Agenda item

7.1  Jon Williams introduced the item focusing on community aspects of the transport strategy, introducing John Thornton as a speaker.

7.2  John Thornton highlighted the following areas:

·  Tackling inequality through the adoption and implementation of a hierarchy of needs where disabled pedestrians are at the top with private motorist at the bottom. The transport strategy fails to adopt this.

·  No taxis are available when called for

·  Due to new cycle lanes on green lanes and queensbridge road, people who travel by taxi are unable to access homes and health care facilities

·  On LTN zones taxi drivers were getting lost and there was a lack of signage, especially on Nile Street

·  50% fewer buses for disabled people, particularly during Schools hours with difficulties in standing longer at bus shelters

·  Staff had been removed from Train Station booking offices with no one available for giving assistance to passengers

·  In a report it had been identified that 91% of disabled people were afraid to leave their homes in particular going to parks and on footways because of cyclists and rented bikes on footways  

·   Traders and restaurants causing obstructions to footways

·  Walking need to be priority one in the transport strategy given physical and mental benefits

·  Qualifying conditions were set by government but there was an opportunity for local conditions to be flexible

·  With COVID-19, increasing numbers of people would require freedom passes and how was the Council prepared for this

·  Transport strategy need to take into account that more people will be walking and will require more seating to rest on the street

·  Concerns regarding letter from the Council’s Chief Executive and CCG Managing Director stating that it was unlikely with restrictions in place for residents to be able to visit friends and family during the challenging period of self-isolation.

·  There was a need for funding organisations such as Healthwatch to work on behalf of the disabled to ensure there was transport equal opportunity for people with disabilities

7.3  Mayor Glanville confirmed that while the Borough of Hackney had had high incidents of infections and testing at an earlier time, London had not been a hotspot in the build up to a second wave.

7.4   Deputy Mayor Bramble stated in regard to cycling on pavements that there was a need to get the message across about the use of shared space in the Borough to ensure active travel and people walking with social distancing. Councillor Burke was to meet Officers concerned to consider the enforcement of dock less bikes left on pavements.

7.5  Dr Husbands stated that during March there were higher rates of infection in Hackney than other parts of London and although the rate was high in July with in way similar to during the peak in March. She said that the risk outdoors was small and that infections was more likely to occur indoors in people’s home. Physical distancing and hygiene was necessary to lower risk.   

7.6  Councillor Kennedy sated that having adequate resting places to sit on throughout the Borough formed part of the draft ageing well strategy which was going out to consultation and he encouraged and comments.

7.7 Jon Williams stated that Healthwatch would discuss the areas highlighted by John Thornton and raise with the Borough’s transport lead.

RESOLVED:

To note the presentations from John Thornton and Jon Williams on transport issues in the Borough.