Agenda item

[Report of the Director for Housing, Regeneration and Planning. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Planning and Corporate Services.]

Cabinet are requested to provide approval to consult on a Draft Walking & Cycling Action Plan.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Corporate Services introduced the report which sought approval for the draft Walking and Cycling Action Plan (WCAP). It was explained that the WCAP was a commitment set out in the 2018 Transport Strategy and it aimed to establish a reputation for Haringey as a walking and cycling borough, to ensure that more journeys were taken on foot and by bicycle, and to increase active travel to improve the wellbeing of residents, reduce obesity, and improve air quality.

It was noted that the WCAP had five central aspirations: to increase active travel, policies on walking, policies on cycling, delivering low traffic neighbourhoods, and reallocating road space to enable sustainable growth and to make walking and cycling safer. The Cabinet Member for Planning and Corporate Services explained that the WCAP set out a hierarchy of modes with pavement users at the top, followed by cyclists, public transport, electric vehicles, and motor vehicles. Once the WCAP was in place, it would be possible to reallocate road space to higher priority groups. It was noted that there was a delivery plan attached to the WCAP which set out proposals for a number of cycle routes, Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs), and walking and cycling projects.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Corporate Services outlined that the WCAP aimed to reduce the number of journeys made by car to address the climate and inactivity crises, to prevent deaths on the road, and to assist green recovery from Covid-19 and benefit high streets and the local economy. It was noted that, by enabling people to walk and cycle more easily, neighbourhoods would be safer, there would be less pollution, and the area would be a better place to live and work. It was also considered that the impact of pollution and safety disproportionately affected lower income residents and the WCAP aimed to reduce these impacts.

The Leader commented that he was very supportive of the fact that the WCAP had deliverables and practical steps. Cllr Chandwani added that the plan acknowledged some elements that were unique to Haringey and celebrated the borough.

Following questions from Cllr Bull, Cllr Palmer, Cllr Brabazon, and Cllr Rossetti, the following information was provided:

•           It was acknowledged that there were differences between motorcycle, scooter, and car use in terms of road safety and carbon emissions. The Cabinet Member for Planning and Corporate Services noted that he would consider this point and that the hierarchy for modes of transport may be amended to reflect this.

•           In relation to funding and delivery, it was confirmed that the WCAP did not exclusively rely on external funding. It was explained that £5.1 million of capital funding had been allocated in the capital programme, £2 million of funding had been secured from Transport for London (TfL), and £1.9 million was expected from Local Implementation Plan (LIP) funding.

•           It was noted that the delivery of the WCAP, including LTNs, would be decided based on the 10 criteria for prioritisation which were set out in the WCAP delivery plan. It was noted that the exact dates had not been confirmed yet but were under discussion.

•           It was noted that the Liveable Seven Sisters project, which also aimed to improve pedestrian and cycling accessibility, was not specifically mentioned in the WCAP. It was explained that the WCAP set out key principles which could influence many ongoing and future projects and it did not intend to list all relevant projects. It was added that the WCAP was in draft form and would be open for consultation so it would be possible to add detail where required.

•           It was commented that the valuable learning from the Crouch End Liveable Neighbourhood project was the importance of engaging effectively with everyone in the area, including businesses, and it was commented that there would be joint working with the Cabinet Member Local Investment and Economic Growth. It was noted that, for the first three proposed LTNs, there would be open engagement and letters would be sent to everyone in the area.

•           Concerns about traffic displacement in relation to LTNs were noted and a specific example of a previous LTN in Harringay ward was given. The Cabinet Member for Planning and Corporate Services noted these concerns and commented that, in relation to the specific issues mentioned, work was underway to engage with local residents and ward Councillors and to improve the situation. In relation to LTNs in general, it was acknowledged that there was initial displacement, and it was aimed to anticipate any issues through studies and engagement with local people and ward Councillors. It was considered that making it easier to walk and cycle would enable and encourage more people to use these modes of transport and that, overall, the total amount of traffic in the borough would reduce.

[Cllr Hearn did not vote on this item due to a temporary connection issue.]

RESOLVED

To approve the draft Walking and Cycling Action Plan (WCAP), and the WCAP Delivery Plan for public consultation in Appendix 1 and Appendix 2.

Reasons for decision

The WCAP is needed to deliver the Council’s adopted Transport Strategy and to enable more trips in Haringey to be made by walking and cycling. The WCAP ensures clarity around the Council’s active travel priorities for managing our transport network and to support the delivery of the Borough Plan priorities for growth and regeneration, as well as improving health and environmental quality. The WCAP will further support the work Haringey has done to adapt and improve its transport system to respond to Covid-19. The WCAP will also help support the emerging New Local Plan to help shape new developments.

The absence of the WCAP runs the risk of decisions about investment in walking and cycling being made in an uncoordinated manner. The WCAP is particularly important to target resources effectively in light of TfL’s currently very limited funds as a consequence of Covid-19.

Alternative options considered.

The Council could rely on the Mayor of London’s Transport Strategy and the Haringey Transport Strategy for setting priorities and decision making. However, while Haringey shares many of the same transport challenges as the rest of London, and its sub-region, the high-level MTS fails to recognise variations in approach based upon local context, and therein, the weight to be afforded to the realisation of specific objectives and priorities. The Haringey Transport Strategy was adopted with the commitment to produce the WCAP in recognition of its high-level aspirations.