Work and play on doorstep’s the future
LANCASHIRE needs to embrace the culture of the “20-minute neighbourhood” – where services and jobs are within a short walk or bike ride of where people live – and develop communities where use of the car is not the “first option” for travel.
That was the message from Lancashire County Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport Charlie Edwards who told the inaugural Lancashire climate summit that active travel and public transport should be put at the heart of the planning agenda in the region.
He said that the county would also be pushing a three-pronged approach to reducing reliance on the car – based on an imperative to “avoid”,
“shift” or “improve”.
“Avoid travel if you can (by) working from home, if possible. If you can’t avoid, then shift your mode (to) cycling instead, or walking or getting on public transport.
“If that’s not possible, then improve the car journey that you take in terms of (using) an electric car,” County Cllr Edwards said.
The conference heard that the county is looking to increase the availability of electric charging points - of which there are currently 428 in Lancashire – including via the installationofnewreduced-clutter charging infrastructure on terrace streets where it has hitherto been deemed impractical to put in place the necessary kit.
Delegates were also told the county was keen to make bus travel “appealing.. safe and accessible” – as well as an easy option – in order to encourage drivers to ditch their cars for at least some journeys.
To that end, the council also laid out its vision for “mobility hubs” where timetables are aligned between bus and train services and where cycle and car-sharing schemes are also available in one convenient location.
County Cllr Edwards contrasted his own experience of growing up in well-connected London with the reality of travel for many people here.