BackLocal group makes an impact
At Living Streets, we support a network of local groups who make changes that really benefit the local community. From campaigning issues to organising street parties, anyone can join and take part in a local group. Caroline Russell is chair of the Islington Living Streets group, and offers some insight into the ins and outs of this London local group.
Walking the streets of Islington with her young children, Caroline became increasingly aware of how traffic-dominated her local streets were. Looking for an organisation which supported a better deal for pedestrians, she was drawn to Living Streets. The group meets regularly and actively campaigns on behalf of their area, with particular emphasis at the moment on speed restriction.
The group lobbied hard for 20mph limits in areas of Islington, and these restrictions are now being implemented on roads not already covered by 20mph zones. The Islington group now focus their campaigns on making the main roads more civilised. The local council have gathered data that shows traffic routinely breaks the 30mph speed limit and so they are lobbying for the police to enforce existing limits. There are also areas at Archway and Highbury Corner that the group see as danger points for pedestrians, and are actively searching for solutions.
Assessing the value of the local group, Caroline believes that feeling it is possible to improve the local streetscape and having a relationship with the local authority on transport projects are both valuable things.
Describing her groups successes Caroline said: “Many of our successes are small, but make a huge difference to people’s daily route to school, the shops or work, like kerb realignments, widening of a footway or removal of unnecessary street clutter. We influenced the design of the 20mph scheme around Islington’s main park to ensure there were informal crossing points where people join the road around the park to assist access.”
“Our main success is to have built a respected local organisation that represents pedestrians on many local platforms: Transport Liaison Group, 20 mph Borough Board, Islington Cyclists Action Group/Living Streets Liaison (with borough engineers) and on several stakeholder groups established by the Council to look at specific projects. Our public meetings are always well attended with between 35 and 50 people.”
Published on: 14/06/2010
