Sutton Council has been awarded almost £1m from the Mayor of London’s Streetspace programme.

London boroughs have been bidding for funding from Transport for London’s pot to ensure social distancing and lock in improvements for active travel across the capital, as part of emergency transport measures in response to Covid-19.

Measures include widening pavements, creating cycle lanes, and introducing low traffic neighbourhoods and school streets by cutting some roads off from traffic.

On July 6, at Sutton Council’s Strategy and Resources Committee, councillors approved nearly £1 million from the Government and Mayor to deliver around 30 temporary schemes that will be trialled for 6 months.

The temporary schemes plan to make it easier to social distance, walk, and cycle, whilst allowing the Council to make quick, small changes if needed as the materials used are not permanent.

The funding pot covers the first half of 2020-21 and the schemes must be implemented up until September 2020.

Your Local Guardian:

A spokesperson for Sutton Council said: “Sutton Council is ambitious to create safer, more active and greener streets for all residents and visitors in the borough, and to achieve net-zero carbon emissions.

“We welcome the almost £1m funding secured from both the Government and Transport for London for temporary walking and cycling

improvements in Sutton.

"The funding will also create new school streets and low traffic neighbourhoods.

“Covid-19 has had a significant impact on the way we use our streets and public transport in responding to the public health crisis.

"Cycling and walking should now be options for short, local journeys and the ‘Streetspace’ programme will help make them safer and easier for our residents.

"They will also help reduce traffic speeds and rat-running, as well as improve local air quality.”

Your Local Guardian:

Deputy Leader of Sutton Council, Councillor Manuel Abellan said:

"These trials have the potential to deliver streets with less traffic, less noise, less speeding and better air-quality.

"Every resident living in these ‘low-traffic neighbourhoods’ will be able to drive onto their street and retain easy access but we will minimise the amount of rat-running.

"Not every scheme will be perfect the first time and it is natural that after discussion some schemes will be amended or taken forward in a different way.

"We look forward to working with residents during the trials."

The Council will also be asking residents and ward councillors for their feedback on each scheme once up and running to determine whether to make the schemes permanent.

Councillor Manuel Abellan has requested that the Council sets up a page on their website for residents, community groups and stakeholders to leave comments and their views throughout the trial.

Below are the 16 schemes taking place outside 18 schools:

Schemes already in place

-Robin Hood Juniors

-Cheam Park Farm

- Cheam Common, Cheam Fields and Manor Park

Remaining 11

-Overton Grange

-St Mary's/St Philomena's

-Muschamp Primary

-Rushy Meadow

-Harris Academy Carshalton

- All Saints Carshalton

-Carshalton Sports College

-Green Lane Primary

-Westbourne Primary

-Bandon Hill Primary/Sherwood Hill

-St Elphege's Catholic Infants and Juniors