Six new walking routes for London

Zack Polanski AM proposed, and Caroline Russell AM seconded, the following altered motion:

“This Assembly notes that the coronavirus pandemic has seen growing public take-up of walking for everyday journeys, for exercise and pleasure.

However, according to data from the Office of National Statistics, only 44 per cent of people in London live within a five-minute walk of green space.

This Assembly recognises the proven benefits of walking for Londoners’ health, wellbeing and happiness and notes that the Mayor has asked TfL to explore the potential expansion of the Walk London Network. Ttherefore asks the Mayor to explore Ramblers’ Greenways map, suggesting six new walking routes in London, to expand the capital’s green walking network and complement existing routes.

This map has been produced with support from London Ramblers, CPRE London, London Living Streets, Long Distance Walkers Association, Sustrans London, Inspiral London and London National Trust. Urban Good have designed the map.

The six routes – named Forgotten Rivers, Great Eastern Parks, Counter’s Creek, Romford Greenway, Southern Rivers and the Five Boroughs Link – would provide walking links between green spaces, create greener streets and help revitalise the network of existing routes such as the Capital Ring and Thames Path.

This Assembly calls on the Mayor to conduct a feasibility study of these new routes, and to support their introduction in his officers’ work with the London Walking Forum and the Walk London Network.

The six new walking routes are:

Forgotten Rivers

A route that reveals rivers obscured by years of development. The River Fleet route connects Hampstead Heath with the Thames Path, while the Silk Stream trail links the Heath to the London LOOP at High Barnet, exploring the greener outskirts of London, past St Pancras Old Church and alongside the Regents Canal and across the Capital Ring through modern redevelopment of Brent Cross.

Great Eastern Parks

A west-east trail following the line of the Great Eastern Railway from the eastern edge of City of London to the Lea Valley and beyond, linking up existing parks and incorporating new green space to be created as part of the redevelopment of the old Bishopsgate Goodsyard.

Counter’s Creek

Follows the path of a hidden river along the boundary between Hammersmith & Fulham and Kensington & Chelsea to take in 2 of the ‘Magnificent Seven’ cemeteries at Kensal Green and Brompton and linking up with the Thames Path, Putney and Wimbledon Commons, the Capital Ring and the London Loop.

Romford Greenway

A route that links parks and nature reserves near areas of green deprivation, connecting to the Olympic Park, Capital Ring and London Loop, roughly shadowing the line of CrossRail development in some places and journeying along the London Greenway in others, with attendant opportunities for new infrastructure and greening.

Southern Rivers

Crossing Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham, Greenwich, Bexley, this route links the Thames with the River Quaggy and the River Shuttle – crossing the Ravensbourne by way of the old Surrey Canal.

Five Boroughs Link

A wander through Southwark, the City, Islington, Hackney and Waltham Forest, from the Thames to hills and marshes through Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, parks, squares, historic streets, past medieval churches, cathedrals and museums.”

Upon being put to a vote, the motion as altered, was agreed with 20 votes being cast in favour, and 0 votes being cast against.