Active travel neighbourhood trial starts in Leeds

Leeds City Council has unveiled the first of its trial active travel neighbourhoods, which are part of a new scheme to improve the local environment.

The neighbourhoods (also known as ‘low traffic neighbourhoods’) introduced initially in Hyde Park and Chapeltown, with a scheme in Beeston soon to follow.

It marks the start of temporary trials for a minimum of six months, during which the council will closely consult, monitor and evaluate their impact.

The trial changes are looking to improve road safety, encourage children to play outside, promote walking and cycling and make the air in these residential streets cleaner to breathe.

Local residents will be able to provide feedback throughout the trial and their responses will help to determine whether the schemes are amended, retained or withdrawn.

The council’s parks and countryside team will install up to 120 planters across 60 locations, over the active travel neighbourhoods.

All streets can still be accessed by residents, businesses, deliveries and emergency vehicles but it will no longer be quicker for vehicles that do not need to visit the area to cut through.

‘I would to thank the thousands of people in Leeds who have already taken part in our online consultation to make the best use of the emergency active travel money the government has made available to us so far to make our streets safer for walking, wheeling and cycling,’ said executive member for climate change, transport and sustainable development, Cllr Lisa Mulherin.

‘Our goal for active travel neighbourhoods is to make our residential areas safer and deter rat-running through them, creating local streets that are safer, greener and healthier for the people of all ages that live there to walk, wheel, cycle and play.

‘These are trial schemes and we will be listening closely to local residents and their experiences, the positives and the negatives while they are in place. We will be monitoring the effects carefully and listening to residents’ feedback to determine the next steps for these schemes.

‘I and local ward councillors look forward to hearing your views and encourage people to participate in the consultation by visiting our commonplace website and support our efforts to have safe streets and save lives.’

Photo Credit — Leeds City Council