News and blogs

I was pleased to read Sir Nicholas Kenyon’s and the City of London Corporation’s plans for the Culture Mile [“The Culture Mile that will transform arts in the City”, Comment, March 16].

These must surely include improving pedestrian routes — in a sense reinstating those lost when the Barbican was built. There are remarkable opportunities for establishing better links at ground level from the City to the complex: along Wood Street and past the former Cripplegate.

By the present Museum of London, hidden by raised walkways and a car park entrance, are the surviving, but neglected, ancient City walls, which should form part of a magnificent public space next to the new music centre.
David Harrison, London Living Streets

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Prospective mayoral candidates will answer questions about transport, walking and cycling at the Better Hackney Hustings at Pembury Community Centre, Dalston Lane at 7pm on 26th March.

The event, organised by Hackney Living Streets and Hackney Cycling Campaign, will be chaired by Dr Rachel Aldred, reader in transport, University of Westminster.

This is a public meeting open to everyone. If you want to submit a question contact livingstreetslondon.hackney@yahoo.co.uk.

Hackney Living Streets has also produced a walking manifesto that sets out its vision and demands for a cleaner, greener, happier, healthier Hackney. This has been sent to all party leaders in the local election campaigns.

TfL and Islington Council have announced their plans to transform Highbury Corner by changing the one-way roundabout into a two-way traffic system.

The proposed closure of the western side of the roundabout, together with a larger station square, would create a new public space. There are a number of changes following the last consultation.

More than 22,000 people and organisations responded to Transport for London’s consultation on the transformation of Oxford Street. Almost half supported plans in full; 16% supported proposals but with concerns; and 33% did not support plans.

An additional 7,062 people wrote in supporting the proposals as part of a Living Streets campaign.

Department for Transport has called for evidence on measures to boost walking and cycling. Read London Living Streets’ argument for why walking is better for shorter journeys.

The Living Streets annual Walking Summit was a huge success with lively discussion and inspirational presentations from speakers including:

• Chris Boardman, former cycling world champion and Greater Manchester’s first walking and cycling commissioner;
• Will Norman, London’s walking and cycling commissioner;
• Pascal Smet, minister of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region for Mobility and Public Works;
• Lucy Saunders, developer of the Healthy Streets approach;
• Lynda Addison OBE, Chair CIHT Sustainable Transport panel
• and London Living Streets’ Brenda Puech and David Harrison.

Recordings of the main sessions are available on the Living Streets website. More material will follow.

This week Prime Minister, Theresa May, launched the new National Planning Policy Framework. The main focus is housing, but there is a welcome mention of active travel.

Paragraph 105 states that, forthwith, planning policies should “minimise the number and length of journeys needed for employment, shopping, leisure, education and other activities” and “provide for high-quality walking and cycling networks and supporting facilities such as cycle parking – drawing on Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans”.

However, there are concerns that strategic plans could be weaker on health and wellbeing, and on adherence to the provisions of the Climate Act 2008.

You have until May 10 to respond.

The City of London Corporation is keen to get views on its long term Transport Strategy. Fill in the survey and be bold in asking for a major reallocation of road space to pedestrians and cyclists, and closing many roads to through-traffic.

Also, see the amazing research the City has undertaken that reveals that pedestrians make up over 50% of people on streets in the City, but gain only 9% of street space.