BackStripping back street clutter
Our campaign to rid our streets of unnecessary guard railing, bollards and street signs has once again been given national recognition.
Local Government Minister Grant Shapps has today called for residents to get thinking about how they would make changes to their local streets. Too often, local residents feel powerless to improve their streets. But the Government has emphasised that communities coming together to create a ‘neighbourhood plan’ under new powers in the Localism Bill will be able to set policies to improve their local street environment, for example by getting rid of clutter and improving the quality of signage and street furniture. Local communities are being encouraged to decide how they will use these new powers to make their streets safer, more attractive and more enjoyable.
Excessive street signs, bollards and guard railings have become a menace, turning our streets into unattractive obstacle courses, creating trip hazards for pedestrians and obstructing people with mobility difficulties and parents with children. Living Streets has long called for councils to design and manage streets with direct input from the people who live in an area – the people who know best about what needs to change to improve their local streets and public spaces.
Tony Armstrong, Chief Executive of Living Streets said:
“Too often, guardrails end up penning in pedestrians, bollards are installed without thought to the effects on people in wheelchairs or parents with pushchairs, and advertising boards and big wheely bins are left blocking the pavement.
“Community powers, stronger guidance from central government and a coordinated approach from local councils are all vital in making our streets safe, attractive and clutter free. Councils in particular should see this announcement as a clear signal that they can and should remove unnecessary clutter without fear. This is an opportunity to save money and deliver positive action for communities by ensuring that decluttering is prioritised and championed across all departments.
“Through our own audits with local communities and councils, we have found that stripping back street clutter transforms our streets from obstacle courses to enjoyable open spaces where people want to walk. We welcome steps towards cutting the clutter.”
Living Streets welcomes the call for less street clutter from CLG, crucially:
• Alongside involving the local community, councils need to prioritise decluttering and ensure that they are co-ordinating across the council. It’s all too easy for one team to be decluttering while another team is actually cluttering.
• Councils need to ensure that they have a public realm champion at councillor and senior officer level, who can ensure that a unified approach is taken and their teams aren’t hampered by over zealous health and safety concerns when ripping out clutter.
• Nationally government needs to provide clear simple guidance in one place that empowers communities and local councils to declutter
Take action on street clutter in your local area
Published on: 06/06/2011
