High Streets for All

2020 has underlined the redundancy of the idea of the High Street, particularly in the suburbs. Do we need the shopping malls that have their roots back in the 1950/60's? The pandemic has brought to the fore, retail outlets willing to constructively approach marketing in a much more creative way. Should it not be possible to conceiveof a return to the open air market where entrepeurial outlets can link with their consumers, integrated with nature, cultural and hospitality space? Such spaces can replace the old malls and with it, relinquish the dominance of the landlord over commercial retail, and return buying and selling to a better community focus.

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Every single street in London has to prioritise the needs of people over the needs of those who want to drive through them. Streets must be places where residents can stand outside and hang out and chat with their neighbours and feel safe. The introduction of new LTNs in some parts of London have helped achieve this, but these streets are still dominated by parked cars and these spaces can be put to better use, and LTNs are too few and far between. Tottenham is only now consulting residents on the implementation of its first LTN (in the Bruce Grove area) and has a long way to go to catch up to Hackney. It's unfair that there's a large divide concerning this in two neighbouring boroughs. Making streets more people-friendly help to tackle a huge range of problems in society - cleaner air, less noise, safer, less crime (due to the higher presence of people), healthier and more active lifestyles and better social cohesion. Making streets which are less attractive for driving increases the chances of people using healthier and cheaper modes of transport such as the bicycle, making improving health and people's personal finances. I fear that progress in making this happen is much too slow and not enough is being done to combat backlash from the likes of cabbies and dinosaur councillors.

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As we are all supposedly being encouraged to eat more locally to reduce our carbon footprints how about using some of the larger empty department stores to set up community hydroponic farms to grow and sell organic salad leaves, herbs, vegetables, mushrooms and fruit to the community - grown by the community for the community.

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Suggested by slipper 16 March

2 comments
Last activity 2 years ago

Allotment areas where people can apply for space to grow their own food, more outdoor gyms & spaces for parkour, dancing, yoga etc, pollution eating trees to be grown alongside motorways and busy roads, bicycle shacks so people living in flats have secure places to store their bikes, car free days and weekends across the city, a centrally-run volunteering network connecting individuals with charities, local councils and good causes so we can all work together on projects to make our city better for everyone, research into different things we can all do to help power our city. For example, in the Olympic Park there is an exercise machine which generates power. If we could put these in public areas around the city everyone could take their turn in keeping the lights on.

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Suggested by bencoles7 16 March

0 comments
Last activity 2 years ago

I'm always inspired by how London’s communities so willingly come together to lead the enhancement of the local open spaces that matter to them. Whether through active participation in consultation and design engagement exercises in our larger parks, or by simply rolling up their sleeves to transform the smallest unloved and unused open spaces on their doorsteps, this active involvement leads to people feeling more connected to where they live, strengthens communities and fosters civic pride. We’ve seen a huge appreciation for our open spaces through lockdown and the importance they hold for improving our physical and mental health and wellbeing. I’m equally encouraged by the early lockdown reporting on reduced carbon emissions and cleaner air, and hope that our need and commitment to tackling the climate emergency will see more people across the capital taking action and making their own commitments to live more sustainable lives. Covid-19 has somewhat obscured the climate emergency from view, and has also led to increases in domestic energy and water use, and increased waste production associated with people spending more time at home. There's no doubt that people are becoming increasingly concerned about the environment, more children expressing climate anxieties and growing evidence that exposure to green space may potentially increase pro-social and pro-environmental behaviour. My ‘Reimagine London’ idea would see residents from London’s streets coming together to learn more about how they can live more sustainably and competing against other streets across the capital for the accolade of ‘greenest street’. Measured by both participation rates and the impact of their collective positive actions, the leading streets in the challenge would be rewarded with funding and support to both green and enhance their streetscapes or local open spaces. More pro-environmental behaviour, and a series of greener and more resilient open spaces. Win Win.

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We need to take the opportunity presented by changing work practices that has led to people having more interaction with their local areas to lay the foundation for a transformation in how people transport themselves around the city. People have realised the importance and value of having safer, less congested and less polluted streets. The backbone of this will be improved active and public transport. This means improving streets, installing bike lanes and LTNs to reduce rat-running through residential areas. For active transport, that means giving thought to urban realm improvements to streets, parks and high streets to improve access, provide space, provide areas of activity and improve accessibility (for children/elderly/disabled etc). High streets with better walking/cycling access see economic activity boosted by 40% compared to those dominated by cars (as seen in Walthamstow) This needs to be followed up by the provision of safe, segregated cycle lanes along all main and secondary routes across local authority areas. This is one of the key elements of encouraging people to switch to cycling as this will allow more adults, children and families to travel by bike. 50% of car journeys in Greater London are under 2km which is a 30 mins walk or a 15 mins bike ride. If a large share of these trips switch to active modes, that will reduce congestion, pollution and accident risk. This can make a big difference to intra and inter-borough journeys. In turn, more active travel journeys have subsequent public health benefits, boosting economic activity and reducing the burden on NHS services. They retain and improve access for emergency services, business travel (deliveries/utilities etc) and buses. This in turn improves access to rail services, boosting cross-London connectivity. LTNs will also present major benefits for residents where rat-running is stopped whilst resident's access as well as walking/cycling access is retained and streets made safer.

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Suggested by KitKat222 16 March

1 comment
Last activity 2 years ago

Have self cleaning public bathrooms that are well maintained near parks and walking areas. Similar to covid patrols, have safety patrols in areas and communities.

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Suggested by KitKat222 16 March

4 comments
Last activity 2 years ago

Allow apartments for young people to buy like a concept similar build to The Collective which has areas for gym, meeting places for residents to see movies and meet for tea, reading clubs, game nights, zumba, etc. Create city center 2bed or 3 bed Flats for millennials that are freehold and affordable compared to prices of £0.5mil upwards that are unaffordable.

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Suggested by Robin Hutchinson 16 March

0 comments
Last activity 2 years ago

With a reduction in commuting can stations have a different role? Can they offer new journeys of opportunity for social, community, creative & business enterprise ideas - platforms for new approaches to economic activity with each station having its own personality reflecting local needs and ambitions. Covid, amongst many things, has inexorably altered our pattern of work & the daily commute is unlikely to be reinstated or desired for many. The majority of stations are designed primarily as places for departure & arrival so what happens when that is no longer the driver. Can they offer real opportunities for the ‘post Covid-19’ recovery & the desire to ‘build back better’. The Community Brain CIC is promoting a future constructed upon four pillars of ‘more local, more mutual, more equitable and more sustainable’. Many stations could offer fabulous spaces for such growth. Once you shift thinking away from purely ‘travel’ what else could stations & their environs offer. If our recovery will come from small business enterprise, start-ups & social and community activity can stations provide the spaces to facilitate this. They are ideally placed for access; they have a recognised place in the community & often are underused. They also tend to be places of neutrality & classlessness. Can the station not only offer physical journeys but also journeys for learning, sharing & opportunity? New hubs of community and business activity – the new ‘bump spaces’ for interaction. There are 369 stations in London and although many will not be suited to this new role many will. The Community Brain has been developing ideas at Tolworth Station & these are now coming to some fruition (Baking Ideas, The Cutting, Crops Ups). We believe it could provide a pilot for London wide, indeed national, ambitions. Old Stations delivering new journeys for exploration & providing the new ‘bump spaces’ to bring people together to share ideas and ambitions.

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Suggested by Buildcouncilhousingforlowrent 16 March

2 comments
Last activity 2 years ago

I live next to Heathrow Airport - I have asthma which gets worse when out walking past the many cabbies parked up in the area running their engines. Although there is enforcement it is not consistent. They have their own parking area but many do not use it, polluting the local area. Twice weekly rubbish collections and more fines as we have so much fly tipping and would like to see enforcement of litter fines. Planting of more trees but ensure they are actually looked after. Change bus stops with better seating and simply turn the bus stops around to protect waiting people from puddles. Extra maintenance in the local park ensuring the lazy pick up after their dogs - we are plagued with irresponsible lazy dog walkers who also let their dogs run wild harassing people especially children. The council do actually do a lot but it’s up against many peoples laziness. Enforced speed limits would mean many wouldn’t be scared to cycle as the level of harassment is dangerous from cars and many coaches and lorries which speed around the 20mph zone. More cameras please.

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Suggested by vonnichurch 16 March

0 comments
Last activity 2 years ago

Nourish is an end to end environmental improvement model, combining greening, growing and cooking: using rescued food to educate and nourish the local community. The green infrastructure improvements on Edward Woods and White City estates will create permeable surface and provide opportunities to grow food on the estate which will be used within the Nourish Hub, connecting local people to the food that they produce themselves. The food Hub will transform a disused space on the Edwards Woods estate into a community asset, with a commercial kitchen, multipurpose central space, a training kitchen and as a sustainable income stream in the form of a flexible office space for local entrepreneurs. The approach is asset-based and by providing a democratic social space, the Hub will facilitate people coming together to achieve positive social change, building on their own knowledge, skills and experience. The underlying concept of Nourish is that good food should be available to all, regardless of social and economic factors. The Nourish Hub will welcome everyone. We will support the most socially isolated, vulnerable and lonely, and provide personal and professional development and enrichment, through the provision of nutritious food, educational and work opportunities. Food will be served free or on a “pay forward” basis, ensuring equal access for all. Nourish is a focal point for hosting, celebrating and providing opportunities for the evolution of local creative culture too. From the sociable nature of sharing food, to the formal training opportunities afforded via its training kitchen and education programme, Nourish will build the capacity of the local community. This positive intervention will result in long-lasting behavioural change. Nourish will play a key component in the local Covid 19 recovery strategy, bringing our community members together, building new relationships, combating social isolation and delivering a positive future.

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Suggested by robyfox 16 March

9 comments
Last activity 2 years ago

Even if I continued working during the whole pandemic, Covid 19 has hardly affected my family finances. But even if I use my car very rarely, I cycle to work on a daily basis (I work in the NHS) and during the weekends I tend to move around walking or cycling with my family, I still carry on paying the full amount of money for road tax, insurance, MOT, maintenence and so on. For my family, this is a lot of money, for a vehicle which is 16 years old, still perfectly working, but not used. Our vehicle is actually a VW camper var, and the only use is mainly for summer holiday. What I suggest is maybe with a track device, to pay a road tax and car insurance which is proportionate to the use of the vehicle. This will encourage people to use alternative and more echo friendly ways of transportation, saving money and contributing to a better environment.

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Remove the ridiculous 'low traffic neighbourhoods' and cycle lanes that were rushed through with little thought or planning, simply because the money was available post Covid. These do nothing to help air quality, in fact, they exacerbate the problem by causing bigger traffic jams and slower moving traffic. They do provide a good getaway route for criminals on two wheels, while at the same time, slowing response times for the emergency services. They discriminate against the elderly and the disabled, as well as the 'time-poor,' who are unable to cycle or walk everywhere. People living on Council estates, do not always have storage space for a fleet of bicycles, and it's all very well cycling to work from Bayswater to the West End through Hyde Park, but a different story if you have to cycle up the Old Kent Road, Cycling is promoted by mainly middle-class white males through organised and vociferous lobby groups, as some sort of ideology that gives no consideration to anyone else.

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Suggested by Allotmenteer 16 March

1 comment
Last activity 2 years ago

More and more front gardens around here are now being completely paved over, leaving an ever-growing acreage of blank and wasted space. Often it's just that people are too busy to garden, or don't know how. A guerrilla gardening effort or volunteer team could make a real difference by greening these gardens – creating more drainage for excess rain, more food and shelter for wildlife (birds and insects), improving the air quality, and generally making the neighbourhood more attractive and cheering. Perhaps financial grants or more competitions for 'best front garden' (I know there is one, but it gets little attention) would also help. Also people without gardens of their own might really benefit from helping with this, and it would bring people together in a fruitful way.

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Suggested by kinderLife 16 March

0 comments
Last activity 2 years ago

Since COVID-19 Lockdown, many bikers are terrorising people at home with awful noise. Despite formal complaints to the London Mayor and Met and City Police, and a report by the Dept for Transport about the severe health issues, not a single enforcement operation has been taken by the police. The Mayor of London and Lord Mayor of the City of London must step-up and protect the health of Londoners by enforcing road traffic laws and taking bikes with noisy exhaust pipes off London streets. Boroughs must install 'Noise Cameras' at high risk road arteries including Tower Hill, The Highway and Upper Thames Street. To prevent death or long term health problems, the Met and City Police must be accountable to London residential and business ratepayers by targeting the illegal behaviour of a small number of very inconsiderate bikers who are working or visiting the City during lockdown. In the last 12 months, the majority of bikers in London appear to have taken to have illegally modified their motorbike exhaust pipes to emit extreme noise up to 120db which far exceeds the 85db legal limit. That's far louder than a large lorry and akin to a Fire Engine siren. The media and government reports explain the serious mental and physical health impact of illegal exhaust pipe noise especially on children and adults with underlying health issues. There are also reports about enforcement action taken by Hampshire Police and Essex Police. The problem of illegal noisy bike pipes is now 'extreme' in central London and around the City of London in particular as many City workers and couriers have taken to riding high performance motorbikes with illegal pipes, to and from work in the City during lockdown. However, the Roads Policing Units of the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police have taken zero action to address this offending and make the environment quieter for Londoners already suffering distress in Lockdown.

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I live in an area that is used as commuter parking, Northwick Park. There is the hospital, Northwick Park Hospital and two stations within walking distance of each other and from the crack of dawn we have people driving up and down the street looking for parking. In the evenings, we have drivers who come to collect commuters, idling their engines whilst they wait. There is pollution galore for the residents and the pedestrians. Back in the first lockdown, it was bliss.. empty roads and clean air. And this is the new normal that I wish for. I so wish my council (Brent) would bring about residential parking and bring about a nicer feel to the area with much fewer cars and cleaner air! But for whatever reason, they are being intransigent. On the whole, I feel the number of cars on our roads in general need to be reduced dramatically, with more incentives such as better and more reliable public transport, and failing the soft friendly approach, increased taxation of additional cars..! Something needs to be done, we cannot carry on as we are. Electric cars may be a god send for the future, but presently they are far too overpriced, and the charging network is still small...

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Suggested by Liam Hennessy 16 March

4 comments
Last activity 2 years ago

By reinstating two-way traffic on the historic route East Carriage Drive - current northbound - all motor traffic can be removed from the Mayfair side of Park Lane: creating major pedestrian and cycle-friendly public space that also has potential for outdoor hospitality in a tree-lined west-facing environment overlooking Hyde Park. It would become part of a Scenic Route from Trafalgar and Parliament Squares all the way to Marble Arch and Oxford Street via The Mall, St James's Park, Buckingham Palace, Green Park, Constitution Hill, Hyde Park Corner, and a pedestrianised Park Lane.

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Reduce tax. The tax burden is far too high. I can re-live my entire life currently on the amount I pay in tax alone. Reducing tax would allow me to save, invest, to improve my home, to assist in my children's education, to participate more in my community and in businesses, to donate to charity, etc. Cut tax, and we're all going to recover WAY faster.

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In outer London suburbs, public transport and cycling or walking may not be an option for some people. Disabled people, older people and people who use vehicles for work and want to shop on the way to work or when coming home from work, need adequate parking. Similarly, as the profile of high streets change, probably needing to accommodate more general commercial uses, not just retail, then customers who visit businesses for more than a few minutes need to be accommodated. Any revamp of high streets should include adequate parking for these people, ideally, free for short periods and at a reasonable cost for longer periods. There should also be many more electric vehicle charging points where there are parking spaces so these do not need to be restricted to EVs and can be used by residents for overnight charging where they are unable to install charging points at their homes, which is the case for almost all planned new developments, where no parking is provided.

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As a young woman I think I would be able to appreciate my neighbourhood more if I felt safer in it, particularly at night. Street harassment is a really serious issue for the majority of women and girls, and I think recent events should make preventing it even more of a priority. I think it would be a really good idea to have kind of scheme that shops and local businesses could sign up to where they could become ambassadors for safety. They could put a sticker in the window to show that the council have trained them and approved them, and then if a woman or girl felt unsafe (if she was being followed for example) she could go in there and explain the situation. Then the business could either just let her wait there until she felt safe to carry on, or provide any support she wanted, such as contacting the police. The training could be quite simple, but could also involve some kind of simple background check so that women felt completely safe entering the business in the first place. I think a strong community response to street harassment and violence against women and girls is necessary to help confront the issue, as it will let people know that this kind of behaviour will not to be tolerated, and let women know that their neighbourhood is there to support them.

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