Councils warned over street closures
COUNCILS that fail to consult residents and businesses before closing streets to traffic will have funding “clawed back”, the Transport Secretary has warned.
Announcing a new £ 175 million tranche of funding for walking and cycling schemes, Grant Shapps said stricter consultation measures would be put in place to ensure local community support.
Low-traffic neighbourhoods, which block car traffic from residential areas, were rolled out across the country earlier this year, have proved controversial with some councils reversing their schemes after local criticism. The Department for Transport said overall support was high, citing survey figures showing 65 per cent of people in England support reallocating road space to cycling and walking in their local area.
But it admitted that some schemes had caused problems, pledging to remove funding from councils that failed to make sure local people supported the measures under “tough” new conditions.
Critics have argued that the schemes pushed traffic elsewhere, caused congestion and blocked access for emergency services.
The strength of feeling was such that planters used at the ends of roads have been tipped over and destroyed, and crowds have gathered to protest.
In October, Mr Shapps admitted that some road closures and cycle lanes were badly designed and said he was “not prepared to tolerate” poorly thought-out schemes.
“Schemes must balance the needs of cyclists and pedestrians with the needs of other road users, including motorists and local businesses,” he said.
In a letter to councils outlining the new funding, the minister said that while some schemes had been beneficial, others had been less helpful, citing the use of barriers to widen pavements, which can prevent pedestrians from crossing the road, block access to businesses and cause congestion. Under the new provisions, councils must publish detailed consultation plans, show “reasonable” evidence of consultation before implementation and submit monitoring reports six to 12 months after opening.
If a council cannot show evidence of consultation, future funding could be cut and “clawbacks” could be imposed, the DFT said.
The new rules differ f rom the £250 million allocated in May, which allowed councils to install temporary schemes overnight with no prior consultation, as the Government attempted to quickly open up more space for people to cycle and walk during the coronavirus pandemic. Consultation is then carried out on whether they should be made permanent.
Chris Boardman, the Olympic cycling champion and Greater Manchester cycling and walking commissioner, said he “wholeheartedly” supported the funding. “The emphasis on more consultation is welcome too, so that we can ensure the best solutions are put in the right locations,” he said.
Xavier Brice, chief executive of Sustrans, the walking and cycling charity said: “This urgency to designate more space for walking and cycling has naturally created opposition as change can be difficult for people, especially during a time of crisis.”