Issue - meetings

The B&NES Climate Emergency Action Plan, approved in October 2019, recommends a major shift to mass transport, walking and cycling to reduce transport emissions.  Liveable Neighbourhoods are an important aspect of proposals to tackle the climate emergency and to improve health and wellbeing across the area.  The ambition is for Liveable Neighbourhoods is to breathe new life into residential areas by reducing the dominance of motor vehicles. We strive to reconsider how road space is utilised to reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality, enhance road safety and promote healthy lifestyles. The idea is to provide fairer access for those travelling on foot and by bicycle, creating healthier outdoor spaces for everyone to enjoy. This includes better walking and cycling routes, and vibrant local high streets where people can relax outside and connect with others.

Councillor Shaun Stephenson-McGall read out a statement (attached as Appendix 4 to these minutes) where he welcomed the report which reflected the Council's climate emergency action plan, which was approved just over a year ago, which recommended a major shift to mass transport walking and cycling as ways to reduce our transport emissions.

Before reading out her statement in support of the report, Councillor Joanna Wright highlighted minor corrections to figures 6.1 and 9.2 of the report (attached as Appendix 5).

Councillor Joanna Wright read out the following statement:

‘It is my great pleasure to propose to you tonight this paper on Liveable Neighbourhoods.  This paper is without doubt one of the most radical changes to transport infrastructure and the reorganisation of road space ever presented to the Cabinet.  Transport is one of the few sectors where our carbon emissions are still rising. This Council has declared a climate emergency, and it is necessary that we find innovative new ways of enabling residents in BANES Council to share road space. Liveable neighbourhoods will help to reframe how communities use the public highway, so that the greater emphasis is given to those using active travel.  Liveable neighbourhoods will help to create pleasant, healthy and safe places for people to live, work, and be. There is no doubt that transport is one of the most difficult, and most contentious policy areas that we as Councillors have to consider.  Behaviour change is one of the toughest nuts in politics to crack, asking all sections of the community to rethink their travel choices, is a demanding ask. Let us remember that 24% of households have no access to a car; that the youngest, the oldest and the poorest are unfairly affected by the dominance of vehicles, and rarely do we hear the concerns of those that are marginalised.  But we do know is that the number of vehicles on our roads has increased significantly, and is still rising.  Whatever we do or do not do, congestion costs all of us in lost productivity and poor public health. Liveable neighbourhoods are a cost effective way to reduce the dominance of vehicles in residential areas and helps to prioritise active travel. The overall aim of this policy is to reduce vehicle use rather than divert traffic elsewhere. Data shows that 42% of journeys made by private car for the trips that are less than three kilometres in March this year. Many of us can replace short car journeys, with an active travel choice. The positive impact that these changes to travel will be seen in a plethora of ways such as the environment, health, safety, and community. The liveable neighbourhoods’ policy will enable a range of measures to be deployed, including modal filters, expansion of residence car parking, school streets, strategic corridor improvements to build capacity for active travel and investment in on-street electric vehicle charging. All these schemes will maintain vehicle access to homes and businesses and can be designed without disadvantaging disabled people,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 78