"Come to think of it can anyone think of any specific policies the councillors have supported or proposed locally to encourage active travel?"Thanks for asking. The detailed Cycling Policy of the Conservative Cllrs Group was published on 18th May 2020.Our new policy is based on clear principles, locally applied. These include:• cycle lanes should go with the traffic flow wherever possible;• cyclists and pedestrians should be kept separate, with road space used to create cycle lanes and pavements reserved for pedestrians, not least to maintain social distancing;• cycle lanes must not come to a sudden end or disappear at junctions;• local councils must fill potholes within two working days of them being reported on all roadswhere cycle lanes are installed; if potholes occur in cycle lanes they must be filled within one working day after they are reported to ensure they remain usable and safe;• cycle lanes should be clearly marked in ways that ensure the safety of riders and reduce conflictwith vehicles and people;• civil enforcement officers should be empowered to apply the law to the minority of cyclistswho flout the rules, freeing police officers to deal with more serious issues including traffic. offences;• changes made because of the pandemic should be temporary and only made permanent once the current crisis has passed and following proper consultation with residents, road users, traders and businesses as well as cyclists.• Consistent with our belief that the government’s initiative needs to be applied locally, according to theneeds of each area and community, we will be contributing to Hounslow Council’s consultation on these measures. We are particularly concerned that this consultation process and its outcome respect all the differing needs of the different areas and communities in the borough. Hounslow Council should adopt the following principles in its approach to traffic calming, bike lanes and other measures designed to promote walking and cycling:• all changes must be consistent with the council’s liveable neighbourhoods strategy and its climate change emergency action plan;• all types of cycling should be encouraged, including local and family cycling throughout the borough with an emphasis on making roads safer for all users;• cycle measures must include north-south roads whilst recognising that some are essential routes for buses, commercial and domestic deliveries, and local car journeys;• there must be full, open and unbiased consultation in our local communities;• the needs of local businesses should be at the heart of the council’s policies; the pandemic has benefited large, national online traders often at the expense of local shops; this is inconsistent with tackling climate change and promotes congestion;• there must be vehicle access to all shops for collections and deliveries, including retaining popular stop and shop parking schemes that are a lifeline to many people and vital to traders in all our town centres (Brentford, Chiswick, Feltham and Hounslow);• steps need to be taken to protect traders and businesses during construction works, includingbike lane work; this will be essential if the Cycleway 9 works go ahead;• we would like the Santander bike scheme to be extended beyond zone 3 but, if that is not possible, Hounslow Council should look at establishing its own docked bike hire scheme, with private sector support such as with Brompton, to replace dockless bike schemes;• there should be more secure bike parking and storage all around the borough, at railway andtube stations and in residential areas;• we should encourage more bike clinics and maintenance courses throughout the borough;• there must be more opportunities for adults and children to learn to cycle safely throughout the borough in conjunction with local schools and community groups, including by adding cycling proficiency training to the curriculum;• the council must run education and awareness raising courses, and widely distribute guidance, about the rules of the road and safe cycling.The government’s announcement of extra funding for walking and cycling schemes is an exciting opportunity to build a worthwhile legacy from the tragedy of the pandemic. The principles we have set out for government and for our own borough would promote greater walking and cycling and in doing so raise the quality of people’s lives in Hounslow and elsewhere. We hope they will be adopted in full
Cllr Sam Hearn ● 2210d