Look at the state of that!
Pavements have been papped, streets have been summarised, judges have judged, and it’s finally time to announce the winners in The State of Our Streets Awards!
For the past month we’ve been receiving updates on your most loved or most loathed streets for The State of the Street Awards, and the “winner” has been found… Waterside South in Lincoln.
The panel of judges decided this entrant best demonstrated how a street can impacts on the pedestrian experience.
Nominator Jonathan Haw cited non-existent or overgrown footpaths, a lack of lighting, and poor water run off as the reasons behind his nomination.
“It may look like a little-used back road, but it is actually only a couple of minutes walk from the city centre and the main access to a major office development housing at least 1,000 workers, including some from Lincolnshire County Council - the very authority responsible for highways!” said Jonathan.
On a more positive note, our runner up, Abergavenny’s Library Square, was cited as an example of the results of proactive street maintenance by nominator Benita Kelly.
Previously a target antisocial behavior and overgrown through neglect, Victorian Street Neighbourhood campaigned to improve the area and received a grant from their Town council.
The local community worked together to clear the overgrown shrubs, repaint the benches and plant a small vegetable garden.
“People who use the square comment on the lovely bed and sit in the sun to enjoy a clean, pretty, safe and welcoming environment” said Benita.
Congratulations to Benita and all the hard working people in Abegavenny and commiserations to Jonathan!
Jonathan has won a digital camera, so fingers crossed he can capture some shots of a similar improvement to his area in the forthcoming months!
See the gallery below for more entries.
Latest nominations across the UK
This is next to one of London's most pretigious squares and tourist destinations. I think we can do better.
Poor landscape maintenance of adjourning greenspace by the local authority. This means pedestrians have to walk along the cycle space of the dual use path and road space is very generous for vehicles. This is a pretty new piece of infrastructure which links to Ebbsfleet International Train station. A good example of good infrastructure being let down by poor maintenance.
Poorly maintained, tree roots everywhere and not level
I am a wheelchair user and the chairs, tables and A-boards and rubbish bags strewn across the footway make it really difficult to pass, and in some sections, impossible to walk side by side with someone else. With all the clutter, the pavement is too small and at some points you actually have to step into the road to pass. The shops and cafes should put this info in their windows, not on the street. There's also a real need to sort out some of the kerbs and even out pavements, the state of them at the moment means I couldn't wheel this street alone without someone to give me a push up at some points. Unblock this street!
Every rubbish collection day bins are left strewn across the pavement, making it virtually impossible for people in wheelchairs and with pushchairs to navigate their way safely along the street. This is an example from Billington Street, SE14. Get your act together Lewisham council!
I moved here in Novemer 2011. It is a picturesque street. We see seasons come and go with the beauty of the trees and the flowers which are planted and tended by our local council North Tyneside. It a really buzzing community and is a visitors attraction due to its beauty and position near the historic coastline. This is Front Street in Tynemouth, mention to anyone where you are and it's Awh I love it there. Since living here not a weekend passes without the constant maintenance and loving care taken of this place.
I have celebrated every event that has been happening in our great country living here it's like I have stepped by in time as we have civic pride.. We had bunting for Queens Jubilee also for Olympics and a visit of the Torch, I face the village green and the cenotaph and we will soon have our chests swelling as we thank the Fallen.. I am so happy we moved here...
Wallington High Street is one of the best streets in Sutton with lovely wide pavements, seats, good public transport access/infrastructure (very important!) and just a nice place to be.
I am nominating Hill Top Mount in Harehills in Leeds (LS8) as the worst kept street. There is always an enormous amount of rubbish there, both blown in from Roundhay Road but also just dumped there. There is a pipe coming out of someones garden which leaks water across the pavement constantly, forming a sheet of ice in the winter People speed and park really badly. I have seen one collision and several near misses between cars on the junction with Shepherds Lane. Also people stole the drain covers, meaning there were open holes along the street just the right size for people to get their foot stuck in and end up with a broken ankle or fall over.
Edinburgh is a city of great cyclers but a terrible city for cycling. And Leith Walk is potentially the worst street from a bad bunch.
For cyclists sharing a lane with double-decker buses and taxis is scary enough but it becomes terrifying when you see the state of the road. Pot-holed doesn't describe this farm track. Pot-cratered does it more justice. I'm amazed there aren't more serious accidents or fatalities.
I challenge Edinburgh's councillors, MSPs and MPs to cycle up and down Leith Walk for a week on a racer bike to build their empathy levels towards action.
The Euston Road A501(with nearby Pentonville Road, Gray’s Inn Road, Acton Street, A201 Penton Rise, King’s Cross Road, the A5203 Wharfdale Road, Caledonian Road, York Way, and the A5202 Pancras Road, and Midland Road) have excessive motor traffic speed and volume, and are treated as roads not streets. This works against a safe and pleasant walking environment where people live and work in the station and transport interchange area, which is the town centre of King's Cross.
After Better Streets 2008, The Mayor of London asked TfL Streets via consultants in 2011 to study the area and the study is yet to be shared with the public.
The local group would like to improve the urban environment in line with the "Reimagining urban spaces to help revitalise our high streets" (DCLG report July 2012) and Manual for Streets 2 (CIHT 2010) and TfLs "Valuing Urban Realm Toolkit" but Camden and Islington councillors and officers are uncertain whether they can influence TfL.