The Mayor of London’s draft guidance on local transport plans sets targets that conflict with Barnet’s current approach to transport. Barnet may lose its current £5million transport budget if it fails to fall in line with these plans.
Jenny Jones, a Green Party member of the London Assembly has welcomed the fact that Barnet will be expected to meet targets on:
· Reducing road casualties by 40% by 2010· 100% of primary schools to have 20mph speed limits on appropriate surrounding roads by 2011· Zero growth in traffic in Barnet’s town centres· Maintain or increase the share of personal travel made by means other than car· Increase cycling by at least 80% by 2010
Based on current performance, Barnet Council could fail to meet all of these targets.
For example, the document sets 2009 as the target for the completion of the London Cycle Network. Barnet will fail to meet this date because the Council has refused to use any of its budget allocations from the last two years, has refused to bid for money in the coming year and unlike other London Boroughs, is currently taking out cycle lanes.
Barnet Council’s policy of taking out traffic calming measures brings into doubt its commitment to reducing road casualties and runs counter to the implementation of 20mph zones.
Jenny, who is also Deputy Mayor of London, said,
“I hope that this new guidance will make Barnet council finally take road safety and traffic reduction seriously. The pro-motorist policies of the last few decades have been a disaster for London, with around 280 people killed on the roads every year.”
“We also have more traffic, more pollution and more congestion. A combination of bus service expansion and congestion charging has reduced traffic across London by 4% in the last few years and we need to build on the success of our carrot and stick approach.”
“Barnet council shouldn’t get over £3m from Transport for London for road maintenance, if they are going to use that money to take out all the cycle lanes, traffic calming measures and only consult people about putting them back."
"They especially shouldn’t get the money if local people then say that they want their road humps back and the council overrules them.”
NOTES FOR EDITORS
The draft guidance has been sent to Barnet for consultation. It requires Barnet to produce a local implementation plan which has to reflect the Mayor’s Transport Strategy.
Transport for London currently gives £130m to local authorities, with Barnet receiving over £5m for the coming year. This funding will be tied to Barnet council implementing the Mayor’s plans and if necessary, the Mayor will issue directions to local authorities to ensure that his transport strategy is carried out.
ENDS