Sutton Living Streets

Jeremy Leach (Photo: Charlotte Gilhooly)

A presentation was given by Jeremy Leach of Southwark Living Streets[13], about what their group did and how they do it. Tips included starting summer meetings with a walkabout in an area of interest, invite local councillors to present on issues that they are working on, and to work at borough level (e.g. 20 mph speed limits), area level (e.g. particular project – Windsor Castle), and local level (e.g. planting, greening, and ‘splayed’ junctions[14]). Getting to know how the council works, by starting with local councillors and working across political parties. It helps if a member of the group is also a member of the local party. Now is a good time to present ideas with an election due next year.

Jeremy (along with Josh Hart and Alastair Hanton) answered questions. Alastair gave the tip that when people attend meetings they should be given something to do, however small, in order to ensure they return – could be to represent a geographical area – just to give them a sense of doing something useful. One delegate, I think from Southwark Living Streets, said he thought there were three ‘spheres of interface’ that he was concerned about. Firstly cyclists – he saw too many cyclists on pavements these days[15].  Secondly rubbish and clutter on the street. Thirdly noise (less noticeable than clutter but increasing) of music blaring out from vehicles! These were thought to be reasonable points by Jeremy, but were not related to how to make a group more effective. A questioner asked whether the group encountered differences of opinion and, if so, how was it dealt with. He went on to say that he had often been shouted at by cyclists on pavements. Alastair said that a strong line should be taken. Cycling on pavements is illegal and we can oppose it. On the other hand were it a situation of improving a street for cycling and walking we would work together. Another delegate from Hackney Living Streets asked for more information on funding bids. Jeremy said that funding (for London boroughs) was through Local Implementation Plans, and Alastair added that a great way to get funding was to get those making the bid involved and to walk around with the group. A delegate from the West Midlands Campaign for Better Transport suggested that Living Streets should not forget public transport users as these modes clearly included a walking component. He also asked whether groups got bogged down by a sea of paperwork, and if so how they coped, and suggested that business cases should be made for making streets more pedestrian friendly. He gave an example of the A34 in Birmingham city centre where all traders had been up in arms about losing parking and loading bays. Business cases showing that, contrary to believe, pedestrians often spend more in the shops than passing motorists. Producing a business case, such that footfall increases by 20%, would help counteract the usual arguments put forward by traders for not wanting changes introduced that may appear to reduce trade. Jeremy said that head office would help with business cases to show the significance of the ‘walking pound’. Josh said that Sustrans had produced a paper about this[16]. Finally a lady from Chesterfield said that there is a problem with the two-tier system of local government in Chesterfield. Either the county or the district authority hadn’t heard of Manual for Streets.

Over lunch I suggested to Charlotte and Tony that perhaps we could ask local traders in Stonecot Hill if they would be prepared to ask their customers how they had travelled to the shop. I also asked Jeremy whether we could attend a Southwark meeting to exchange ideas, and he suggested the May meeting as this would involve a street audit. I also congratulated him on the Dulwich Plan document.