Issue - meetings

Councillor Sharon Holder and Councillor Wesley Harcourt presented the report proposing the Clean Air Neighbourhoods programme seeking to reduce many of the impacts of poor air quality and improve the health of residents. It proposed a range of measures and public realm area improvements, including new trees, greening, sustainable drainage systems, pedestrian safety improvements, cycling facilities and traffic access restrictions.

The Cabinet received four valid deputations on the proposals and each representative was permitted to address the Cabinet for 5 minutes.

With the Leader’s permission Mr Leo Murray was the first speaker to present his deputation. He represented W6 Safe Cycling Families, comprising 114 parents who cycled locally with their children. He offered their welcome for the Clean Air Neighbourhoods plans and were thankful for the Safer Cycle Pathway on King Street. As people felt safer, the number of people cycling on the local streets had increased considerably. They greatly appreciated the Council’s efforts to reduce the motor traffic to make local streets safer and lessen the air pollution.

Mr Murray stated that their three key priorities going forward were:

·         the Weltje Road / Rivercourt Road delta was not working well for cyclists due to heavy traffic, particularly around school gates times. Ideally these roads should be closed to through traffic at the start and the end of the school day, He asked it his could be implemented as part of the Ravenscourt Park CAN.

·         more cycle lanes on key main roads such as Wood Lane, Uxbridge Road and Goldhawk Road.

·         School Streets to be included in the plans.

The Leader thanked Mr Murray and asked Ms Natalie Lindsay, representing Wandsworth Bridge Road Association, to present her deputation.

Ms Lindsay noted their appreciation for the Council commitment to addressing the serious problem of air pollution in the borough, which affected every resident, and their support to the initiative of Clean Air Neighbourhoods. However, they were concerned that the safety of pedestrians and cyclists risked being overlooked in the scheme, both on boundary roads and within the zones. They asked that the treatments of boundary roads on the plans also took into consideration the road safety of pedestrian and cyclists. Likewise, to prioritise changes to the road that would protect users and encourage local drivers to cycle instead of driving, while improving the air quality. They urged the Council to give equal importance to traffic calming measures within CANs to control speeding.

The Leader thanked Ms Lindsay and invited the third speaker, Ms Nikita Crocker, representing Hammersmith & Fulham Clean Air Parents, to present her deputation.

Ms Crocker stated that Clean Air Neighbourhoods was the first step in recognising and tackling the danger of the levels of pollution caused by car dependency, especially on children who were at greatest risk. They asked that the Council looked beyond today and also considered plans for the future. They appealed for the Council to consider measures to mitigate against short local trips to offer the required protection to children going to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4