Agenda item

An update on the delivery of the Movement Plan will be provided.

The presentation given at the meeting is enclosed.

A presentation was given at the meeting by Pip Howson, Team Leader Transport policy, and Simon Bevan, Director of Planning on both the Movement Plan and items outline under item 8:

·  A Liveable Neighbourhood pilot around South Bermondsey station and the Bonamy & Bramcote Estates

·  Dulwich Healthy Streets

·  Walworth Low Emission Zone.

·  Champion Hill Area

The chair then invited questions.

Members asked about the process for choosing initiatives that will deliver the Movement Plan. Officers said that they welcome contact from groups and local people. Dulwich is a community led scheme; officers have been working with local people for 5 years; officers wanted a Cycleway and residents were concerned with emissions. Different funding programmes come along that fit different criteria for initiatives. Walworth Low Emission Zone was able to meet funding criteria as was the Bonamy & Bramcote Estates scheme. Officers said the Movement Plan provides more of a strategic overview .Officers said that projects do need to bring various different strands together to realise an initiative.

A member asked how indices of deprivation influence decision making and how a school on a red route might benefit from a programme to reduce emissions and increase active travel.  Officers referred to a work in Camberwell, and emphasised that they work with different groups to ensure all voices are heard. Officers said that busy road and junctions do pose problems. Officers said the Movement Plan is about equity, and in bringing plans to Cabinet officers will be utilising evidence and community views to enable good decision making.  Members agreed with the importance of working with communities, but in addition to this highlighted the importance of the Movement Plan having a more strategic focus that drives an operational plan, alongside with working with the community.

Members pressed the point on criteria used to make decisions and asked if Public Health information on deprivation, public transport availability, obesity, illness, air quality, etc.  will be used to make decisions. Officers said when schemes utilise external funding the criteria is set externally, however the council set certain criteria internally. The Director of Planning commented that officers can take away the point about the importance of transparent criteria when prioritising schemes. Members emphasised the importance of an overall strategic plan, that is driven by data on need, and which sets out how the aims of the Movement Plan will be delivered.

A member asked if schemes on major roads, particularly those with schools and hospitals are prioritised. Officers indicated that the shift in thinking around car parking is helpful. The plans for the Old Kent Road scheme are due to be completed soon. The council is working with TFL. A recent draft was presented by Sally Crew, Transport Policy lead, to an encouraging reception by TFL, where it was praised as a bold design. The scheme includes a Liner Park, which has already been granted planning permission. Officers said the scheme will reduce traffic and increase active travel, including cycling.   The scheme aims to deliver by 2030, with major work starting over a 1-5 years timeframe. This needs to be financially achievable. The Director of Planning said officers will be ready to share details of the plans in the summer, and emphasised that the improvements will come with the developments, rather than after.

The chair invited an audience member, Sandra Simpson, to comment on the Champion Hill scheme. She commented that the scheme covered about half her ward; however it is unclear how this small scheme fits into a broader and wider work to reduce traffic and emissions and raised concerns about unintended consequences of pushing traffic to other roads. 

David Smith, grassroots South London air quality campaigner who blogs tweets and campaigns as Little Ninja was invited to contribute to the discussion.

He emphasised the importance of emissions on main roads and their impact on children. Schools, and runs to school, frequently use main roads, where emissions are frequently twice as high as side roads.  He supports  schools streets and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, however he emphasised that the council ought to do more to tackle idling on main roads, and it is vital that when the council  close side roads that this does not poison the main roads.

He stressed the importance of not just listening to cycling lobbies, and the importance of listening to other communities.

Officers responded by saying one of the challenges is that the council have authority over side roads, but we do have also to work with TFL on main roads. They added that there is also rising evidence of hedges that can tackle pollution more effectively on main roads and in a cost effective way.

Members asked if it would help if we drastically reduced parking in Low Traffic Neighbourhoods. He said a net reduction in journeys is important and a reduction in car ownership will help that. Alongside reducing car parking he said that it is important that the council increase cycles hangers.