Sustrans welcomes Client Earth’s third air pollution victory

21 February 2018

On the announcement of Client Earth’s successful legal action against the UK Government, Xavier Brice, Chief Executive at Sustrans, the walking and cycling charity said:

“Sustrans welcomes the verdict of the judge. We agree that the Government needs to show far greater leadership and urgency in bringing air pollution in the UK within legal limits.

“Reducing levels of motor traffic on the roads by providing high quality facilities for walking and cycling is one of the best ways to tackle the UK’s air pollution crisis. Our research shows that investment in dedicated cycling and walking infrastructure can prevent thousands of premature deaths from dirty air alone and save the economy millions through reduced healthcare costs.

“We’re calling on the UK Government to support all local authorities currently breaking air pollution limits in putting the infrastructure in place to reduce motor vehicle use and create safe routes and spaces for people to get around by bike and on foot.”

Sustrans is part of the Healthy Air Campaign. For more information about our work to tackle air pollution go to www.sustrans.org.uk/airquality For more information, interviews, case studies and photos contact: Anna Galandzij, Senior Press Officer at Sustrans, 07557 915 648, anna.galandzij@sustrans.org.uk

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Workplaces across Scotland sign up to Sustrans’ Scottish Workplace Journey Challenge

21 February 2018
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We are encouraging people to travel more actively to work during March by inviting them to join the Scottish Workplace Journey Challenge.

Funded by Transport Scotland, the free, month-long Challenge helps to inspire people to travel in ways that benefit their health, well-being and the environment.

Workplaces from across Scotland will compete against each other to see who can clock up the most walking, cycling, public transport and car-sharing journeys between 1–31 March, in a bid to win more than £2,000 worth of prizes.

Transport Minister Humza Yousaf said:

“There are many benefits from walking and cycling both for employees and workplaces. Changing the way you travel to work each day is a great place to start when encouraging people to make healthier and greener travel choices.

“Using public transport, car sharing schemes and car clubs can also save you money and help reduce harmful emissions. This Scottish Government will continue to invest in infrastructure and new initiatives to ensure people have the widest choice possible for their everyday journeys.”

Healthier, happier workplaces

We know that people who travel actively to work are fitter, healthier, happier and less likely to take sick days.

By encouraging people to make small changes to the way they get to work, we hope it will inspire them to make sustainable, long-term changes to the way they travel.

Staff from the Scottish Wildlife Trust and Glasgow City Council are just two of the workplaces who have given their backing to the Challenge by signing up to travel actively to work during March.

Participants will use an online platform to log their sustainable journeys and compete to climb a leader board. They will have access to feedback on how many calories they’ve burned and the amount of money they’ve saved on each journey by choosing healthy, green and cheap alternatives to driving.

Individual challengers will also be judged on the number of journeys they complete while workplaces are judged on the overall rate of participation in the team.

The Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Senior Policy Officer, Bruce Wilson said:

“The Trust has huge concerns for the natural environment and we are seeing first-hand the increasing impact of climate change  on our native wildlife and habitats.

“We have to make sure that the everyday actions of our staff align with our messages about sustainable living, which includes promoting active and low carbon travel.

“I cycle to work regularly and find I benefit from having an active start to the day as opposed to sitting in traffic. Taking part in the Scottish Workplace Journey Challenge is a fantastic way to encourage colleagues to realise these benefits, and ensure that as well as talking the talk, we walk the walk.”

Councillor Anna Richardson, Glasgow City Convener for Sustainability and Carbon Reduction, added:

“Taking part in the Scottish Workplace Journey Challenge is a great way to make changes and improve your health and wellbeing as well as helping us reduce our CO2 emissions.  Encouraging staff to take part is key to its success and to our sustainable transport objectives of a cleaner environment.

“The challenge allows you to set your own personal targets and shape your commute.  Plus, there’s the chance to win some great spot prizes!”

We wish all the workplaces involved the best of luck over the coming month.

Register for the Scottish Workplace Journey Challenge or get your workplace involved

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Cycling UK donation to Sustrans

19 February 2018
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Our volunteers in Lincolnshire were thrilled recently to receive a donation of £200 from the Cyclists Touring Club in the county – a group which is part of Cycling UK. The money will be used to help maintain the National Cycle Network in the region.

The donation was presented by Tim Newberry on 10 February at an event in Lincolnshire which was arranged for local Sustrans volunteers. The Cycling UK Lincolnshire committee members met and agreed to donate £200 of funds to us for use in the East Midlands. Stretching across 14,000 miles linking up villages, towns and cities the National Cycle Network is used frequently by many members of the Cyclists Touring Club.

The volunteers’ event was well attended and it gave participants the chance to discuss ongoing projects, such as the review of the National Cycle Network. They also shared success stories about the projects they’re working on locally. These include the Moorland Local People Project and work with East Midlands Trains to brighten up local train stations.

The donation was received by Sustrans Head of Network Development (Midlands & East), Gwyneth McMinn, who said:

“Our recent event was well attended by Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire volunteers and I’d particularly like to thank Tim Newbery from Cycling UK for the kind donation. Their aims match our own vision to get more people walking and cycling. As such it’s important that both organisations work together to achieve that shared vision. I’m looking forward to attending Cycling UK’s Lincolnshire Annual General Meeting in November to affirm that commitment.”

Find out how more about our volunteers and how you can become a Sustrans volunteer

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Yellow Warning from pupils in Penygroes

19 February 2018

Children and staff at Ysgol Bro Lleu take part in a Yellow Warning Day. 

Sustrans is working with schools in Wales to provide children with the skills and information necessary to allow them to walk, scoot and cycle to school on a regular basis through the Active Journeys programme.

Children at the school wore yellow in order to draw attention to the fact that parents and guardians parking on the zig-zag yellow lines near the school are making the area dangerous for other drivers, pedestrians, scooter users and cyclists alike. Pupils also received cycle and scooter skills training during the day in order to increase their confidence in travelling actively to school.

Sustrans Schools Officer, Gwen Thomas, said:

“Walking, scooting, and cycling to school is a great way for our children to get the exercise they need every day to keep healthy, and research shows it allows them to become better students in the classroom.  Let’s not forget it’s fun, too.”

Gerallt Jones, Head Teacher of Ysgol Bro Lleu, said:

“We’re very keen to encourage more pupils to walk, scooter and cycle to school, and we need everyone in the community to help us to create the safe conditions which will allow more and more people to feel they can leave the car at home or further from the school.

Sustrans works with schools throughout Wales thanks to funding from the Welsh Government.

Find out about our work with schools

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New community space opened in Willow Glade, Skellingthorpe

15 February 2018
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Excited local residents have welcomed the opening of a new community space in Skellingthorpe, Lincolnshire. Located on Route 64 of the National Cycle Network, Willow Glade has been developed by volunteers as part of our Greener Greenways programme which protects and enhances biodiversity along some traffic-free sections of the National Cycle Network. It contains a sitting area made from logs with a number of features and decorations made by local children using natural material.

Instead of a traditional ribbon cutting ceremony a piece of willow was cut by local Sustrans volunteer Ian Callaghan, with support from local councillor Mike Thompson. At the opening event local children took part in a weaving session using a tool made from the willow.

The inspiration for Willow Glade came to veteran Sustrans volunteer, Ian Callaghan, when he watched a maintenance team remove two trees that were in danger of falling onto the cycle route last year. From the waste material he created a log pile house on a clearing that was created by the works. Impressed with his vision and enthusiasm, we provided him with a small budget of £300 to complete the work - he also received help from a local school, St Lawrence.

It took just 30 days during November last year for Ian, his children and friends to transform the area from a small clearing into a fenced learning area with steps and seating. During the transformation Ian shifted around ten tonnes of wood chippings and countless logs.

Speaking at the opening of Willow Glade Sim Duhra, Sustrans Senior Project Officer for Greener Greenways, said: 

“I’d like to thank Ian and the volunteers for the work that they’ve done to make this project a success. The Greener Greenways corridors help to create ‘networks’ that allow wildlife to move, colonise new areas and adapt. This ensures ongoing biodiversity and a varied ecosystem - however they’re great for people too! Thanks to Ian and the volunteers many local people, walkers and schoolchildren are enjoying this site and will do for a long time to come.”

Sustrans volunteer Ian Callaghan has been helping Sustrans for nearly four years. Speaking about this project he said:

“Lots of people who walked by commented on the things we were doing and I could see a need for an area close to the village for people to use. I hand carved the sign and built the glockenspiel using the spare sleepers from the stairs. The whole project has been made worthwhile by the variety of people using it, from the walking group who stop there for tea to the 50 plus children who came to make Christmas decorations.”

Find out more about our Greener Greenways programme

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Funding boost from London's Mayor provides over £10m more for Boroughs to improve streets

14 February 2018
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Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London has announced a funding boost of £11.6m for London Boroughs in this year’s budget for councils to improve their streets and local neighbourhoods.

London’s 33 boroughs will be allocated new funds to support transport projects in the capital. The money will be used to reduce road danger, transform local environments, encourage cycling and walking, and improve accessibility and air quality.

Record funding levels will reach £237 for London boroughs to spend on local projects this year overall. London’s Boroughs are responsible for delivering projects that support the Mayor’s Transport Strategy to improve London’s streets and local environment.

Alongside the funding already committed to Mini-Hollands schemes, funding from TfL now includes a new funding stream – the multi-million pound Liveable Neighbourhoods scheme specifically designed to enable more walking and cycling in every London borough. This will provide £114m to improve local environments across London – and initial funding has already been awarded to Ealing, Greenwich, Hackney, Haringey, Havering, Lewisham and Waltham Forest.

The funding directly to boroughs is a key part of the Mayor’s Healthy Streets vision of a city that is more pleasant to live and move around in – delivering transport, town centre and public space improvements to benefit the lives of Londoners.

This money is available because business rates returns provided to the Mayor by the capital’s local authorities are higher than first expected. This funding is for 2018/19 only.

The share of the allocation for each borough will be decided using the existing fair formula for borough funding.

“ The Mayor’s extra funding boost is yet another step in the right direction towards enabling more of us to get about on foot and by bike, and a very welcome investment to make London a vibrant and healthy city. ”

- Matt Winfield, London Director Sustrans

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:

“Over the course of the next five years, we’ve committed an unprecedented £1bn for boroughs to improve local neighbourhoods across London - with a focus on schemes that encourage walking and cycling, making our high streets cleaner and more enjoyable places to spend time.

“The extra £11.6m funding I’m announcing in this year’s budget means more funding to get projects off the ground this year, with boroughs having more money available to them than any year under the previous Mayor. We will continue to work closely with boroughs to ensure these schemes are the very best they can be, and truly transform quality of life for Londoners right across the city.”

Matt Winfield, London Director for Sustrans, walking and cycling charity, said:

“The Mayor’s extra funding boost is yet another step in the right direction towards enabling more of us to get about on foot and by bike, and a very welcome investment to make London a vibrant and healthy city.

“Londoners want and need better streets and cleaner air, and we look forward to working with Boroughs to help create a healthier, more active and less polluted London.”

Penny Rees, Head of Network Sponsorship at TfL, said:

“This extra funding, on top of the already record levels, will help London’s boroughs transform their roads into safer, more pleasant and thriving areas. We’re committed to delivering the Mayor’s ambition for good growth and healthy streets for all Londoners and it is by working closely with the boroughs that we’ll be able to achieve this.”

Find out more about our work in London What are Liveable Neighbourhoods?

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Old Street Roundabout: Sustrans' design longlisted to transform public space

8 February 2018
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Our design to transform the iconic Old Street Roundabout in Islington has been sucessfully longlisted for the Old Street Iconic Gateway ‘Open Call for Design Ideas’ exhibition, which will run from 12 Feb – 2 March. 

Our design idea, “Hello, World!” is directly inspired by  Old Street’s Tech City, and integrates elements of public art, technology and innovation. The proposal converts an unused space into a destination that seeks to use technology to bring people together, fostering social face-to-face interactions.

Hello, World! 

The core of our idea will be familiar to any programmer, developer, hacker and school child. Like learning ‘Bonjour!’, “Hello, World!” is the first communication of a global programming language as well as an idea that aims to embody the tech heritage of ‘Silicon Roundabout’ while broadcasting London’s new public hub of technology. This idea will take the form of a large digital globe, 15 meters in diameter, presenting content and interactive information, allowing the Old Street Iconic Gateway to connect with people and ideas from across the world.

Our proposed design will create a stimulating and inclusive space where people from all walks of life can engage with digital media and technology by connecting to the digital globe via an app and interact with those worldwide.

The globe will be able to display a huge range of information including weather, news, travel information and free international broadcasts (e.g. royal wedding, World Cup, Olympics, etc). Adverts will be shown on the globe, thereby retaining advertising revenue. The local community of start-ups and tech companies will be encouraged to take the lead in the development of programming and content, promoting collaboration and innovation.

The existing clerestory roof above the underground station will hold the globe aloft. The area under the globe will be landscaped with planting along the steps and roof, and its location will allow it to be viewed from different perspectives, including from the proposed terraced seating above the new underground entrance. The amphitheatre feature in the east side will also be an additional point for gathering and viewing.

Sustrans’ design for Old Street Roundabout 

In line with the London Borough of Islington’s commitment to Healthy Streets, the design proposed includes greening, additional places to sit and rest, and an improved environment for cycle parking. Trees are strategically placed around the peninsula to mitigate the impact of pollution and noise while providing needed shelter. Space for market stalls is created to encourage new local businesses, support the local economy and allow a flexible use of space. New cycle parking is installed to enable cyclists to use the space and prevent vehicle entry to the peninsula.  

A promenade of light would seamlessly extend all the way to the entrance of the station, with planting and strip LED lighting creating clear pedestrian circulation routes. The cross-hatched paving pattern is a visual representation of the four arms leading into the Old Street Iconic Gateway, reflecting the heritage of the roundabout as a crossroads.

Our design for Islington could create a landmark destination in its own right, transforming the Old Street Iconic Gateway from a heavily trafficked roundabout into a public hub of the East London Tech City.

What happens next?

The public exhibition runs from 12 Feb – 2 March 2018, at 1st floor, 3 Old Street Yard, EC1Y 8AF. Using feedback from the community recieved during the exhibition, a judging panel will shortlist the best design ideas for annoucement during week commencing 19 March 2018.

Interested in our work in London? Find out more about our recent London Review 2017 

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Sustrans’ statement on the future of the Bennerley Viaduct

7 February 2018

Sustrans has been working to restore and open up a multi-million pound project Bennerley Viaduct as a walking and cycling route for over three years. In August 2017, as part of this work, we applied for a large grant from Heritage Lottery Fund (HFL), for which we were turned down in December 2017.

Although the HLF board considered the project to be a strong one, the bid was not successful, as it was not considered to provide the same level of outcomes and values for money as competing applications. Despite the outcomes, the HLF said they would welcome a revised application.

In January 2018, after careful consideration, Sustrans made a decision not to re-submit the application in its current form to the HFL for the following reasons:

The financial risk to Sustrans posed by the match funding requirement of almost £2m. The continued investment of staff and cash resources both in developing the re-submission and, if successful, the Stage 1 proposal.  Bennerley Viaduct is not part of the National Cycle Network. This requires significant investment across the UK. We are currently reviewing the Network and identifying investment priorities which makes prioritising a large single site project that is not connected to the Network hard to justify at this stage

Sustrans is exploring a number of options for the future of the viaduct, working with the owner of Bennerley, Railway Paths Limited.  We are committed to working with the local community and recognise their ongoing support as being key to the successful development of Bennerley

For more information, interviews, case studies and photos contact: Anna Galandzij, Senior Press Officer at Sustrans, 07557 915 648, anna.galandzij@sustrans.org.uk

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Plans for rapid transit link along Bristol and Bath Railway Path: Our response

7 February 2018
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We have responded to the leaders of the West of England Combined Authority, Bristol City, Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire Council’s plans for a rapid transit link along the Bristol and Bath Railway Path.

We were disappointed by recent reports in The Bristol Post about the potential use of The Railway Path for a light rail connecting the two cities. We believe the trackbed of the former Midland Railway line would not be a suitable location for a rapid transit link and there would be substantial local opposition to any plans.

Next year sees The Bristol and Bath Railway Path celebrate its 40th anniversary and since its creation the path has become the busiest dedicated traffic-free route for people walking and cycling in the country. Over time it has become more than just a transport link between two cities, now it is seen by many as a community asset serving as a tourist destination, a place of business and a green corridor of wildlife habitat of significant value.

James Cleeton, Sustrans’ Director of England South said: 

“We fully support the principle of a light rail or rapid transit connection between Bristol and Bath. However, the route under consideration is the wrong one.”

Read our open letter response to the plans

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