Ealing kerbside strategy
The text below is from the council’s latest wheeze to eradicate private car ownership in Ealing. It includes two massive lies: that ‘most residents don’t own cars’ (in fact TfL’s stats show 60 percent of households own at least one) and ‘we want to hear from as many people as possible’ (when they are actually only interested in the views of numpties like the London Cycling Campaign).There’s a questionnaire to send your thoughts.Anyone running a business should respond to this. Anyone needing a car to get to work should respond to this. Anyone with mobility needs or acting as a carer should respond to this. In fact, everyone who believes in open, honest and transparent government should respond to this, because this is the precursor to one of those laughable consultations further down the line where they ignore majority opinion.Don’t forget they are fleecing you for parking permits, so feel free to say what you think.Closing date is this Friday (February 6). Don’t hold back.And elections are coming in May. Vote wisely if you value democracy.Ealing Council – Kerbside StrategyEaling Council is developing a new Kerbside Strategy and we want to hear from as many people as possible. The kerbside is a busy, shared space and different groups rely on it in different ways. Right now, there is a lot of pressure on this limited space, so we need to plan ahead. This strategy will help us make fair, wellinformed decisions about how the kerbside should be used in the future, and your feedback will play an important part in shaping it.What the kerbside isWhen we talk about the “kerbside”, we simply mean the strip of space where the pavement meets the road. It’s where people park, where bins are collected, where Blue Badge bays sit, where loading happens and where many everyday journeys begin and end.On most streets this space is almost entirely taken up by parked cars. We’ve become so used to this that it’s hard to imagine anything different. But it doesn’t have to stay this way. The kerbside is a shared public space. It’s the biggest stretch of public space we have, sitting right on our doorstep, and it should work for everyone — not just for one group of people.Why we are writing this strategyMost residents in Ealing don’t own a car, yet most of our kerbside is perceived to be as dedicated for parking. This isn’t a fair or efficient use of space, especially as the borough changes and the way people travel continues to evolve.We need a clear plan to make sure this space works better for the whole community. The strategy will help us manage the kerbside in a way that supports safe movement, gives better access for disabled people and carers, improves local streets, and helps us tackle big challenges such as the climate crisis.In short, this is about using our shared space better, so it reflects the needs, ideas and energy of everyone who lives and spends time here.What the strategy will doThe Kerbside Strategy aims to:• Explain clearly how decisions about kerbside space are made• Make the use of this shared public space fairer and more balanced• Improve access for disabled people, carers and anyone who needs extra support• Support safer, easier movement whether people walk, wheel, cycle, take the bus or drive• Plan sensibly for future needs like EV charging, mobility hubs and shared transport• Show how the kerbside can help us meet wider goals on climate, health and cleaner airWho we are talking toTo make sure the strategy reflects real life, we are speaking with a wide range of groups across the borough. This includes:• Disability organisations, mobility groups and carers• Advocacy groups representing residents who need better access• Community and residents’ groups• Local businesses, traders and markets• Transport operators and delivery organisations• Groups that support walking, cycling and road safety• Emergency services and other frontline partners• Environmental groups and organisations representing older and younger residentsWe want this strategy to be practical, inclusive and shaped by the people who use the kerbside every day. Their experiences and ideas will help us make better decisions about how we use this shared public space in the future.Kerbside Strategy Feedback QuestionnaireThank you for taking part in this feedback questionnaire about Ealing’s new kerbside strategy. Your views are vital to help us ensure the needs of vulnerable groups are fully considered as we shape future policies. All comments are reviewed anonymously and will not be shared individually; your information will only be used to help shape the kerbside strategy.1. Your role or perspective(e.g. Support Worker, Enforcement Lead, Accessibility Advisor, Policy Officer)Answer:2. Before this engagement, how confident were you that the needs of vulnerable groups (e.g. disabled people, elderly, carers) were being adequately considered in Ealing’s kerbside strategy?Please rate your confidence on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 = Not confident at all, 10 = Extremely confident)Answer:3. Following this engagement, how confident are you now that these needs will be considered going forward?Please rate your confidence on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 = Not confident at all, 10 = Extremely confident):Answer:4. What are the top three issues or concerns you believe must be addressed in the kerbside strategy to better support vulnerable groups?(Please rank or list in order of priority)Answer:5. Are there any examples of good or bad practice (from Ealing or other boroughs) that you think should inform the kerbside strategy?(e.g. enforcement models, shared space schemes, timed access zones, Blue Badge bay allocation)Answer:6. Any additional comments or suggestions for the kerbside strategy?Answer:Once completed please send to Tom Gallagher at tgallagher001@ealing.gov.uk
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