Oldham Council is consulting on the introduction of an active neighbourhood but not everybody knows what they are.
What are Active Neighbourhoods?
An active neighbourhood, or low traffic neighbourhood, is an idea which has been around in the UK for decades – but it’s become more popular in recent years as central government tries to reduce the amount of short journeys made in motor vehicles, which have been rising year-on-year.
The idea is to stop cut-through traffic through residential areas – which can make minor roads more dangerous and congested.
Walking and cycling charity Sustrans also says they have been shown to benefit local businesses through an increase in sales from people who walk or cycle to the high street, increasing physical activity, improving air quality, and lowering car use for shorter trips.
ALSO READ: What it’s like to live in an active neighbourhood, according to someone who lives in one.
Modal filters
Traffic can be cut by strategically placing bollards to create ‘modal filters’ – i.e. filter the road by transport ‘mode’ meaning those driving can’t pass through, but those walking or cycling still can.
Research by a cycling campaign group found there were already more than 25,000 such ‘filters’ in the UK.
The area is still fully accessible by driving but motorists might have to travel out and back in again on a main road to get across, rather than being able to go directly on the residential streets.
The idea is this discourages drivers from taking shortcuts to travel through an area, while still allowing residents motor access to their property, as well as other services like deliveries and bin collections.
Bus gates
Bus gates are similar to modal filters, but instead of using a bollard, a camera is often used to enforce the rules – and they allow buses to pass through, as well as those walking and cycling.
Motor vehicles are usually still banned but sometimes black cabs are allowed through too.
The lack of bollards also means emergency vehicles can travel directly through.
Their hours of operation can also be limited but some operate 24/7.
School streets
Similar to bus gates and modal filters, school streets operate outside a school around pick-up and drop-off time only.
No specific timings have yet been decided in the plans for Oldham’s school streets.
They would be introduced outside Burnley Brow School and Bare Trees Primary school, if the plans go ahead.
In other areas, they are often enforced by volunteers or school staff and mean that drivers can’t go straight up to the school – with the hope it makes the area directly outside a school safer.
Some school streets in other parts of the country allow residents an exemption to the restrictions.
ALSO READ: Business staff fear for future if active neighbourhood plan approved.
Where is the money for it coming from?
The money is coming from the Mayor’s Cycling and Walking Challenge Fund funding.
This came from the Department for Transport and was allocated to Greater Manchester and Transport for Greater Manchester to create an integrated walking and cycling network.
The money has requirements attached – it can’t just be used for another purpose, like fixing potholes.
Why Chadderton North and Westwood?
Council officers say that Chadderton North and Westwood has some of the highest levels of traffic complaints in the borough.
Additionally, local councillor Cllr Abdul Jabbar said it was ‘dangerous’ and ‘chaos’ when he visited outside Burnley Brow school at pick-up and drop-off time.
Some of the reasons the area was selected is because of people cutting through the area to drive to and from Broadway and Oldham Way, as well as the opportunity to increase walking and cycling links to local schools and the hospital.
In April, The Oldham Times looked at car ownership rates in Oldham.
As well as being one of the most deprived areas in the country, the area of the proposed active neighbourhood has some of the lowest car ownership rates in the borough, ranging from 0.17 nearer to Westwood tram stop to 0.39 cars per person.
This means residents there were around four times less likely to own a car than those in Denshaw.
What do people think of it?
Proponents of the schemes say this makes the area a more pleasant place to be by prioritising people over cars, and can encourage healthier transport, as well as children playing out.
Those against it say the schemes make journeys less direct and add to driver inconvenience or can create more congestion on main roads – something Transport for Greater Manchester says is not true, after schemes have had a chance to bed in.
Some say the schemes can make it harder to conduct business, like deliveries – but proponents say it increases spending at local businesses because people walking or cycling are more likely to stop at a shop.
Your say
The consultation can be completed online on Oldham Council’s website.
Paper copies of the consultation packs which include the leaflet, survey and a paid return envelope can be requested at active.travel@oldham.gov.uk.
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