Southwark residents urged to walk off Christmas flab
Published 4 January 2011
The borough aims to get more people travelling by foot and using their cars less.
Southwark Council is making a bold New Year resolution to get a third of all its residents making journeys on foot.
The council is asking residents to take a look at its new transport plan, which covers sustainable transport, road safety, and green travel.
The draft plan was approved at the end of last year, and anyone who lives, works or studies in Southwark is being encouraged to take a look and give the council their views.
A key aim of the plan is to raise the proportion of people who travel by foot to 33% by 2013, where currently it stands at just over 30%. School travel plans, footway maintenance and improved signage for walkers are all designed to help achieve this target.
Other targets from the plan include:
- Reduce traffic levels in Southwark by 3% from 2010 to 2013
- Unveil the borough's 100th car club vehicle
- Provide cycle parking on estates
- Expand involvement in Legible London scheme to encourage journeys by foot
- Reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured in the borough from 2004/08 by 33% by 2020
- Reduce carbon emissions from road based transport from 227kt (2008 level) to 190kt by 2013
Councillor Barrie Hargrove, cabinet member for transport, environment and recycling at Southwark Council, said: "At this time of year we're all feeling like we've over done it a bit. On an individual level one of the best things to do is to get active, and this is what we're looking to encourage as part of our transport plan.
"We're keen to promote journeys by foot wherever possible, and we'd urge everyone to see what we've got planned and give us their views on this and all the other aspects of this ambitious plan."
