Agenda item

RESOLVED: That the Committee:

a)         Note the evidence presented.

b)         Consider the evidence as part of its Modern Roads Review Report.

3.1      Jeremy Leach, London Campaign Co-ordinator, ‘20s Plenty For Us’ gave a presentation to the Committee. The key points to note were:

§  56% of those killed or seriously injured in the borough are on TfL-managed streets and 44% were on Lewisham managed roads and 80% of killed and seriously injured casualties in the borough occurred on A or B classified roads.

§  The British Social Attitudes Survey of 2011 showed that 73% of respondents favoured 20mph zones for residential roads.

§  Road speeds: some examples of the benefits in areas that have introduced 20mph limits:

o   Portsmouth - reduction in the average speed of 1.3 mph. Average fall of 6.3mph at sites with speeds greater than 24 mph.

o   Islington (2013) - average speeds fell on 18 of the 29 main roads researched and rose on 10 of them. Estimated that average speeds across the borough fell by 1mph.

§  The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine conducted a study into the impact of 300+ 20mph zones between1986 -2006 and this showed a 42% decline in road casualties. A Lancashire County Council study in 2012 showed that three pilot 20mph zones resulted in a 46% reduction in casualties. A study in Edinburgh last year on its 20mph pilot showed that:

o   Those considering cycling to be unsafe fell from 26% to 18%

o   Children cycling to school rose from 4% to 12%

o   Older primary age children cycling to school rose from 3% to 22%.

§  In respect of compliance of 20mph limits, ACPO policy changed in October 2013, which noted that, “enforcement will be considered in all clearly posted limits…rest assured, deliberate high harm offenders will always be targeted and they will be prosecuted.” City of London (CoL) Police began issuing fixed penalty notices since CoL adopted authority-wide 20mph limit in July 2014. In terms of community monitoring, Community Road Watch’ is currently conducting trials in Southwark, Islington and Lambeth. This is a programme that empowers local people to act against drivers who speed on their streets.

§  TfL are now open to proposals from boroughs that are introducing 20mph limit. to include appropriate Transport for London Route Network (TLRN) roads

3.2       In response to questions from the Committee, the following was noted:

§  To ensure the 20mph limit policy is implemented effectively, the Council should:

o   Work closely with the borough police

o   Have a proactive education programme and use local groups and facilities. For example, Liverpool City Council involved Liverpool and Everton Football Clubs in its communications strategy.

§  Implementation of a 20mph zone will also be successful if you get the appropriate changes in driver behaviour on the roads and excellent signage as drivers enter and exit the borough.

§  Traffic speed in Lewisham is approximately 27mph in free-flowing traffic.

§  TfL are conducting trials on a number of routes to measure the impact of 20mph on Red Routes.

§  TfL have also embraced the Community Road Watch programme, forming part of its ‘Safe London streets: Our six road safety commitments’ document.

3.3       Stephen Hedley, London Air Quality Network, gave a presentation to the meeting. The key points to note were:

§  King’s College London hosts the London Air Quality Network which is supported by the majority of boroughs, including Lewisham. There are a number of monitoring sites in the borough to monitor its air quality.

§  The Department of Health-supported Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants has estimated that poor air quality across the UK was responsible for the equivalent of 29,000 premature deaths due to people breathing in tiny particles released into the air (2008 data). The World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer stipulated in 2013 that outdoor air pollution was a leading environmental cause of cancer deaths.

§  In urban areas, traffic is the main source of ‘modern’ air pollution – Particulate Matter (PM) & Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂). These can affect the Respiratory Tract Lining Fluid, leading to breathing and lung problems, as well as other illnesses. Evidence has shown that there is a causal link between PM exposure and cardiovascular morbidly and mortality.

§  The Mayor of London’s ‘Air Quality in Lewisham: A Guide For Public Health Professionals’ has shown that in Greater London it is estimated that in 2008 there were 4,267 deaths attributable to long-term exposure to small particles. This figure is based upon an amalgamation of the average loss of life of those affected, of 11.5 years. In Lewisham, over the same period, 153 deaths were attributable to PM2.5.

§  Out of a total of 68 Public Health Outcome Framework measures of the health of the local population certain transport related measures could contribute to a third of them. It is believed that no other area of intervention could impact on so many key aspects of population health. Transport measures are therefore an excellent opportunity to deliver public health benefits across the life course through tackling one of the major wider determinants of health.

§  In respect of NO_{2, I}n Lewisham, the research shows high levels of NO₂ recorded on the main arterial roads.

§  There is a worrying trend in the UK, that most cities will exceed EU pollution limits until 2030.

§  Lewisham must comply with the Environment Act, and with the introduction of the Localism Act, EU fines have the potential of being passed from the UK government to local authorities.

3.4       In response to questions from the Committee, the following was noted:

§  The issue of trees and air quality is complex. On the positive side trees can increase the surface deposition of pollutants; on the negative side some tree species can emit hydrocarbons (and also produce pollen potentially leading to hay fever). Overall trees on their own are not likely to resolve current air quality problems. Leafier parts of the Borough are likely to be less polluted as are probably further away from the main roads.

§  Aircraft pollution is minimal for those on the ground whilst planes are in the air. However, there is a take-off/landing air pollution issue very close to the largest airports, which is compounded by road traffic using the airport.

§  To factor in minimising air quality issues when designing developments is not straightforward, as it is typically site dependent and so may require specific investigation e.g. through air quality modelling.  In general, reducing human exposure to air pollutants by placing developments away from dense traffic, plus reducing emissions e.g. restricting the local use of diesel vehicles and other measures would have an impact.

§  TfL’s move to use more electric buses over the coming years will result in lower emissions and therefore improve air quality.

§  The use of cycling masks will have small impact in combating air pollution and they need replacing every few weeks.

3.5       Tom Platt, London Manager, Living Streets, addressed the Committee. The key points to note were:

§  Living Streets is a national charity that campaigns on behalf of pedestrians. Their objective is to create safe, attractive and enjoyable streets where people want to walk.

§  Living Streets has a local Lewisham campaigning group, which recently elected a new Chair.

§  Local authorities introducing 20mph limits on their roads will have the single biggest impact in reducing road casualties, and encouraging people to walk and cycle. 20 mph limits are also associated with higher levels of walking. Research into the impact of 20mph zones has found that levels of walking and cycling rise significantly when vehicle speeds are reduced.

§  80% of casualties on roads happen on the major roads, which makes it important that there are ‘borough-wide’ approaches to 20mph zones.

§  With the lack of physical activity and mobility being a contributory factor on ill-health and premature mortality, getting people active through walking and cycling will improve the general health and wellbeing of society.

§  It is recognised that the development of modern high streets means innovative approaches are needed to accommodation pedestrians and cyclists.

§  Tackling poor air quality caused by motor vehicles will also have a significant impact in improving the health and wellbeing of individuals.

§  There is also an ‘inequalities’ issue in respect of air quality, as those people who live on and around high streets tend to be the less affluent.

3.6       In response to questions from the Committee, the following was noted:

§  To make Lewisham streets safer for pedestrians, walking and pedestrians need to be prioritised. Once that policy position is established, a more holistic approach to street design will be developed to encourage walking, cycling and use of public transport.

§  Lewisham can also look to ensure that their streets have the minimum Pedestrian Comfort Levels. Living Streets can also conduct Community Street Audits, to help communities and councils work together to improve their streets.

§  Living Streets work with schools on transport plans to encourage walking, such as the ‘Park and Stride’ scheme, and they have had some success in doing so.

§  19 of Lewisham schools’ school transport plans have been awarded the TfL Gold Standard and 40% have at least Bronze Standard, which means they have to demonstrate how they implement the plan and make it successful. Lewisham also works with schools to make the plans work, with initiatives such as cycle training.

§  Living Streets are lobbying the Mayor of London on implementing a London-wide Ultra Low Emissions Zone to help to improve air quality across the capital.

§  The Mayor of London’s ‘Better Streets’ report of November 2009 has a lot of practical measures to improve streets in London.

§  Living Streets have been involved in the Roads Task Force (RTF) which was set up by the Mayor of London following the 2012 election to consider how to tackle the challenges facing London’s streets and roads.

3.7       Jane Davis, Coordinator, Lewisham Cyclists addressed the Committee. The key points to note were:

§  Lewisham Cyclists are the borough branch of a London-wide group that looks to promote cycling and better conditions for people to cycling, of which there is a Lewisham branch. It consists of a social arm, and a campaigning arm. There are 700 paid-up members in Lewisham.

§  They believe that the Council are good at the ‘soft’ measures when it comes to cycling, such as cycle training, working closely with walkers/pedestrian/cycling groups, improvement in the streetscape for cyclists, such as the cycle racks.

§  Lewisham Cyclists are concerned that the rate of increase in cycling journeys recorded in the Local Implementation Plan (LIP) in 2013 in Lewisham seems to have stalled, and, more worryingly, even dropped at some points. The increase in cycling in Lewisham has not met the original target set of 2.3%, which Lewisham Cyclists considered an incredibly modest target in the first place. 

§  To encourage more people to cycle, both objective safety and subjective safety must be addressed. Objective safety can be assessed by an analysis of cycling collisions. However, subjective safety is much more difficult to analyse, but can be alleviated by measures to reduce speed, and reduce volumes of motor traffic.  Where it’s not possible to do this, the Council should introduce protection for cyclists from motor traffic.

§  Lewisham Cyclists welcome the Council’s adoption of a borough wide 20mph limit.  Creating safer roads is probably the single most important thing a council can do to encourage people to cycle and slower motor traffic everywhere will contribute enormously to this. They also welcome the Council’s progress in ensuring compliance with the latest safety regulations for large lorries in the borough, both within the Council’s own fleet, and for contractor’s vehicles.

§  Lewisham Cyclists also welcome the Council’s plans for the new Quietway 1, part of which runs through the north of the borough, providing a safe and useful cycling route. They also appreciate the existing networks of cycle routes in the borough, some of which are excellent, such as the Waterlink Way.

§  Some of the measures that Lewisham could introduce that would improve conditions for cyclists are:

o   An audit of the existing well used cycle networks in the borough, as some of the best ones are beginning to deteriorate at key points, or lack a decent crossing of a busy road at a key point

o   Trundley’s Rd:  the Council should be pressurising TfL to allow a toucan crossing there

o   Modify the Lewisham Gateway Low H and Deptford Bridge junctions to provide safe, fast direct routes for cycling to and from it in all directions, as it is a major junction in the heart of the borough providing extensive links for traffic

o   Identifying where measures such as modal filtering and cycle 2-way traffic on one way streets can be used to enable safer cycling.  The borough has used these measures in the past successfully and recently, on the new Quietway 1.

3.8      In response to questions from the Committee, the following was noted:

§  The comparative figures for London show that Lewisham has a lower percentage of cycle journeys (as a person’s main mode of transport) than LB Southwark and LB Lambeth.

§  The profile of members of Lewisham Cyclists shows that the majority of its members are 25-40 years old and based in the South of the borough. Lewisham Cyclists have a gender mix of 50%-50% of male and female, which is significantly different to the London profile of 70% male and 30% females for those that cycle.

§  Studies are being carried out on Southend Lane at Bellingham before work is commissioned to improve the area. There is also work is being carried out on the Bell Green gyratory.

§  Lewisham did not change its target in respect of cycle use; however it changed the trajectory of time in reaching that target.

§  Lewisham has received £2m of TfL funding to improve some of its road network and infrastructure.

§  The re-development of London Bridge has meant the storage facilities for cycles in the station has changed, so this needs to be communicated to Lewisham residents.

§  Lewisham Cyclists have lobbied the Mayor of London’s Office to bring the ‘Barclays Cycle Hire’ scheme to the borough, especially with the Convoys Wharf Development.

3.9      RESOLVED: That the Committee:

a)    Note the evidence presented.

b)    Consider the evidence as part of its Modern Roads Review Report.