Living Streets in Leamington Spa

Leamington Spa

Contact

Janet Alty
Email
leamingtonspa@livingstreets.org.uk

Much of our effort has been concentrated in Old Town Leamington Spa - that patch South of the River which has got rather badly left behind. Our latest project is to invite a consultant to give us a different and interesting proposal for the Old Town Square and to consider the possibility of closing Bath Street - a one-way funnel which pleases no one.

We have also been working with the local Police in the Old Town to do full "Walking Audits" of different routes. This is an outcome of a presentation given by Living Streets staff at the invitation of the District Council Safety Officer where Police from those areas of highest crime were required to attend, and then to carry out "Walking Audits". We'd recommend this approach to other Local Authorities.

We have in the past many months spent many hours working with the County Council engineers on the proposals to upgrade the main North-South shopping route (Parade) which was awarded £1.1mn by the Government as a safety demonstration project. We feel we have learnt a great deal by taking part in this exercise, and also hope that we have helped to create a better understanding of the pedestrian environment among the other consultees.

One of our members has taken the whole question of pedestrian needs particularly to heart and spends much time "eyeing up old biddies with shopping buggies" as he feels, and we agree, that the real needs of people on foot are very little understood.

A project we wish to pursue soon is to work with mothers with buggies - both single and double, as well as walking children - to help them to look more carefully at their needs and to report hazards.

We'd be glad to hear from anyone with concerns which need to be raised with the Highway Engineers, or to pursue a wider understanding of the pedestrian environment.

Latest News from Leamington Spa

The Living Streets Leamington Spa (LSLS) branch seeks to meet twice a month in the Library Advice Room, Leamington Spa. To confirm exact dates, please email us or phone Janet Alty on 01926 427773 or Simon Peter 01926 422497 for details.

LSLS exists to improve the whole pedestrian environment and make it pleasant for everyone, especially for those whose needs have been forgotten in the current planning climate where the needs of motor cars have tended to come first.

It is our intention both to respect the Highways Division Engineers in Warwickshire County Council for the work they do - and to feed them relevant information about problems and emergencies - and at the same time to help them to understand the pedestrian environment a great deal better.