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All Londoners should benefit from cleaner air: our response to Ultra Low Emission Zone announcement.
The Mayor of London has proposed expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to the North and South Circular roads for all vehicles from 25 October 2021 From 26 October 2020, ULEZ standards would then apply across Greater London for buses, coaches and lorries only Consultation seeks the public’s views on these actions to lower toxic pollutant emissions Sustrans joins calls for a Londonwide Ultra Low Emission Zone for all vehicles alongside major push for walking and cycling, so that all Londoners can breathe clean airThe Mayor of London today launched a new public consultation on the next phase of his plans to tackle London’s toxic air, reduce filthy emissions and protect the public from harmful pollution by expanding the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).
Under a proposal which is out for consultation today, the ULEZ standards would be applied over the breadth of Greater London (Londonwide) for buses, coaches and lorries from 26 October 2020 and for all vehicles (with limited exemptions) up to the north and south circular roads from 25 October 2021.
The proposals are part of the Mayor’s wider plans to help thousands more Londoners breathe cleaner air, protect public health and reduce car emissions from older more polluting vehicles.
The Mayor recently delivered the first phase of these plans by introducing the new Toxicity Charge in central London for the oldest vehicles on top of the Congestion Charge.
From 08 April 2019, the ULEZ will replace the T-Charge and operate in the same Congestion Charge area alongside the congestion charge but will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The daily charge for non-compliant vehicles will increase from £10 to £12.50 (for cars, vans and motorbikes) and £100 (for buses, coaches and lorries).
The consultation launched today is for the third phase that will deliver the health benefits of ULEZ to thousands more Londoners by extending the Ultra Low Emission Zone in 2021. This could affect 100,000 cars a day, 35,000 vans a day and 3,000 lorries a day.
Matt Winfield, London Director for Sustrans, said:
“The Mayor’s proposals to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone to the North and South Circular have our full support and we want to see the zone expand to cover all vehicles over the whole of Greater London in 2020 so that from Croydon to Romford all Londoners benefit from cleaner air alongside moves to clear the city of diesel entirely.
“Beyond these measures, the evidence shows that to tackle toxic particulate pollution we need fewer vehicles not just cleaner engines, that’s why the Mayor and Boroughs must press on with a comprehensive network of high-quality cycling routes reaching across London and use every available tool to reduce the dominance of traffic on our streets.”
Rachel White, Sustrans’ Senior Policy and Political Advisor, added:
“The Mayor of London is showing welcome leadership on tackling toxic air pollution with proposals to expand the ULEZ across more of London and record spending on cycling. While the Scottish Government plans to introduce low emission zones in four cities by 2020 and has doubled its active travel budget; the UK Government’s Air Quality Plan lags way behind and will do little to address the problem at its source.”
The World Health Organisation state that there is no safe level for the smallest Particulate Matter (PM2.5) pollution, a major source of which is from the erosion of tyres and brake pads. The Mayor has already strengthened the ULEZ standards to include a particulate matter standard after recent health data revealed that every part of London exceeds recommended World Health Organisation air quality guidelines for PM2.5. The Mayor’s draft London Environment Strategy plans to meet these guidelines by 2030.
Other action from the Mayor includes cleaning up the bus fleet, creating 12 Low Emission Bus Zones, phasing out diesel taxis, funding 50 schools air quality audits, setting tighter standards for construction machinery and introducing air quality alerts. He has also created a Cleaner Vehicle Checker so Londoners can check the real-world emissions of cars and vans before buying them.
The benefits of the expanded ULEZ are reported to include:
Approximately 100,000 people will no longer live in areas exceeding legal limits, which is a reduction of nearly 80 per cent in 2021.
43 per cent fewer roads exceeding limit values in 2020 and 64 per cent fewer in 2021
71 per cent reduction in schools in areas of exceedance in 2021 – rapidly lowering harmful emissions than can reduce lung development in children
In outer London there would be around a 20 per cent reduction in NOx road transport emissions, and in inner London there would be around a 30 per cent reduction in NOx road transport emissions in 2021
Sustrans is a partner of the Healthy Air Campaign along with 17 other health and environmental organistaions. In December 2016 Sustrans signed an open letter with 10 other organisations to the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, asking him to ban diesel cars by no later than 2025, to tackle air pollution in London.
Find out more about the Healthy Air Campaign Read our comment in the Guardian
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Responding to the Department for Transport’s announcement to re-open disused railway lines, Xavier Brice, CEO for Sustrans said: “Whilst we welcome the potential re-opening of disused railway lines in principle, it will be critical that the many walking and cycling routes which have been built along some of these lines are also maintained.
“These routes, some of which form the National Cycle Network, are a critical part of the country’s active travel infrastructure and strategy, encouraging people to walk and cycle in a safe environment, as well as providing important commuting access for people choosing to travel actively to work.
“Every year an estimated five million people use the NCN. These trips save the UK economy over £550 million each year by reducing levels of obesity, of this £75 million is saved from the NHS budget.”
For further information, please contact: Anna Galandzij, Senior Press Officer at Sustrans, 07557 915 648
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An historic viaduct which was once part of the East Lancashire Line is now open for public access 15 years after it was closed due to foot and mouth disease, thanks to the support of our staff and volunteers.
The local Martholme Greenway group organised a celebratory event with the dedicated team which helped restore the viaduct, 140 years after the first train rattled over its archways.
Martholme Greenway group worked with our staff and volunteers to clear the disused viaduct of trees and bracken and install benches to enjoy panoramic views out across the Calder Valley towards Whalley and Burnley. Volunteers also cleared and upgraded local paths from Great Harwood to the majestic 200-metre long structure, which was built by the engineer Sturges Meek between 1870 and 1877, and features ten arches.
Restoration work on the viaduct, owned by our sister charity Railway Paths Limited, cost £20,000 and was funded by the Railway Heritage Trust. Local contractors carried out repairs to the parapet walls and installed new fencing.
John Barker of the Martholme Greenway group, and a Sustrans volunteer said: “I’m delighted to announce that Martholme Greenway is now open to the public. Thanks to everyone who has helped with the hard work of clearing the viaduct and laying new paths and benches. It’s a fantastic viewpoint for people on local walks or cycle rides from Great Harwood and accessible for all abilities. In the longer term we hope it will link to other cycle and walking routes in the area.”
Will Haynes, our Head of Built Environment welcomed the news: “The Martholme Greenway group has worked tirelessly with our volunteers and staff to help reopen this beautiful historic viaduct. It is great that people can once again access this viaduct and enjoy the views from it and we are grateful for the support of both the Martholme Greenway group and the Railway Heritage Trust. The works to create the path to the south of the viaduct are a testament to what a dedicated group of local people can achieve.
Martholme Viaduct served trains running on the Great Harwood Loop of the East Lancashire Line, a nine-mile route through Great Harwood, as well as through Simonstone and Padiham, where the disused railway line has previously been transformed into the award winning Padiham Greenway.
Find out more about volunteering with Sustrans
The new draft London plan has a bold new vision to encourage Londoners to use their cars less and walk and cycle more.
Following work by Sustrans to influence the new plan, developers and councils are need to meet wide-ranging requirements to reduce the dominance of traffic on our streets and enable walking, cycling and easy access to public transport - adhering to the key principles of the Healthy Streets Approach.
They will also be required to increase the proportion of cycle parking for all new shops and homes, with ‘car- free developments’ to be the norm for sites that have good public transport links.
Other measures including improvements in student accommodation cycle provision so that every student safely store a bike, office developments in central London will not be allowed car parking, and any future parking will require electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Alongside the London Plan, the Mayor is working with Transport for London and the boroughs to deliver a London-wide network of cycle routes, with new routes and improved infrastructure to tackle barriers to cycling. The aim is for 70 per cent of Londoners to live within 400 metres of a high quality, safe cycle route by 2041. The Mayor’s recent Strategic Cycling Analysis outlined the 25 corridors in London with the greatest potential for new cycling routes. These corridors spread from Brentford to Heathrow in the west, to Dagenham Dock to Ilford in the east, Highgate to North Finchley in the north, and Streatham to Oval in the south.
The Mayor’s ambition is to increase the proportion of trips in London made on foot, by cycle or using public transport to 80 per cent by 2041, compared to 64 per cent now, which will mean an average of 3 million fewer car journeys in London each day. Achieving this target will require an unprecedented uplift in the amount of journeys by cycle from 3% today.
Matt Winfield, London Director for Sustrans, welcomed the plans:
"Cycling is already the fastest-growing choice for travel around the capital and making sure new development plays its part in making it easier, safer and more convenient is absolutely vital.
"With two in three journeys already made by foot, cycle or public transport, the Mayor’s plan should ensure that new developments reflect the way Londoners travel now and will do in the future.
"Planning more homes and offices close to stations will ensure that people moving in to London’s newest buildings can live without the need for a car. Planners and developers must make sure the streets around them are welcome places to walk or cycle, and that they connect into London’s new Superhighways and Quietways, so that more of us can safely cycle for our everyday needs.
"Cycle parking in new buildings has been woefully inadequate in meeting today’s demand let alone in the future. I welcome news that the new plan will start to address this.“
Find out more about Sustrans report “Laying the foundations for a Healthier London”
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We were delighted to be recognised at two award ceremonies last week – the Ulster Wildlife Trust’s Grassroots Challenge Awards and the Northern Ireland Road Safety Awards.
A group of young Sustrans volunteers were presented with awards for their environmental work in looking after and improving a section of the NCN on the Comber Greenway, near Belfast.
Bradley McCracken (16), from Belfast, was presented with a Young Environmental Leader Award in the Grassroots Challenge, co-ordinated by the Wildlife Trusts and funded by the Big Lottery Fund.
As part of his Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Bradley along with a group of teenagers – Louisa Williams, Peter Clarke and Matthew Sergeant who received the group award – volunteered their time to clear back overgrown vegetation, tidy path edges and survey wildlife, with support from Sustrans. The group also helped to apply for funding for a wildlife enhancement project.
“I’m extremely flattered and encouraged to have won this award, which I feel recognises the work carried out by the entire team, most notably their commitment and enthusiasm for this project,” Bradley said.
“Growing up, I was a frequent user of the Comber Greenway on family outings and walking to and from school. To have the opportunity to assist in its upkeep and preservation has not only been extremely enjoyable, but invaluable and has provided me with an insight into the ‘behind the scenes’ work involved.”
Hat-trick of Road Safety AwardsSustrans also scooped a Road Safety award – for the third year running – at the Northern Ireland Road Safety Awards.
Organised by Road Safe NI and accident management specialist, CRASH Services, we were recognised in the Two Wheels category along with the PSNI’s ‘Close Pass/ See the Cyclist’ safety campaign.
U105 presenter Frank Mitchell described Sustrans contribution to road safety as “immense” and quoted the judges’ opinion:
“The cycling charity is well known for delivering a successful schools programme which aims to make it easier for young people to walk and cycle for everyday journeys. Thus reducing congestion and improving road safety. This schools programme has continued to grow and has received funding for another five years to support the work they carry out in almost 300 schools.
“However most notably over the last 12 months, they have launched a three year Community Active Travel Programme in Belfast. This focuses on 12 disadvantaged areas of the city to deliver led walks, cycle training for children and adults, bike maintenance and community bike hubs.
“In addition they have extended their workplace programmes to Derry City and Strabane District Council. Staff have received on-road cycle training and travel planning to encourage safe journeys to work on foot or bike.
“They have also developed a bespoke cycle training course, Better by Bike, which they have tailored for commuters and community settings. The structured seven-week course for groups has enabled people to cycle confidently on road for leisure or work.”
Yes, it’s been a busy year!
Find out how to volunteer with Sustrans Read more about cycle training services we offer Find out what we do in Northern Ireland
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We have started a major two-year repair and restoration programme of 50 bridges and historic structures along the popular Sea to Sea (C2C) cycle and walking route in West Cumbria and the North East.
The £450,000 works, which are partly funded by Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), include repairs to the 60 metre Beamish Railway Tunnel, specialist restoration of a timber-framed tunnel at Seaton as well as a unique metal bridge at Montreal Cottages.
The 140-mile route attracts over 15,000 people for cycling and walking each year. Much of the route is on traffic-free paths such as old railway lines, which include many important heritage structures.
Gina Clarke, Sustrans Land Manager in the North East said:
“The C2C has some lovely old bridges and structures so it’s really exciting that we can now help restore them and develop the paths as heritage sites as well as popular cycle and walking paths.
“In our survey work we’ve discovered that some of the old bridges are also habitats for wildlife, including rare pipistrelle bats, so we’re also working with ecologists to help protect and conserve these important colonies.”
We own 42 miles of former railway track along the C2C, on the old iron ore railway lines between Whitehaven to Rowrah, and the Workington to Broughton Moor and Siddick sections, as well as the Washington to Sunderland section of the former Stanhope & Tyne Railway.
The Cumbria section is known locally as the Tracks of the Ironmasters, which is now part of a project funded by HLF, to help restore the path’s historic and natural heritage and develop a signed trail including stories from the local community. Wildlife conservation and habitat development is an important part of Sustrans work along these sections of the C2C. The linear paths act as havens and routes for wildlife as well as people, and there are bat colonies on some of the bridges.
Find out more about the Sea to Sea (C2C) route
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Sustrans Scotland and Stirling Council have been recognised for their work in Dunblane alongside representatives of local community groups at the 2017 Cycle-Rail Awards, after the Stirling Road Access for all Project was awarded the top prize under partnership working.
The project, completed in 2014, has significantly improved access to the station for people travelling on foot and by cycle through the installation of shared use facilities and the creation of new high quality accessible civic spaces on Stirling Road.
Together with Stirling Council, Sustrans Scotland’s Street Design Team carried out public engagement and the concept designs for the project. The council then led on delivery of the project, with ongoing support, guidance and funding coming from Sustrans’ Community Links team.
Sustrans Scotland Deputy Director Daisy Narayanan said:
“We are thrilled to have been jointly recognised for the partnership work involved in the delivery of the Stirling Road Access for All Project in Dunblane.
“The success of this project rests on the great partnership and involvement of representatives from Dunblane Community Council, Dunblane Development Trust and Discover Dunblane alongside Stirling Council and Sustrans Scotland.
“This was an exceptionally ambitious project which saw the entire street transformed into vibrant spaces for people to enjoy and travel through actively. The design has also improved access to businesses on Stirling Road, and created a series of high quality spaces that people want to visit and spend time in.”
Stirling Council’s Environment and Housing Committee Convenor, Councillor Jim Thomson, said:
“We’re delighted that the approach taken to developing this project along with the community has been recognised.
“Hopefully this project sets a good example of what can be achieved when the whole of a community is involved and works together.”
The Cycle-Rail Awards, recognises the progress made by the rail industry and associated organisations towards encouraging integrated cycle-rail travel took place in London on Thursday 23rd November.
Find out more about our work improving neighbourhoods and towns across Scotland Read our Dunblane Stirling Street Design case study
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The UK Government has today announced a £30 million funding package to improve road and cycle safety in towns and villages along the HS2 route between London and the West Midlands.
Responding, Xavier Brice, Chief Executive at Sustrans, said: “Investing in measures to make cycling and walking safer is key to keeping us moving, and improving health and economic vitality.
“Our recent Bike Life survey of 7,700 people in the UK revealed four out of five want more protected bike routes to make cycling safer.
“The £30 million announced today may be equivalent to 0.1% of the overall HS2 budget but it is a welcome opportunity for local authorities to make it easier and safer for people to walk and cycle.”
ENDS
Notes to Editor
·Bike Life reports every two years on infrastructure, travel habits, satisfaction and the impact of cycling more widely. The information comes from local data, modelling and an independent ICM survey with a representative sample of around 1,100 residents aged 16+ in seven UK cities.
·The original Bike Life report was published in the seven cities in 2015. It reported that majority of people (75%) supported £26 per head investment in cycle infrastructure.
·Sustrans’ Bike Life project is funded by the Freshfield Foundation and the seven cities participating in the project: Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Greater Manchester and Newcastle.
·Bike Life, the UK’s biggest assessment of cycling in cities, revealed four out of five people (78%) want more protected bike routes on roads built to make cycling safer, even when this could mean less space for other road traffic.
·Two-thirds (69%) say more cycling would make their city a better place to live and work.
·The overall reported budget for HS2 is £55.7 Billion, of which £30 million pounds equates to 0.05%.
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Dear Tony Hall, Lord Hall of Birkenhead
RE: Cycling feature on The Nolan Live Show, Wednesday 15 November 2017
I am lodging a complaint and seeking an apology for the cycling feature on The Nolan Live TV show which misrepresented Sustrans’ Bike Life report and for language and behaviour that was both highly offensive and potentially dangerous, and seemed to be supported by a worrying editorial bias.
Bike Life, a bi-annual report on the state of cycling in seven UK cities, found a high level of public support for the development of segregated cycle lanes. No more so than in Belfast, where the survey by independent polling company, ICM Unlimited revealed that 81% of the population – people who cycle and people who don’t – supported this.
Sustrans was invited to be in the audience for the show but not given a right to reply when the presenter Stephen Nolan both misrepresented and dismissed the findings.
Mr Nolan introduced the topic: “Apparently you want more middle-aged men in lycra, this is according to a survey by the bike charity Sustrans, claiming that 81% of people here – I don’t know whether to believe this or not – support building more dedicated cycle lanes around Belfast, even if it means that motorists have less room on the road”. In a single sentence, Mr Nolan both misrepresented the survey – it was certainly not about ‘middle-aged men in lycra’ – and dismissed the findings of a statistically representative sample of 1,100 Belfast residents aged 16+.
This set the tone. While we had anticipated a debate, what followed was a dangerous rant dominated by Mr Hook accusing all cyclists of being lawbreakers. When the audience were asked for comments they came from the BBC’s Yvette Shapiro, one of Nolan’s producers, who had complained about selfish club cyclists on Twitter and received abuse via tweets in return. Her story fuelled Mr Hook’s rant, further fuelled by laughter from the audience, culminating in him comparing cyclists to Nazis and giving a Nazi salute.
Mr Hook may be a known sensationalist, but his stance was encouraged and almost endorsed by both the presenter and a Nolan show producer. Where in all of this are the BBC’s standards of impartiality and respect?
Behaviour that disseminates intolerance, hatred and discrimination is inappropriate and unacceptable and should not be encouraged or tolerated by the BBC. While the audience may laugh, the reality of such language impacts on attitudes to people who choose to cycle, whether they are men in lycra, women cycling to work, or young children cycling to school.
Painting people who choose to cycle as a menace on the road is not only deeply distorting of reality but risks legitimising aggressive behaviour towards vulnerable road users. It is a salutary reminder of the gravity of the subject that the morning after the broadcast a young man on a bicycle was knocked down by a van in Co Londonderry. The man in his 20s was critically injured and died two days later.
I expect an unqualified apology from the BBC to both Sustrans and the Department for Infrastructure, who jointly funded the report, for misrepresenting the research and not giving Sustrans the opportunity to balance the narrative. I also ask that BBC Northern Ireland and Mr Nolan apologise to people who cycle and the population as a whole for the offence caused by this programme.
Yours sincerely
Xavier Brice
CEO at Sustrans
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