“Creating a transport environment that is healthy, fair, accessible and enjoyable, as well as being sustainable, is at the heart of making Islington a fairer place for all." Cllr Claudia Webbe, Islington Labour's Executive Member for Environment & Transport
A bold new vision for transport in Islington has been proposed by Islington Labour that seeks to deliver a healthier, fairer, more accessible and enjoyable transport environment in the borough.
Importantly, the draft Transport Strategy includes the key principle of significantly cutting transport-related carbon emissions to help Islington become net carbon neutral by 2030, following Islington’s declaration of a climate emergency last month.
Cllr Claudia Webbe, Executive Member for Environment and Transport at Islington Council , said:
“Creating a transport environment that is healthy, fair, accessible and enjoyable, as well as being sustainable, is at the heart of making Islington a fairer place for all.
“We are proud of our record in transforming key aspects of the transport system in Islington – from the removal of gyratories, to rolling-out electric vehicle charging points in more locations and delivering safer cycling routes – but it’s clear many people choose not to walk or cycle because some streets can feel unwelcoming and are too dominated by traffic. That’s why we see the need to close certain roads to through traffic to prevent rat-running, make neighbourhoods more liveable and improve the environment to support active travel.
“We have recently declared a climate emergency and at the heart of our transport strategy is a commitment to cutting transport-related carbon emissions to help Islington become carbon neutral by 2030.
“We welcome comments, suggestions and ideas about our draft Islington Transport Strategy and we look forward to hearing views from our residents and local organisations.”
The ambitious strategy will help shape the future of Islington’s transport infrastructure for the next 20 years. It’s guiding principles focus on:
- making it safer and easier to walk and cycle, and reducing car use
- eliminating all deaths and serious injuries from transport
- significantly cutting transport-related carbon emissions to help Islington become carbon neutral by 2030
- improving air quality by reducing polluting traffic
- making Islington’s streets and neighbourhoods more enjoyable and welcoming places.
The draft strategy includes a number of pioneering proposals that the Council is seeking views on, including:
- transforming the Old Street and Clerkenwell Road corridor by closing it to through traffic, helping to prioritise walking, cycling and public transport
- the roll-out out of school streets or equivalent at all schools to improve air quality and road safety
- investigate phasing out resident and business parking permits for diesel and petrol vehicles by 2030
- create low traffic areas, to support the development of liveable neighbourhoods