Have your say on bold new vision for transport in Islington

The draft Islington Transport Strategy will shape the future of Islington’s transport until 2041. Key principles include:

• making it safer and easier to walk and cycle, and reducing car use
• eliminating all deaths and serious injuries from transport
• significantly cutting transport-related carbon emissions to help Islington become net carbon neutral by 2030
• improving air quality by reducing polluting traffic
• making Islington’s streets and neighbourhoods more enjoyable and welcoming places

The draft strategy includes pioneering proposals including:

• transforming the Old Street and Clerkenwell Road corridor by closing it to through traffic, helping to prioritise walking, cycling and public transport
• the roll-out out of school streets or equivalent at all schools to improve air quality and road safety
• investigate phasing out resident and business parking permits for diesel and petrol vehicles by 2030
• create low traffic areas, to support the development of liveable neighbourhoods

Cllr Claudia Webbe, Islington Council’s executive member for environment and transport, said: “We’re determined to make transport in Islington healthy, fair, accessible and enjoyable and we’ve created a bold vision to shape Islington’s transport for the next 20 years.

“Whilst we are proud of our record, it's clear many people choose not to walk or cycle because some streets can feel unwelcoming and are too dominated by traffic. Thus, we see the need to close certain roads to through traffic to prevent rat-running, make neighbourhoods more liveable and improve the environment to support active travel.

“We have recently declared a climate emergency and at the heart of our transport strategy is a commitment to cutting transport-related carbon emissions to help Islington become carbon neutral by 2030.

“We want to make walking and cycling safer, easier and more pleasant; improve air quality, with reduced traffic and a further cut in car use; and to take bold action to make our streets and neighbourhoods enjoyable and welcoming places to be.

“We welcome comments, suggestions and ideas about our draft Islington Transport Strategy and we look forward to hearing views from our residents and local organisations.”

Consultation on the draft Islington Transport Strategy runs from 29 July to 29 September, and is a chance for people and organisations to give comments and help shape the final Islington Transport Strategy.

The full draft transport strategy and the executive summary for consultation are on our website: www.islington.gov.uk/transportstrategy Comments can also be emailed to transportstrategy@islington.gov.uk

To find out more, come to an event where you can talk with council officers in person:

• 222 Upper Street: Wednesday 11 September, 12:00 – 15:30
• Archway Library: Monday 16 September, 16:00 – 20:00
• St Luke’s Community Centre: Friday 27 September, 10:30 – 14:00

After consultation ends, the council will consider feedback and update the strategy, so it can be considered by the council’s Executive in autumn 2019.

Notes to editor

Almost 70 per cent of Islington residents don’t own a car. 81 per cent of residents’ trips are made by walking, cycling or using public transport. Islington is one of seven London boroughs already exceeding the Mayor’s London-wide target of 80 per cent.

Only 45 per cent of residents are doing at least 20 minutes of walking and cycling a day. This is the minimum amount of physical activity recommended to reduce the risk of many of the most serious long-term conditions.

It is estimated that seven per cent of deaths in Islington (67 people) in 2016 could be attributed to air pollution. Of Islington’s 58 primary schools and secondary schools, 39 have air pollution levels above EU limits.

Islington was the first London borough to introduce a 20mph speed limit on all its roads.

Islington has 60 bus routes, six London Underground lines running through 10 stations, three London Overground lines running through five stations, four National Rail lines running through four stations, and 36 Santander Cycle docking stations.

A resident who cannot afford to pay the cost of an annual Tube pass (Zones 1 & 2) upfront and instead pays the weekly capped rate could end up spending over £400 more per year.

Islington’s population is expected to grow by approximately 15% between 2016 and 2041.