16th December 2005

The 'Better Streets for Stroud District' report has been acclaimed by many. It is a radical approach to traffic that reduces casualties, reduces congestion and improves neighbourhoods. Click on 'Read more' below for further information along with the Supplementary report which has additional information.

The 'Better Streets for Stroud District' report was first published 16th June 2005 and has now been revised, improved and updated. The revised version is now available to download below along with the new additional report with more information and other items of possible interest. 

Download:  Better Streets for Stroud District - updated version (2.6MB) 

Download:  Better streets part 2.pdf

Also read Glos Green party article: Green Streets are 'Naked Streets'

Initial press release re the report:

Cllr. Sarah Lunnon has now released the revised, updated and improved version of the report, "Better Streets for Stroud District", which pulls together new and radical approaches to reducing danger on our roads and improving our neighbourhoods. The easy-read format has examples of schemes from abroad, this country and in Bibury where Gloucestershire is using this approach in one of the first rural schemes in the country.
 

The report has been widely welcomed by many including the Mayor of London's Road Safety Ambassador, Road Safety groups, and a Professor of Sustainable Transport at Liverpool. There are now plans to distribute the report nationwide to encourage debate about these approaches.

Sarah Lunnon, who is a District Councillor in Stroud, said: "There have been some very shocking accidents recently on Gloucestershire's roads - infact someone is severely injured or dies virtually every day on Gloucestershires roads. Over the years Britain has reduced the number of vehicle accidents but in the process we have also discouraged cyclists and pedestrians from using our streets and now have the worst record for child safety in Europe."

Sarah Lunnon added: "Each month, more than 200 children under 15 are killed or severely injured by traffic in Britain. This is unacceptable. The report we have written looks at new ways of managing our streets that help all road users including car drivers, pedestrians and cyclists and improve the way our streets look."


New approach to traffic

Philip Booth, who co-authored the report, said: "This approach is not for all roads, but research has shown that reducing speeds, particularly in residential areas, to 20 mph and removing highway signage like traffic lights, speed bumps, right of way indicators, centre lines, speed-limit signs, bicycle lanes and even pedestrian crossings, can infact actually make roads safer!"

Philip Booth said: "Roads can be made less dangerous when drivers stop looking at signs and start looking at other people. It is about social behaviour rather than conventional methods of separation and control of road users. This is not just theory. In the Netherlands this approach has been introduced in several towns with impressive results . Accident rates have fallen, congestion has not occurred and pedestrian and cycle use has increased as people feel safe using the streets."

Philip Booth added: "These ideas from Holland and other places warrant our attention. Road danger is a very serious problem; this report seeks to widen the debate and look for real long term solutions."


Clearing the clutter

Bill Bryson, author and English Heritage Commissioner, said: “Nothing says more, nor more immediately, of how a nation feels about itself, than the way it dresses its streets.”

Sarah Lunnon said: "I am keen to see much of the street clutter removed to improve our neighbourhoods. Councils are already making a good start on this in some areas, but there are still some very poor environments with for example separate poles in the same place with different road signs and others with street lights, and other 'street furniture' creating visually poor environments. Nottingham City Council have a person designated as a 'Clutter Buster' - he has removed over 10,000 signs and posts already. Many organisations like the Women's Institute, the Campaign for Protection of Rural England and English Heritage also support moves to improve our streets. They share many of the ideas in this report about clearing the clutter from our streets and road danger reduction."


Making Gloucestershire roads safer for all

Sarah Lunnon said: "We are keen to take these ideas forward and discuss with residents, road safety experts, the Highways Department and others. This approach makes sense. Already some of the ideas are being adopted in this country and indeed in Gloucestershire. However this is only a very small start. Much more is needed to really change the way we look at our roads. Gloucestershire could lead the way in really making our communities safer." 

A supplementary report with additional information should be available December 2005.