Covid -19 and Active Travel: an Update

On 11 June the Newham Cabinet agreed unanimously the recommendations in the paper on active travel presented to it (copy in post of 5 June below).

In addition, TfL have to date provided £843K of external funding for a number of schemes in Newham.  We are in the top half of grants to boroughs. 

The good news is that:

  • There is now some (minor) rebalancing of the Keep Newham Moving funding towards active travel and a review of more significant rebalancing.
  • 3 low traffic neighbourhood are now funded ((i)Stratford Village, (ii) Maryland and Forest Gate north (jointly with Waltham Forest), (iii) Atherton and Woodgrange)
  • 2 borough corridors (Romford Rd and North Woolwich Rd) are funded.
  • 7 more school streets are to be implemented if the schools agree.
  • Decluttering and pavement widening and removal of parking bays has some external funding.   

If all this is implemented to a good standard it will represent a significant step forward in active travel in Newham. 

NewhamCyclists had asked for greater urgency and ambition from the Cabinet as we think the immediate crisis and the longer term interests of the residents of Newham demand a very significant switch to active travel. 

Our briefing paper (see post of 9 June) set out a series of asks.  These could have been easily funded from a reasonable rebalancing of the Keep Newham Moving facility i.e. using approximately £5m of a facility of approximately £10m per year currently prioritising motor traffic over active travel.  The Cabinet have already agreed to using more than £3m of this facility if necessary. Indeed, any call on this facility would not have have to be used to the extent that the Council is successful in its external bid for funding – as it has already to the tune of £843k; with the prospect of more to come if it delivers on the schemes so far funded. .

Because Newham Council is refusing to let us know what they are bidding for or have bid for it, is difficult to know precisely what is intended.  However the following appear unfunded from the Newham Cyclists lists of asks:

  • 2 of the 5 low traffic neighbourhoods already identified by the Council as feasible (Custom House and Plashet)
  • Temporary cycle lanes in Barking Road to form a “borough corridor. ” This corridor runs through the heart of the borough and ought to have been prioritised over North Woolwich Rd for which the Council has sought and received external funding, This already has a segregated cycle track or wide pavement that could easily be shared use pending a more comprehensive scheme.
  • 13 extra School Streets.
  • Removal of Greenway obstructions.
  • An end to legal pavement parking.
  • A borough wide 20mph limit.
  • Improved enforcement directed and countering the widespread illegal pavement parking and other motor traffic contraventions which inhibit active travel.

We shall continue to press for these, and have audited Romford Rd to look at how it could become an active travel corridor. If you have any questions or would like further details please get in touch.

In the meantime please also :

Arnold