A petition has been submitted by Extinction Rebellion Winchester containing 746 signatures:
“If you live, work or study in Winchester...
We welcome the intentions of Winchester City Council and Hampshire County Council to create streets that allow pedestrians and cyclists to maintain 2 metre physical distancing. To be effective these measures must include:
1) Reallocating one lane of traffic for use by pedestrians and cyclists on streets with the narrowest pavements, such as St George’s Street, North Walls, City Bridge, Stockbridge Road, Romsey Road.
2) Restricting the use of inner-city car parks like Middlebrook, Colebrook and The Brooks to blue badge holders and residents in order to significantly reduce traffic in order to create more space for cyclists and pedestrians.
3) Prioritising public transport, blue badge holders, residents and emergency vehicles on our roads in the city centre.
4) Pedestrianising areas where there is a high density of people, such as The Square, Jewry Street, Upper part of High Street.
5) Rethinking key routes into the city centre, reallocating space to pedestrians and cyclists on all approaches.
Why is this important?
As lockdown is eased we must ensure the safety of pedestrians and cyclists is the top priority in Winchester’s recovery from COVID-19.
Numerous studies have demonstrated that increased pedestrianisation leads to higher footfall meaning that local businesses could also benefit from these measures.*
Winchester has some of the narrowest pavements in Hampshire, therefore reallocation of roads for pedestrians and cyclists is the only way to maintain 2 metre physical distancing.
In the longer term, these arrangements will also prevent the return of dangerous levels of pollution in our city, reduce CO2 emissions, and encourage high levels of walking and cycling.
Please refer to Cycling UK for FAQs: https://tinyurl.com/ycqwsky9
*TfL: https://tinyurl.com/ya8wvy59 “
Minutes:
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 16, a petition was submitted by Extinction Rebellion Winchester containing 746 signatures.
Mr Joyce on behalf of Extinction Rebellion introduced the petition. In summary, Mr Joyce referred to the desire to reduce traffic in the centre of Winchester and creating safer conditions for pedestrian and cyclists. He suggested that that where the pavements were at their most narrow, one lane of traffic should be reallocated for use by pedestrians and cyclists. There should be restrictions to the use of inner city car parks and roads and some areas considered for permanent pedestrianisation. These arrangements would be good for safety, business and also to prevent the return of levels of pollution previously experienced.
Councillor Tod (Cabinet Member for Service Quality and Transformation) thanked Mr Joyce for his presentation. In summary, Councillor Tod reported that a number of the initiatives referred to in the petition had already been implemented. He shared some of the ambition in the petition, but that more funding from government would need to be forthcoming as well as time to design schemes in consultation with stakeholders. County Council traffic engineers were also involved with schemes across the district. Councillor Tod referred to the Movement Strategy which was a joint study with the City and County Council Councils. This work focused on longer-term goals including reducing city centre traffic, supporting healthier choices and sustainable growth.
Councillor Tod explained that he would be pleased to meet with Extinction Rebellion to explain the Movement Strategy further and to share its views. He also proposed that the ideas set out in the petition could be further explored by officers involved in the Movement Strategy. There would also be further discussion of the petition at a future meeting of the Health and Environment Policy Committee to help formulate a considered response.
During the debate which followed, Members raised a number of points including:
· Many of the points referred to in the petition regarding social distancing and wider pavements and separation and prioritisation of traffic were likely to be generally accepted. Existing poor air quality in the town area was an existing issue that must also be improved upon. However, consideration must be given to the fact that Winchester draws in many visitors due to it being an administrative, tourist, educational and retail centre; as well as a transport hub and a place of work and an urban centre with a sizeable population.
· The petition indicated that there was a good level of support for safer walking and cycling routes. During the pandemic, there had been a notable reduction to the number of vehicles on the roads and also from air pollution from vehicles. It was hoped that more sustainable transport options in future would reduce car ownership, although there would need to be some provision for car parking in the city centre at least in the shorter term. Further changes would also help with the climate emergency.
· There must be safe separation between cyclists and pedestrians, as some cyclists travelled at speed.
· Some aspects of the petition were already in place, or under consideration as part of the Movement Strategy. However, an effective public transport system for Winchester was important and residents should not be given priority in central car parks, as they were best placed to use other more sustainable means of transport.
· Winchester city and the district’s market towns all face economic challenges as a consequence of the pandemic. People needed to be able to access these centres to support businesses with their recovery. Car parks should remain open for visitors.
· Some historic city centres which have been fully pedestrianised have not seen a fall off in visitor numbers. Market towns and villages must also be considered as part of further discussion of the petition.
· The new Local Plan would mirror the Council Plan by having a focus on reducing carbon footprint at its heart. Extinction Rebellion were encouraged to comment on the options and issues elements of the new Local Plan when this was published
In summing up, Councillor Tod reassured that there was an ongoing desire for Winchester and other centres to continue to thrive. As a consequence of the pandemic, people should be able to confidently access streets by ensuring that they are safe and practical. The Health and Environment Policy Committee would be able to give further detailed consideration and discussion of the matters presented in the petition so that a considered response can be provided.
RESOLVED:
That the matters raised in the petition be referred to a future meeting of the Health and Environment Policy Committee.