic Projects Director)
Apologies
Anthony Smith – Transport Focus (Chief Executive)
Paul Millin – Heathrow Strategic Planning Group (HSPG) (Chair, Transport Sub Group) Peter Bradley – UK Coach Operators Association (UKCOA) (Managing Director)
David Stroud – BIFA (Policy and Compliance Officer)
Nigel Wicking – Airline Operators Committee (Chief Executive)
Peter Fisher – National Highways
Adam Tyndall – BusinessLDN (Programme Director)
1. Welcome and Introductions
The Chair, Val Shawcross (VS), welcomed everyone to the third Board meeting of 2023.
This is the last Board meeting chaired by VS, ahead of her departure in July.
2. HAL Update
Sophie Chapman (SC) presented the HAL update, see slides for Surface Access dashboard. Key points discussed:
- Industrial action at Heathrow over the summer has been cancelled, following a pay offer which was accepted by Unite.
- Mode share: 44.2% for May was achieved, ongoing upward movement. Noted this is largely driven by Elizabeth line, with Heathrow Express, London Underground and Elizabeth line accounting for 31% mode share.
See slides for update on headline strategies and projects, many of which are on the agenda for discussion today.
Val Shawcross (VS): now that the Elizabeth line is fully in place, is there an opportunity for reviewing modal shift targets? Mark Frost (MF): Public transport mode share at 45% by 2026, we’re already close to that.
Mark Frost (MF): how many people are using the Elizabeth line to access the airport from the West? SC: We don’t know that but could see if it’s possible to find out.
Dr Roger Green (RG): when will the taxi and Private Hire Vehicles (PHV) strategy be completed? Tim Leech (TL): Hoping to share initial thinking in September as work is currently underway.
SC: We’re yet to see the impact of ULEZ, so have accelerated our work which should encourage colleague modal shift. We might see another step forward in modal shift earlier than we thought.
Christian Wolmar (CW): How are you managing the competition between Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express? SC: We’ve improved signage around the airport to indicate clearly and fairly both services. VS: Heathrow Journey Planner offers options clearly.
3. Surface Access Strategy: Parking
Heathrow Local Parking Issues Report (LCF)
Dr Roger Green (RG) and Councillor Puja Bedi (PB) presented the report submitted to the HATF Board from Heathrow’s Local Community Forum (LCF) covering Heathrow Local Parking Issues.
- RG noted that the report gives clear impact in terms of what’s happening and why it’s being escalated to CISHA.
- Heathrow’s response is good but needs to grow. Current Heathrow Community Bulletin has information about what is currently being done about Meet and Greet, but more is needed.
- PB added that issues have become worse over time, LCF needs more backing to address this.
- The document gives an understanding of how residents feel, also personal to those who are part of the forum. Impacting social networking and health and wellbeing.Liz
Sugg (LS) responded:
- This issue has been raised with John Holland-Kaye, Heathrow CEO.
- There are both long term and short to medium term recommendationsthat could be actioned by HAL and LAs, such as legislation and enforcement.
Meet & Greet Car Parking and Rogue Operators
Tom Prowse (TP) presented HAL’s parking products, a summary of rogue operators, a comms campaign in conjunction with BPA, Hillingdon Council and the Met Police, and Regulatory plans. See slides for details. Key points include:
- C. 700 passenger cars abandoned in local areas.
- Rogue parking sold through consolidated websites.
- Physical and digital comms campaign: blue poster installed across allmulti-storey car park lobby areas, checklist live on webpage encouragingpeople to do due diligence.
- A joined-up session with Department for Transport (DfT), Department forLevelling Up, Housing & Communities (DLUHC), Police, Trading Standards and BPA will take place on 14th July to agree next steps for a regulation engagement plan.
VS: use of a controlled parking zone and enforcement zone has made a difference in the West End, which experienced similar issues. Would the power fall to LAs, and is that something you’re working on?
TP: Working with LAs (mainly Hillingdon Council), looking to expand reach and also with other police authorities. Engaging trading standards to resolve the problem at source.
PB: Slough Borough Council would be happy to work with HAL to bring this work into Slough, and counterparts in other areas would happily support. Please share BPA info and guidance links so that we can share and promote on our social network channels.
PB: Encouraging that you’re engaging with the police, though there needs to be more of a working partnership of Commissioners across the Met and Thames Valley Police.
LS: There is a lot going on at the airport, but the campaign piece is important. Stakeholders can help push out messaging (CISHA and LAs), and it would be good to know more detail about the campaign and how to support. Tackling the source will take time, we need to show that everything possible has been looked at locally, i.e., controlled parking zones, ANPR.
VS: Expressed view that controlled parking zones could be the solution. Improving regulation might not be the strategic solution, it could be solved by enforcement.
RG: HAL needs to engage more fully with other LAs to tackle taxis and PHVs lined up around the airport.
TP: We are keen to engage with LAs, want to work towards a solution with enforcement as well as regulation. Regulation would allow us to control how operators create demands, it’s easy to create websites and sell products.
SC: happy to come to the HSPG to present to local authorities, explain the scale of problem, what we’re working on to achieve consensus on what we do collectively.
MF: LAs already have some powers to tackle this, and process to react to resident’s concerns. HSPG happy to coordinate conversation with HAL team.
Next action steps:
- Need for serious help in terms of liaison and corporate organisation between HAL and the boroughs.
- HAL are happy to engage with LAs collectively. SC supports a SIG, though HSPG might not have an existing forum, so HATF/LCF could convene a new round table including the local authorities and nominated members to kick off discussions about next steps.
4. ULEZ Expansion
Shamal Ratnayaka (SR) provided an update on the ULEZ expansion and mitigations. Key points include:
- TfL’s Scrappage scheme is expanding to include Londoners receiving child benefits, and London-based businesses and charities from the end of July 2023.
- TfL are working with HAL and National Highways in delivering cameras and signage.
Tim Leech (TL) presented HAL’s ULEZ mitigation activities, see slides for details. Key points included:
- 50% more money invested into improving public transport connections, particularly to the west.
- Park & Ride: reviewing a facility as an extension of the colleague car park offering. A possible site at Colnbrook, just outside ULEZ, which is being consulted with Slough Borough Council.
- New Way2Go ULEZ Hub launched to support and inform colleagues: ULEZ | Heathrow
- Upscaling public transport offering, with 20 improvements deliverable by 29 August.
5. Surface Access Strategy: Active Travel
LCWIP
Christian Wolmar (CW) presented the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP). Key points include:
- LCWIP – document enforced by all LAs around the airport.
- Active funding stream that has relied on this document to get funding.
- Barrier to improving active travel offering at Heathrow is the tunnelconnecting to the CTA.
- Collaboration between HAL, LAs, TfL and others is needed to tackle someof the issues, particularly around accessibility.
- Recommendation that Active Travel is included as an agenda item in allfuture meetings.
VS: Let’s make sure this (active travel) is diarised so that HATF can stay on top of the case.