Labour-run Islington Council has called on the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to go further with plans to improve transport in the capital by banning diesel vehicles from London and pushing forward with major transformation projects to create more space for walking and cycling.
Responding to the Mayor’s consultation on the draft Transport Strategy, Cllr Claudia Webbe, Executive Member for Environment & Transport, has highlighted key policies that have been pioneered in Islington and should be taken forward by the Mayor.
Islington has called for -;
- More major transformation schemes, like the Archway Gyratory removal, across London to create more space for walking and cycling alongside improved public transport links;
- A default 20mph speed limit on all roads across London;
- A commitment to make London diesel-free by 2025;
- Replication of the success of ‘Bunhill Heat and Power’, capturing waste heat from London’s Underground to provide low-carbon domestic heating, saving Londoners at least 10% on their annual energy bills;
- Electrification of all rail lines in London to improve air quality;
- Consideration of bringing some disused railway stations back into public use to increase capacity;
- Reduce disruption to residents from construction works of major projects like Crossrail 2;
- Adequate and fair funding for local councils to deliver the Transport Strategy.
Cllr Claudia Webbe, Executive Member for Environment & Transport, said: “Islington has been at the forefront of pioneering many policies now being adopted across London, from 20mph speed limits to major transformations of road systems like the removal of Archway Gyratory.
“The Mayor’s strategy sets out a clear and positive plan for improving transport in London, as well as real action to tackle important issues like poor air quality. But we are calling for the Mayor to go further by backing our calls for diesel vehicles to be banned in London by 2025 and for more space for walking and cycling to be created.
“A key part of our efforts to make Islington a fairer place for all is to help people to lead healthier lives. We need a transport system that helps us to do that by encouraging walking and cycling, as well reducing poor air quality.”
The council’s response welcomes the Mayor’s commitment to the ‘Healthy Streets’ approach, which seeks to improve local ‘streetscape’ design to encourage walking, cycling and to support travel by public transport. Also welcomed are plans to eliminate road traffic casualties by 2041, making London a zero carbon free city by 2050, and freezing Transport for London (TfL) fares up to 2020.
However, the council has repeated calls for all buses using Holloway Bus Garage to be hybrid-only, an expansion of electric vehicle charging points, free Wifi to be introduced on buses and for the retention of night bus services. A proposal has also been made to reopen disused stations, such as Maiden Lane on the Overground, to increase capacity and reduce congestion.