Hammersmith and Fulham Council Approves Permanent Hammersmith Road C9 Scheme 2026

Key Points

• Permanent Status Approved: The Cabinet of Hammersmith and Fulham Council has unanimously approved the proposal made by Transport for London (TfL) for giving permanence to the C9 cycle route in Hammersmith Road.
• Route Coverage: The newly built C9 route covers a continuous, segregated cycle track linking Kensington Olympia, Hammersmith, Chiswick, and Brentford.
• Funding and Delivery: The funding and delivery of the scheme on Hammersmith Road would be done by TfL and is expected to cost around £20 million.
• Changes in Infrastructure: The scheme involves construction of three floating bus stops on the north side of Hammersmith Road along with additional pedestrian crossings.
• Resident Opposition: A local resident, David Tarsh, appealed to the council to refuse to approve the scheme owing to worsening casualty figures since 2021, questioning the use of 2017 consultation and proposing a bus lane for rush hours.
• Council Discussion: Cabinet Member, Cllr Nicole Trehy said that it was disrespectful of Mr. Tarsh to mention fatality figures of King Street, while Council Leader Stephen Cowan mentioned safety assessments and manifesto commitment to the scheme.
• Next Steps: Detailed design development will proceed with the approval being subject to the TfL governance process and funding.

uk/local/hammersmith-and-fulham/hammersmith/">Hammersmith (West London Times) October 14, 2026 — Hammersmith and Fulham Council has officially agreed to back Transport for London’s (TfL) proposal to make the Cycleway 9 (C9) route on Hammersmith Road permanent. The cabinet voted unanimously to approve the multi-million-pound infrastructure project despite voiced objections regarding casualty figures and local resident consultation data.

What Did Hammersmith and Fulham Council Decide Regarding Cycleway 9?

As reported by Ben Lynch, Local Democracy Reporter for MyLondon, Hammersmith and Fulham Council cabinet members voted this week to support TfL’s scheme to permanently establish Cycleway 9 (C9) along Hammersmith Road.

The leg forms a critical section of a broader infrastructure project. Once fully completed, C9 will offer a continuous, physically segregated cycle lane connecting Kensington Olympia, Hammersmith, hounslow/chiswick/">Chiswick, and Brentford across West London.

While the overarching project is led and managed by TfL, approval and backing from local authorities are legally required due to their administrative roles as highway authorities. A council-led alternative option was presented to members; however, official papers noted that this alternative carried a higher risk profile and would fail to guarantee funding investment from TfL. Consequently, council officers recommended full support for TfL’s plan, which TfL will fund and deliver to the value of £20 million.

What Specific Infrastructure Works Are Planned for Hammersmith Road?

As detailed by Ben Lynch of MyLondon, the approved plans encompass more than just bicycle track markings. The proposal incorporates:

• A segregated cycle lane running along Hammersmith Road linking Kensington Olympia to the local gyratory system.
• The construction and installation of three floating bus stops positioned on the northern edge of Hammersmith Road.
• Highway and pedestrian infrastructure upgrades, including enhancements to local pedestrian crossings.

Council officers highlighted that discussions remain ongoing with TfL regarding specific junctions, particularly the Blythe Road junction near Olympia, where accessibility and operational concerns were raised. Council officers maintained that the scheme delivers major public benefits, including elevated road safety, reduced carbon emissions, and enhanced cross-borough connectivity.

What Objections Were Raised by Local Residents During the Cabinet Meeting?

According to MyLondon reporting by Ben Lynch, local resident David Tarsh addressed the cabinet to oppose the approval, arguing that essential information had been omitted from the official Cabinet report and contesting safety claims.

As recorded by Ben Lynch of MyLondon, Mr Tarsh stated that data indicated accident rates had worsened since the trial scheme’s introduction:

“Anyone who tells you otherwise is either misinformed or, worse, they are deliberately misleading you. Let’s be clear, describing C9 as a ‘safer cycle pathway’ is about as justified as calling cigarettes healthy.”

Mr Tarsh further criticized the council’s reliance on TfL’s original 2017 public consultation to demonstrate community backing, pointing instead to a 2020 council-commissioned report which he claimed proved residents opposed the project. As reported by Ben Lynch of MyLondon, Mr Tarsh noted:

“The fact that a research report as material as this was not in the Cabinet papers is something that should alarm you, particularly given the promise not to do things to residents.”

As an alternative, Mr Tarsh proposed removing C9 completely and replacing it with a rush-hour bus lane. As reported by Ben Lynch of MyLondon, he explained:

“In rush hour, which is the only time we see cycling in substantial numbers, bikes could use the bus lane. In doing so, they would have more space than on a cycle track and they would be segregated from general traffic. At other times, there would be more road space available to all road users, so, congestion should be less and connectivity better.”

How Did Council Leaders and Cabinet Members Respond to the Concerns?

As reported by Ben Lynch of MyLondon, Opposition Leader Cllr Jose Afonso (Conservative) asked whether formal safety audits had been completed to evaluate the proposed floating bus stops and adjacent roadworks.

Cllr Nicole Trehy, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency and Travel, confirmed that regular safety monitoring is routinely conducted and committed to providing full audit details. However, Cllr Trehy strongly objected to Mr Tarsh referencing two traffic fatalities that had occurred on the King Street section of C9. As reported by Ben Lynch of MyLondon, Cllr Trehy stated:

“That was a hooligan on a bike, and I think it’s disrespectful to use that politically against this cycleway. [I’m] very much against that.”

Council Leader Stephen Cowan defended the project, noting that extensive safety reviews of cycling schemes across London had been conducted. As reported by Ben Lynch of MyLondon, Cllr Cowan stated:

“There are always challenges with any cycle lane because it takes behavioural changes, and the aim is to encourage a lot more cycling, [and] the numbers have gone up significantly as a consequence. Segregated cycle lanes are in our manifesto as a commitment.”

When Mr Tarsh requested additional speaking time to utilize the remainder of his five-minute allocation, Cllr Cowan declined the request based on standard procedural rules. Cabinet members subsequently voted unanimously to approve the scheme.

Explore more Hammersmith and Fulham News:

NHS Launches Cardiac Clinical Trial to Improve Heart Care Hammersmith 2026

Hammersmith and Fulham Literacy Campaign Launches Books for Pupils, 2026

Background of the Particular Development

The development of Cycleway 9 (C9) dates back to 2017, when Transport for London (TfL) first launched a public consultation to construct a major continuous cycling route spanning across West London. The overarching goal of the project was to increase active travel, reduce reliance on private vehicles, improve air quality, and provide safe, segregated infrastructure for cyclists traveling between West London suburbs and Central London.

Due to the complex nature of managing highways across multiple local authority boundaries, the route has been implemented in incremental stages. The Hammersmith Road section was initially installed in 2020 as an emergency temporary measure using emergency traffic management powers granted during the COVID-19 pandemic to facilitate socially distanced travel.

Other key stretches of the C9 route have already achieved permanent status. In 2023, Hammersmith and Fulham Council voted to make the King Street section permanent, while Hounslow Council similarly approved making the Chiswick High Road section permanent in the same year. With Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s latest decision on Hammersmith Road, detailed design work will proceed alongside TfL’s internal governance and funding procedures to complete the permanent transformation of the corridor.

How This Development Can Affect Local Residents, Cyclists, and Commuters

The decision to make the Hammersmith Road C9 scheme permanent will directly impact several key stakeholder groups across West London:

• For Cyclists: The establishment of a fully integrated, physically segregated track from Kensington Olympia through to Brentford provides a significantly safer space, protected from heavy traffic. This is likely to encourage less confident commuters and recreational cyclists to adopt active travel, contributing to higher overall cycling numbers across the borough.
• For Pedestrians and Bus Users: The installation of three floating bus stops requires pedestrians to cross the active cycle track to reach bus boarding islands. While designed to keep bus routes moving without blocking cycle lanes, this layout may cause initial navigation challenges, particularly for vulnerable, elderly, or visually impaired pedestrians accessing bus services along Hammersmith Road.
• For Motorists and Local Businesses: Preserving dedicated road space for the cycle track reduces available lanes for general motor traffic. During peak hours, motor vehicle drivers may experience localized congestion or altered traffic flow around key junctions, such as Blythe Road. However, in the long term, encouraging a modal shift toward cycling could help moderate overall vehicular volume across West London.