| Topic: | Re:Re:Putney High Street - disgraceful example for air quality inaction | |
| Posted by: | Jonathan Callaway | |
| Date/Time: | 10/01/13 14:42:00 |
| This is probably a good moment to mention that the Putney Society has organised a meeting on 24th Jan at 7.30pm at St Mary's Church on the topic of the High Street, the air pollution and the street layout. There is an obvious desire to reduce the pollution levels but there is also a desire to make the street layout more attractive to pedestrians. Our speakers will include Cllrs Jonathan Cook and Russell King who have cabinet level responsibility respectively for the Environment and Transport, so we should hear what the Council's immediate plans are to tackle the problem. One of our members, David Irwin, will also be presenting his own plans for beautifying Putney High Street - and let's face it there is scope for improvement! Cleaner buses obviously help air quality but improving and smoothing traffic flow will also help. There are limits to this - for example it might flow better if there were fewer pedestrian crossings or the lights stayed green for longer, but this would be opposed by most shoppers and encourage more jaywalking, a dangerous pursuit even in slow moving traffic, as we saw with the tragic death of a pedestrian not so long ago outside W H Smiths. It might also help if blockages caused by delivery lorries were reduced, or limited to certain times of the day. This is something the Council could improve regulation of. It could also help if the bus stop outside WH Smiths was moved, up to the station for example, but this too would be unpopular with many shoppers who would have further to walk and lug their shopping. All in all there will have to be some trade off between keeping the traffic moving and making the place more pleasant for shoppers - who would no doubt appreciate wider pavements, more greenery etc. I would be very interested to hear what people think could be done - and of course to come along to our meeting and join the discussion! |