Campaigner proposes to create traffic free streets once a month (From Wandsworth Guardian)

Campaigner proposes to create traffic free streets once a month

2:40pm Tuesday 30th October 2012 in News By Alexandra Rucki

A campaigner is proposing to create a network of traffic free streets in the borough after being inspired by the Olympics.

Jon Irwin, co-chair of Wandsworth Environment Forum (WEF), has put forward the Active Wandsworth Sunday Streets idea to the council which would ban motor vehicle traffic one day a month.

The scheme would create a select route of roads which would be free of motor traffic for the first or second Sunday of each month.

Mr Irwin hopes his idea would encourage more families to take up active travel, such as cycling, walking and jogging.

A draft route has been suggested, which includes Latchmere Road, Thurleigh Road and a route alongside the river.

Mr Irwin said: "The idea is that on the first or second Sunday of each month, a set route of streets in the borough would be opened to people, closed to motor traffic.

"This would allow local residents and their families to be able to walk, jog, run, roller-blade or cycle around the borough without the problems associated with people sharing the streets with motor vehicles.

"The draft route has been designed to minimise bus route disruption, and if it is trialled the suggested timing would be from 10am through to 3pm."

It is hoped the idea will encourage those inspired by the Olympics to become more active.

Earlier this year the council appointed Councillor John Locker as an Active Travel Champion to try and encourage more people to use alternative methods of travel.

A spokesperson for the council said: "We are always happy to listen to proposals for community initiatives, especially ones that encourage more people to take up cycling.

"In order to take something like this forward, we would need to look at a number of issues, including whether there is widespread support, where the funding would come from, and what sort of problems it might create for example disruption to travel and road access for emergency services."