3 May 2021

Harrow Green Party Responds to the Removal of Harrow's Streetspace Programme

Harrow Council confirmed on Thursday, 29th April that its LTNs and cycle lanes, which were installed in Harrow as part of the wider Streetspace scheme in 2020 are to be removed.  Harrow Council will be the first council in London to take this action.  

 

Emma Wallace, Brent and Harrow candidate in the London Elections responds to the schemes removal

 

"Whilst Harrow Council did not carry out a thorough enough consultation with residents when the scheme was first introduced last year, it is extemely unfortunate that the council have decided to completely scrap the 'Streetspace' programme, the first council to do so.  A huge amount of money has been wasted on something that was never given fully enough time for the benefits to be clearly felt, including helping to ensure cleaner air, safer, greener, quieter, calmer and friendlier streets.  I think it's also important to point out that the Streetspace programme was a Government requirement, written into the first TfL financial rescue deal, stating that LTNs would be introduced without prior consultation by boroughs and so Harrow Council cannot wholly be blamed for the lack of public consultation and implementation.  (Read the letter from the Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps to Sadiq Khan, on terms of the May 2020 bailout.  Note in particular section 12.d, specifying "closures of roads to through traffic" using "at least" £55 million provided, detail to be "agreed & overseen" by TfL *and* HMG.)

Over the last ten years we've seen a 74% increase in traffic on our residential side streets, due to an increase in the use of navigational phone Apps, meaning that streets that were once relatively quiet are now dangerous rat runs, endangering lives and increasing air pollution.  The LTNs were a start to addressing these issue and it seems short-sighted to completely rip out the scheme now, with no alternative programme in place.  Harrow Council declared a climate emergemcy in 2019, we are in the midst of an ecological crisis and breathing toxic air in our London neighbourhoods, requiring urgent action and a complete rethink on how we get around London. 

We need to reduce our dependency on cars, particularly for shorter journeys and focus instead on making it safer for walking and cycling.  We also need to ensure that we have a public transport system, which is affordable, green and efficient.   As Green Mayor, Sian Berry will ensure we have a new, clean, green bus service linking into other modes of public transport, and with walking and cycling routes.  Sian will ensure that there is regular, high level investment in our streets, which will enable walking and cycling to be an everyday choice for far more journeys in inner and outer London.  Read the full London 2021 manifesto here"   

Emma Wallace, GLA Green Party Candidate for Brent and Harrow

 

 

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