Detail from a council appeal for views on the creation of ‘people-friendly streets’

• EMERGENCY service response times are being raised by those against People-Friendly Streets as a reason not to implement them.

However there is clear data from Waltham Forest where Low Traffic Neighbourhoods have been introduced, that response times were actually reduced by 18 seconds.

In 2015 emergency service average response times were 05.12 but by 2019 response times had reduced significantly to 04.54. (https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/incident-response-times-fire-facts).

The conclusion to draw from this is that filters will not hinder emergency services. While it is essential that the council continue to liaise with all emergency services to ensure the schemes do not hinder response, the reduction in traffic created by people-friendly streets will evidently support emergency response times.

LTNs are supported by many public health professionals and organisations. In an open letter to councillors Richard Watts and Rowena Champion, Professor Charles Knight, chief executive of St Bartholomew’s Hospital, which serves the medical needs of many Islington residents, called for more action to be taken.

He asks the council to “consider closing some streets and junctions to through traffic, implementing [LTNs] – this will ensure everyone has access to street space areas to walk, scoot, cycle and use wheelchairs without the blight of heavy traffic.”

He also cites the importance of active travel, which LTNs encourage, to reduce rates of chronic diseases including obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This is also supported by WHO and Public Health England.

Air pollution, caused mainly by vehicles, has a detrimental effect on our health, in addition to contributing to chronic health issues such as respiratory conditions, heart disease, diabetes and strokes.

Dr Ian Mudway from King’s College highlights air pollution contributes to many sub-clinical health conditions that will appear later in life.

By implementing people-friendly streets we are encouraged to swap short car journeys with active travel which as well as reducing the impact of air pollution on our health will also improve the wellbeing and life expectancy of Islington residents.

LUCY FACER
Barnsbury and St Mary’s Neighbourhood Group