More people need to get out of their cars, says BCP transport councillor

The warning comes from sustainability and transport portfolio holder Mike Greene.

He told Wednesday’s cabinet meeting that the area is one of the most congested in the country and the problems of clogged up roads would only get worse unless something was done about it.

Read more: 'We need is less cars on the road': Bus bosses have say on congestion

Introducing the council’s plans to promote walking and cycling as alternatives he said that more than 15 per cent of current journeys to and from work are less than 2km, a distance which could be walked in 25 minutes, or cycled in 6. He said that half of the work journeys are capable of being cycled in less than 15 minutes.

“If we could resolve that the whole congestion problem would go away – but we will need to provide safe routes to do that,” he said.

Cllr Green said that outline plans are being progressed for 2km walking zones based around the three main town centres with 1km zones to follow at 17 district centres.

Congestion in BCP area

He promised that each of the plans being worked on, together with other safe cycling and walking routes, would be fully consulted on before they were implemented.

The meeting heard that apart from tackling congestion the additional benefits would be less pollution and improved health with financial savings for those who were able to move away from using a car for many of their local trips.

Poole councillor Andy Hadley called for the council’s strategy to go beyond travel to and from work – he said there was also the need to persuade people to feel safe to walk and cycle when they were shopping, or for leisure trips.

Said Cllr Green in the introduction to the council’s walking and cycling infrastructure plan: “There is no space to build new roads. As we build back from the pandemic, we cannot afford to slip back into old habits that cause congestion and harmful pollution…

Read more: What IS the answer to huge congestion problems?

“The Council is committed to providing the infrastructure that will enable more children to cycle and walk to school, and adults for work, education or leisure purposes safely and happily. Our streets and areas will be safer for cycling and walking, and our residents will enjoy a healthier, more connected community. We will be a place where cycling and walking is the natural choice for getting about, particularly for short journeys.”

Government proposal say that half of all short, urban journeys, should be made by cycling or walking by 2030.

It has confirmed that councils which do not have a cycling and walking improvement plan in place will not receive funding for active travel schemes in their areas.

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