WHAT WE STAND FOR

 We recognise the need for traffic reduction

The current levels of air pollution, noise and road danger are unacceptable. We would welcome less traffic, but do not support unevidenced measures which penalise independent businesses, those who live, travel, work/learn on roads taking traffic from LTN streets, and people who depend on cars or vans for their livelihood or are unable to use other forms of transport. 

 We support investment in:

• better, cheaper and more accessible public transport
• new bus routes, tram, tube and rail schemes
• safer conditions for pedestrians and cyclists
• cargo bikes, car-sharing, mobility hubs
• school streets, traffic calming, safe routes to school 
• taxis, school buses, specialised accessible schemes like Taxicard and Dial-A-Ride

We believe that Low Traffic Neighbourhoods:

• relocate traffic (and its associated noise, pollution and road danger) on to other roads
• disrupt many of the established community patterns of those living and working in them, without adequate mitigation
• do not adequately address the needs of people with disabilities and those with long-term health conditions
• fail to address the needs of those whose livelihoods depend on cars
• are not part of a joined-up solution to our transport problems

£millions of public money has been spent on these schemes, without conclusive evidence that they reduce overall traffic/congestion, pollution, mileage driven, carbon emissions or collisions.

We call for all policies to be seen through the lens of social and environmental justice

These include but are not limited to: low-traffic neighbourhoods; parking policies; road-user charging; lower speed limits; tougher penalties for dangerous driving; kerbside idling; so-called ‘rat running’.

We support fully inclusive engagement/community co-production

All sections of society, and particularly those who can struggle to be heard, need to be part of the engagement and consultation process as policies are developed.

OUR OBJECTS (from our Articles of Association)

  (1) To develop creative ways of consulting stakeholders that include rather than exclude target groups. The whole community will benefit from meaningful resident consultations prior to the formulation and implementation of environmental and other policies. This will help ensure that more marginalised groups by being involved in the decision-making process take ownership of policy outcomes.

  (2) To commission and champion research that is free from bias and neutral in 

terms of having no pre-determined conclusions with an aim of producing research findings that are accurate, accessible, and free from bias that will help ensure the development of policies that are fair and equitable and of benefit to the entire community.

   (3) To develop a social & environmentally just approach to policy, with respect to transport, housing, and other areas and how they impact communities. By ensuring that the interests of more marginalised groups - often BAME communities, poorer communities, women, and children - are front and central in policymaking and delivery the wider community will benefit.

   (4) To champion a range of policies through advocacy, coalition-building and public awareness that will benefit people across society and especially our target group through developing an ownership of policies that have positive impacts for all.

  (5) To build a multi-disciplinary network across local and national community organisations who will help advance objectives from perspectives such as health, socio-economic factors and cultural diversity and analysing relevant existing policies from an equity perspective.