High Streets for All

Tackle traffic and air pollution across the whole of London, including the outer boroughs. Living in the outer suburbs (Zone 4) close to the North Circular, traffic congestion is by far the worst blight on quality of life. Yet there are very few traffic management schemes and almost no monitoring of air quality (in Barnet). Please run more buses and bus routes for local journeys (not just into the centre of London) and create 24 hour bus lanes so that those wonderful electric double deckers don’t just sit in stationary traffic. It is also sadly much cheaper for people to drive around in the suburbs than to take public transport. Another potential solution to getting people out of their cars in the suburbs (since the ULEZ will only be extended to the North and South circulars) would be to introduce a charge per mile scheme for private vehicles.

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Suggested by RotherhiteRambler 17 March

6 comments
Last activity 1 year ago

Green spaces have been a lifeline for many of us who have been confined to London throughout most of the pandemic. On a practical level they have provided a place where we can take our daily exercise but just as importantly, they have helped with maintaining our mental health during these difficult times – partly through the connection we get with nature. Going forward I would like to ensure such spaces are protected from future construction and housing projects. Councils should also ensure they are well maintained and try to limit the occasions on which they are completely taken over by large scale events – which have in the past severally restricted access for everyday users. It would also be wonderful if once in while available land, such as former commercial or industrial sites, wasn’t automatically turned into luxury housing developments but was converted into new green spaces. Russia Dock Woods on the Rotherhithe peninsular is a great example of how a previous commercial/industrial site can be converted into a green space which is enjoyed by everyone from joggers and dog walkers to nature lovers. Whilst there are probably limited former commercial/industrial sites of that size in London there are almost certainly smaller ones which could, with a bit of imagination, be converted into green spaces. Such ideas may seem a bit extravagant under the current circumstances, but we should bear in mind the physical and mental health benefits of our green spaces.

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Suggested by storm138 17 March

1 comment
Last activity 3 years ago

In 1994 I visited Lyon, France, whilst studying architecture. Lyon's Mayor had won a recent term by promising to increase (yes I said increase) Taxes in Lyon for a good number of years so they could invest in making the City cleaner. The Mayor had a clear strategic vision in order to make Lyon a better place to live that the whole city bought into. The Mayor had a plan to reinvent the whole city transportation strategy. The City, like a lot of French cities, have small squares and streets which over the years had become car parks for the residents. Today cars now park below the streets and the squares in underground car parks. You drive along your neighbourhood street, down a ramp and park up. Exiting the car park as a pedestrian you come up to a landscaped square. Squares and streets are about people, cafes, public spaces. I imagine what our residential streets in Brixton would be like if the cars parked below the streets. Our streets would be urban parks where we could all cycle on the roads (not the pavements) and enjoy cleaner safer streets. Don't ban the car, accommodate it with clever solutions. The underground tube system was also upgraded to driverless trains, running on tyres, not rails, so as to reduce the noise to those living above. Bus shelters were heated. The city used trolleybuses. I have no idea what the whole city programme cost, but Lyon was one of the most beautiful, progressive European cities I visited at that time. Investing in infrastructure created opportunities for others to invest, along with a new opera house, the new airport, commercial and residential developments. London* needs a long term strategic vision that can be shared with business and residents alike. London needs to work for the people who live in it, not just those who visit for work or pleasure. Most of my local traffic is from vehicles visiting; yet as a resident, we are penalised for their pollution or bad driving. *Zones 1 2 & 3

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Suggested by chavda 17 March

1 comment
Last activity 3 years ago

there should be much more safer streets to bring the community together. set up an initiative to use graffiti artists, gardeners to create signposts that this is a community street. it should be much more evident that this a loved street by the community, allow locals to tend to vegetation artists to decorate (within approved parameters) fix large painting boards to large blank walls. Make the street easily identifiable to pedestrians cars cyclists they are in a community zone

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Suggested by PrimeNumberOne 17 March

0 comments
Last activity 3 years ago

I live in a place that has a tiny garden at the front and a back garden. Why not have a gardening guru visit communities to help them make the most of their little spaces? Help with how to garden, look after plants and flowers and generally how to brighten up the community. It would bring pride back into places and have them loved again. It would have an effect on the mood of people. It would be cheaper in the long run for people to look after their public spaces, especially if they have a had a say in making them look nice.

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Suggested by VK 17 March

7 comments
Last activity 3 years ago

The roofs of hundreds of bus stops have been covered in plants as a gift to honeybee, by a city in the Netherlands. Mainly made up of sedum plants, The shelters not only support the city’s biodiversity, such as honey bees and bumblebees, but they also help capture fine dust and store rainwater. The roofs are looked after by workers More than 300 bus stops have had their roofs transformed by plants to help biodiversity such as honey bees and bumblebees The roofs are intended to improve air quality as well as supporting the city's insects The roofs are just one of many measures being taken to improve the air quality of the city

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Suggested by shandan 17 March

1 comment
Last activity 3 years ago

As rollerblading/skating has boomed since the pandemic. I’ve noticed that there aren’t many spaces where skaters can practice safely away from pedestrians and cars. Flat tarmac or concrete spaces in parks would be great as skaters constantly get kicked out of car parks and office areas which are perfect for skating on. Roller skating is a great way to exercise and get around , I think having working and useful cycling lanes ( that skaters can use) would help with pollution as-well as encouraging people to get out and move.

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Suggested by yaxow 17 March

39 comments
Last activity 3 years ago

In short, I'd like to see more rebalance of our streetscape away from private motor vehicles and towards active and public transport. I'd like: more pedestrianised streets; safe and more extensive cycle paths; widened pavements; enforced lower speed limits; conversion of street side parking spaces to wider pavements or cycling paths; reduced number of parking spaces; new housing developments, especially those near public transport hubs, should be car-free.

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Suggested by Joseph C 16 March

6 comments
Last activity 3 years ago

Every pub, football stadium, petrol station etc that had been closed in the last 20 years or so has been replaced by thousands of flats. Building after building after building. Leaving a concrete jungle more than before. There should have been a lot more open spaces left to allow the community to breathe!

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Suggested by andrepiza 16 March

3 comments
Last activity 3 years ago

London needs to have smarter transport and neighborhoods need to be more friendly to pedestrians. We need to be able to mostly walk or cycle in our towns, but get quickly and conveniently to other parts of London (central or not). Currently it is very difficult to go from Crystal Palace to Greenwhich for instance, despite both regions being relatively close to each other. Pedestrianised areas could revitalise our high streets, improve air quality and give us better sense of belonging, while better rail transport across the city would make sure we leave our cars mostly at home and participate on what different areas have to offer (they don't need to be the same, or have a bit of everything).

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Suggested by LeonSamuels 16 March

1 comment
Last activity 3 years ago

Air conditioning needs to improve as the above lines are unbearable during the warm weather that will be arriving soon, and summer is not far away. As lockdown comes nearer to an end, more of us will hopefully be on the tube travelling all over. With everyone over 21 and in employment and under pension age paying for their travel, funds will rebuild TfL finances to pay for this.

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Suggested by cinzia 16 March

0 comments
Last activity 3 years ago

It would be wonderful to have space accessible and available for pets. At the moment there is not a dedicated area for dogs

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Suggested by cinzia 16 March

1 comment
Last activity 3 years ago

It would be wonderful to promote walking route and cycling paths that connect Surrey quays and Greenwich. Currently there seems to be a gap on quality between Southwark and Greenwich In walking routes and cycling infrastructure.

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Suggested by LeonSamuels 16 March

2 comments
Last activity 3 years ago

"That’s why we will use London’s recovery to tackle the deep-seated structural inequalities that have long scarred our city, and to rebuild London as FAIRER, greener and more prosperous" - Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London To regenerate our economy, all Londoners earning £33K or less per year, should be given an Oyster card from TfL allowing free travel on our tube, DLR and buses. This will save Londoners a lot of their money that is spent on travelling to work while juggling with expensive rent, utilities and food bills which all come at a premium for Capital City dwellers. This will be a mojor relief for the thousands of Londoners who will contribute in getting our economy back on track. Surely, this idea needs to be considered as soon as possible. It is not FAIR when people earning £33,000 to over £90,000 are given a FREE Oyster card which entitles them to travel on the tube, DLR, TfL rail and London buses anytime! - I am talking of the London Police. The police do a job that is difficult and we recognise their sacrifice, however, they are paid very well and have secure employment with excellent pension, benefits (incl. Free travel on or off duty). When off duty, what impact will they make as not wearing uniform. The Police pay in London is advertised as £33,000 (minimum) for new police recruits, but most are on over £40,000 a year! and supervisor Sergeant/Inspectors earning over £50,000 and £65,000 annually, this is a slap on the face for London's other key workers during the pandemic. Our supermarket workers and care workers (also key workers during the pandemic), and other low paid Londoners working in hospitality and small businesses need a lifeline like this to budget in our expensive world City. Free travel for well paid individuals is not fair and not justified - This should be ceased immediately. They are not going to help revive our economy and taxes will rise to pay for more police - so low paid Londoners will be hit again.

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Suggested by cinzia 16 March

0 comments
Last activity 3 years ago

Would be wonderful to have a weekly appointment of local small businesses to sell products at the sought dock marine?

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Suggested by mjmelville 16 March

2 comments
Last activity 3 years ago

There are lots of spaces which are not being well used or just messy. Instead of the councils saying 'don't touch' people should be encouraged to take them over and plant things

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Suggested by Splodwurzel 16 March

1 comment
Last activity 3 years ago

Get London Underground to stop lying about it's cleaning procedures and clean it's escalator moving handrail belts which are apparently covered in train brake-dust.

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After the pandemic and the economic crisis there will be fewer shops and fewer people working in offices. How this works out locally will depend on the independent decisions of thousands of people, impossible to regulate in detail by fiat of local or central government. What is needed is a legal framework for buildings so that according to local need they can be flexibly used as flats, shops, cafes, combined shops-and-cafes etc etc.

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Suggested by Dmoreira85 16 March

0 comments
Last activity 3 years ago

This is far from being a new idea, but nevertheless is worth mentioning. If we want to tackle air quality due to pollution why not using empty building walls or pillars on raised roads to do a green walls? These green walls would work as air filters, reducing air pollution within the city using spaces which have no use. We should be covering all empty spaces with vertical gardens with plants known to capture pollution to improve air quality. By using this empty spaces (which have no use at all) we can increase the green coverage within the city. I like to think this is a win win situation. Please upvote this idea if you like it ;)

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With outdoor excercise more popular than ever I feel that adding lockers to green spaces would be beneficial. We already have outdoor gym equipment in parks so why not add lockers too. I often go running and really enjoy it but often find the areas in which I can run are limited. Say I want to go on a long run and travel further afield to go on a new running route, I often feel limited as I may want to take personal items with me e.g towel, water bottle, key, a coat if it's cold on the journey there, but I do not want to carry these with me whilst I am doing my exercise activity! If we added a secure lockers to some green spaces popular with runners, around the borough it may encourage runners from far and wide to come an visit! With outdoor excercise being the only option a the moment I feel giving people the option to visit new green spaces for excercise will be much appreciated. These lockers may also be useful for walkers/ramblers! Say a you want to do a long circular route and end with a lunch or picnic, you can simply store your lunch in the locker for when you finish. Again with cafes being shut this is often people's only option for an outdoor lunch! Just an idea!

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