Connect Stamford, the group promoting sustainable transport and reduced car reliance in Stamford is calling for Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) to be created, starting in the centre of the town.
A Low Traffic Neighbourhood is an area which is closed off to through-traffic – so you can drive to it but can't drive through it. This stops people using residential roads as shortcuts and makes it safer and easier to walk and cycle.
Connect Stamford founder and chairman, David Taylor, said “Research has shown that where LTNs are introduced, people walk and cycle more, that roads are safer, that air quality improves and that they aid community cohesion. There are many examples across the country where these initiatives have been successfully introduced”.
To drive the initiative forward Connect Stamford is supporting a proposal put forward by the St. George’s Residents Association which recommends the introduction of an LTN, stretching from St. Mary’s Place/Street, taking in Maiden Lane, St. George’s Square/Street, Blackfriars Street, Gas Lane and St. Leonard’s Street, preventing through traffic, while still allowing access for residents, shoppers, visitors and access to parking.
Chris McLeod, who lives on St. George’s Street and is one of the founder members of the St. George’s Residents Association, commented that “As a resident of the town centre, I witness on an almost daily basis, significant and often dangerous problems caused by excessively high levels of traffic using roads that were never intended for such a purpose. The roads we are proposing for an LTN are all, in the main, rat runs, in most cases too narrow for two vehicles to pass and have the narrowest of footpaths. This proposal, which will be subject to a full consultation with residents, is likely to include the pedestrianisation of a section of St. George’s Street, adjacent to Marks & Spencer which was closed for several months last year with no negative impact on traffic movements but many benefits to local residents, including improved safety for pedestrians and environmental gains”.
Mr Taylor added “In order to make LTNs in Stamford a reality we need the support of Lincolnshire County Council Highways, but despite attempts have so far been unsuccessful in getting their engagement. Hopefully, given the level of public support for this type of initiative within the town, our local LCC Councillors and the portfolio holder for Highways will now give their active support and help make the case for funding.
Last year Lincolnshire County Council received over £900,000 government funding (part of the Department for Transport’s active travel fund), but none has yet been allocated to Stamford”.
Asked for his thoughts on the initiative the Leader of South Kesteven District Council, Councillor Kelham Cooke, said “The aim is to deter through-traffic, not remove all traffic and I am pleased to support this initiative. It will help tackle notorious rat-runs in Stamford with the added benefits of making them safer and more attractive to pedestrians and cyclists, and to the town’s visitors, reducing congestion and improving air quality.”
Notes –
- Connect Stamford is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company
- Trustees are representatives of SKDC (Kelham Cooke), Burghley House Preservation Trust (David Pennell), the Cecil Family Trust (Jeremy Dawson), Sustrans (TBC) and Four Counties Primary Care Network (Dan Petrie)
- All Trustees and those on the Steering Committee work on a voluntary basis.
- Connect Stamford is not a working party or sub-group of Stamford Town Council and has no other connection with it.
- St Georges Residents Association provides a forum for residents in the St George’s area. Membership is free and available to anyone living in St George’s Street/Square, Maiden Lane, Blackfriars Street, St Leonard’s Street, Gas Lane and St Mary’s Street/Place. Contact [email protected].
- Last year the Mercury reported on Connect Stamford’s Travel Survey which revealed that two-thirds of people agree that the town centre needs to have more pedestrianised areas, with 79% saying that they would support the use of one-way systems, if roads were made safer for cyclists and kept other traffic moving.
