News Articles Archive - Page 92 of 158 - Cross River Partnership

Taking a moment to reflect on lockdown, it is apparent that a communal sense of behaviour change has become embedded within Londoners. Lockdown has allowed us to take a step back and admire the lower levels of pollution and the reclamation of urban areas by wildlife as a result of the many deserted streets, once dominated by traffic.

Never has there been a more important time to admire and cherish our streets, neighbourhood and parks. As part of the Healthy Streets Everyday (HSE) programme, CRP is continuing to support both borough and private partners through this challenging time. Current services are still going ahead, such as our Hackney School Streets Helpline which is offering support to our borough partners through all stages of their School Streets implementation.

In addition, CRP is currently working on additional resources to support our partners through this crisis. We are exploring various avenues to assist boroughs with the implementation of new infrastructure, aimed at making walking and cycling safer. We intend for this support to be delivered through revised monitoring techniques and guidance documents.

We would like to hear how you view your local streets and neighbourhoods during lockdown by completing this survey. Your feedback would be greatly appreciated. Remember to stay safe and always follow government guidance.

For more information, please contact Tomos Joyce.

The Department of Transport has sent a letter to councils in England saying that they can temporarily by-pass lengthy procedures to implement street closures – a key aid that will help people walk and cycle more easily whilst social distancing during the current crisis.

Transport for London (TfL) is looking at the major roads that it manages, to see where pavements could be temporarily enlarged. It is also adjusting and balancing traffic light timings to make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists to cross major roads whilst ensuring critical road traffic is still moving. In addition, TfL has pledged to work with London boroughs and the GLA to look at ways of reducing traffic on residential streets it does not manage. Read more here.

Although not linked, these announcements have come shortly after the recent publication of the Government’s ‘Decarbonising Transport: setting the challenge’ consultation document, within which Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has highlighted “Public transport and active travel will be the natural first choice for our daily activities.”

The new measurers by the Department for Transport and TfL are welcome news in the short term, to allow key workers as well as pedestrians and cyclists the necessary space to safely social distance outside during the outbreak. But what happens after the lockdown is lifted and businesses re-open – will traffic, and with-it air pollution, return to London’s congested streets?

Other cities across the world are making temporary changes to their transport infrastructure with some, such as Milan, going further and implementing long term commitments to relocate street space from cars to pedestrians and cyclists after record breaking reductions in air pollution since the start of the lockdown.

CRP’s Healthy Streets Everyday programme is supporting our partner boroughs, BIDs and landowners to implement these longer-term streetscape improvements and traffic regulations across London, recognising the importance of supplementing yearly car-free day events with more permanent actions.

We have created a dedicated hub of information with useful guidance for businesses and communities, links to official government resources, and key updates from CRP’s projects supporting those in need.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require any additional support or advice during this time.

Over the past few weeks, the direction of Defra-funded CRP Clean Air Villages programme has had to adapt to the current circumstances. In a time where delivery services have become vital, allowing people to shop for essential items whilst maintaining social distancing and government guidelines, CRP is in awe at the brilliant work of businesses and individuals involved in the Clean Air Villages programme.

The Streatham BID cargo bike has been making deliveries to pharmacies and those in need, as well as helping local independent businesses to still operate. Over in Lewisham, Rushey Green Timebank now have a cargo bike through their initiative Lewisham Local, currently being used by King’s Church to deliver cooked meals to people self-isolating. The Brixton EV is also helping SMEs with safe deliveries this tricky period.

CRP are supporting those businesses on the CRP Clean Air Villages Directory who are still operating. Many of the 50 businesses on the directory are not only delivering by zero-emission, but importantly helping those in need during the crisis. Businesses range from Drings Butchers, who are delivering locally by bike to the isolated and over 70s, to Farmdrop, who are extremely busy delivering food across London via electric vehicle. Contact information and dispatch information can be found on the directory.

We hope that this brilliant work and community spirit will continue over the coming period. A legacy has already begun in Ladbroke Grove, where the cargo bike trial is carrying on for another 8 weeks, so that pharmacies and charities can continue with their deliveries to the most vulnerable.

We are recruiting for x3 Project Officers to join our Team to work on a range of exciting projects. If you are an experienced Project Officer with an interest in making a valuable contribution to improving air quality for residents, visitors and businesses in Central London then please see here for further details.

CRP is working with its partners and funders to make sure that all partnership services continue to be delivered (adjusted as appropriate), and that face-to-face meetings are largely replaced by virtual, technology-enhanced interactions. We are following our lead accountable body Westminster City Council’s Coronavirus Guidance to keep all of our partners, colleagues and team members as safe and well as possible. All of the CRP team is equipped to work on a fully agile basis. If there are any queries at any time, please do not hesitate to contact either myself or a member of the CRP team in the usual way, either via email in the first instance: susannahwilks@crossriverpartnership.org Stay safe!

Since launching in December 2019, the Brixton shared electric van scheme has been going strong.

Brixton businesses have so far driven the London Borough of Lambeth funded vehicle more than 2,000 miles! All of those miles would have been otherwise driven by a tailpipe polluting equivalent.

Utilisation of the EV has grown from 30% to 60% in the few months since its launch with a steady number of local businesses signing up to the behaviour change initiative. Promoting the use of electric vehicles and vehicle sharing schemes is intended to result in reduced vehicles on the road and cleaner local air.

One user of the scheme has said that the air quality project has motivated him to become more sustainable in all areas of his business. Another is planning on replacing their existing vehicle with an electric equivalent.

The scheme is a collaboration between CRP, London Borough of Lambeth, Zipcar and Brixton BID and is the result of the Defra-funded Clean Air Villages 2 project.

For further information, please contact CRP’s Kate Fenton: katefenton@crossriverpartnership.org

Inner and outer London councils, businesses improvement districts (BIDs), and healthcare industry specialists have come together to share knowledge and solutions to London’s air quality crisis – currently responsible for thousands of premature deaths each year in the capital.

With air quality improvement projects already taking place and increasing pressure for both public and private sectors to take more action, the ‘Clean Air Future’ event on 27th February 2020, hosted by London Councils, London Environment Directors Network (LEDNet), the Association of Directors of Public Health London (ADPH London), and Cross River Partnership at Westminster City Hall, was a welcome opportunity to share successful initiatives and how targets should be translating into actions in some of London’s most polluted areas.

LEDNet and ADPH London were clear that more has to be done sooner and for councils and businesses to utilise their connections to consolidate resources, knowledge, and best practise in order to provide cleaner air for all. Air Quality Leads for ADPH London and LEDNet said:

“We need a strong, shared narrative and campaign on air quality and public health impacts across London that will change the public’s perception around their own contribution to cleaning our air – including the overall benefits of physical activity to most people.

Across the country, there are some excellent examples of work being led by local councils to invest in sustainable transport, renewable energy and redesigning streets to encourage more people to walk and cycle.

But councils could do more if they had the right powers and funding. At the heart of our position is a call for the Government to take the lead globally by allocating at least 2.5% of UK annual GDP to properly fund the response to climate change and improve the air we breathe, with a significant increase in resources available to councils to tackle the issue.”

The London Borough of Camden shared their approach to parking policies, pedestrian priority infrastructure and car reduction measures, highlighting consistent reviews of permits and policy as keys to their success. As one of the 24 London boroughs to declare a Climate Emergency, Camden is pushing ahead with ambitious carbon as well as air pollution reduction plans, ensuring it plays it’s part in helping the city, and the UK, in reaching its climate targets.

Cadogan Estate, which spans 93 acres of business and residential property in the heart of London, presented the current challenges and opportunities being faced by the local business community. Their strong actions on air pollution are backed by over 60% of respondents to a recent community stakeholder survey, indicating ‘air quality improvements’ and ‘reduction in traffic congestion’ as their number one priority in the area.

Simon Pitkeathley – CEO, Camden Town Unlimited and Euston Town BID, and Chair for the event, echoed the wider challenges and how business working together can place greater action on air pollution at the top of their agenda:

“Hearing everyone talk so practically about the changes being made towards a Clean Air Future has been amazing. Today has been about moving on from visualisation to implementing actual solutions. We will continue working with our businesses to achieve clean air targets across Camden, Euston and beyond.”

Cross River Partnership showcased their innovative air quality improvement projects, most notably Healthy Streets Everyday – a 3-year programme bringing together London boroughs, BIDs, landowners, academic institutions, and charities to deliver pedestrian-friendly traffic regulations, streetscape improvements and car-free events across the city.

Key outcomes from the event have been condensed into 25 Top Tips for Action on Air Quality for businesses and local authorities.

After a successful first round of funding awarded for the retrofit of GPS Marine and Port of London Authority (PLA) vessels, CRP is pleased to announce that the second round of funding will be open for applications in Spring 2020. The Clean Air Thames project is being delivered in collaboration with the Greater London Authority, PLA, and the City of London Corporation to retrofit a number of vessels along the river to reduce exhaust particulates and improve air quality.

Clean Air Thames funding is open to operators running vessels on the Tidal Thames within Greater London. We are excited to review the second round of applications, which will be open until September 2020.

For more information, please visit our project page, or contact Project Manager Sefinat Otaru. Look out for the announcement of the start date for the second round of applications!

Promoting the new Fulham shared electric vehicle (EV) for businesses – CRP’s Chioma Wuche gives her first-hand experiences

This new scheme intends to give local businesses shared access to an EV at no cost in order to tackle poor air quality. I have enjoyed talking to a range of businesses in Fulham to promote the shared electric van. After the successful launch of Brixton EV, I am happy that we have to opportunity to work with more business to implement another successful scheme.

To find out more visit the Clean Air Villages webpage or contact me at chiomawuche@crossriverpartnership.org

Archives: News Articles

Have our streets been reclaimed?

Barriers for councils to create car-free streets temporarily lifted

New Coronavirus Guidance and Support webpage

Clean Air Villages Covid-19 response

CRP is recruiting!

Contingency planning

Brixton shared electric vehicle success!

London businesses and local authorities meet to tackle air quality crisis

New funding opportunity – Round 2 of Clean Air Thames funding

A day in the life of CRP’s Clean Air Villages project