Su Guy, Newham Sustainable Transport Officer was our guest and we benefitted from the participation of Katy Rodda, LCC Network Co-ordinator.

Newham Council “soft measures” to promote cycling

Su outlined her role in essentially taking the soft measures which promote cycling in conjunction with infrastructure improvement projects. These include training and engagement with schools and religious institutions. She indicted that the bike light/journey data collection scheme for those who cycle in the Romford Rd area is still open for applications.

Rides and events

We discussed the feeder ride to central London for International Women’s Day on 5 March. Volunteers are need to marshal – for which training is available. We also plan to do a feeder ride to the Freecycle event on 28 May. Again, volunteers will be needed.

Steve has published the indicative ride calendar for 2023 (below). To this should be added a Bike from Boleyn Ride towards the end of the football season.

There has been one maintenance session for the children’s cycle club at the charity Ambition, Aspire, Achieve and another is planned for 22 February. The next ride is planned for 25 February. Get in touch if you would like to participate.

Fix Your Ride at Woodgrange Maket will restart on 11 March.

Infrastructure

• Detailed plans have been published for the Woodgrange and Capel Low Traffic Neighbourhoods. These were greatly welcomed and herald implementation in the late spring/early summer. We will be formally responding as a group with our support Please register you support as individuals.
• Phase 1 of the Romford Rd improvement scheme should begin imminently. After discussion with the Council we removed any formal objection. Phase 2 is in the planning.
• We have responded to the Council’s proposed draft budget highlighting the importance of making provision for active travel, particularly from the pot of money created by the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). This is potentially a gamechanger. The current draft is an improvement in this respect on previous budgets.
• We have responded to the Beckton Walking and Cycling Project and participated in a workshop.
• We re active in the current phase of consultation on the draft Local Plan. This is also a potential gamechanger over the longer term in leveraging finance for active travel from the many new developments in the borough.
• Jonathan was congratulated on his excellent draft for our response to the Silvertown Tunnel bus network consultation.
• We participated in a London Vision Zero forum which was very useful.
• We have been in correspondence over Newham Council’s inadequate provision for severe weather and hope to work constructively with it for an improvement in provision to maintain active travel.
• Major new developments which call for action are: the development of the site of the Padel Club on Stratford High Street; a huge development on the south side of the Royal Victoria Dock; and a development on the site of the Greenhill Centre in Manor Park.

Miscellaneous

With the aid of Karen we plan to liaise with LCC in producing newsletter.

Eilidh Murry our link LCC trustee will attend our next meeting on 27 February 2023 (by Zoom).

We will continue liaison with the Newham Food Alliance with regard to developing delivery of food by cargo bike. Again if you would like to help in this venture get in touch.

For any further information on any of the above get in touch either with myself or via newham@lcc.org.uk.

Arnold