A powerful coalition(1) of civic, transport and heritage bodies have today launched updated guidance at a Parliamentary event by calling on the Government to consider conducting research into the safety impact of cutting street clutter in our towns, cities and villages.

Dr Freddie Gick, Chair of Civic Voice said “Our members are informing us that many local councils are citing safety regulations as the reason for cluttering up our streets. Common sense tells us uncluttered streets have a fresher, freer authentic feel, which are safer and easier to maintain. Street Design for All is updated guidance for anyone with an interest in seeing our towns and cities become more attractive and distinctive.”

Street Design for All explains that in Poynton, Cheshire ten sets of traffic signals were removed and replaced with a high efficiency free-flow junction and carefully designed approaches. The East Cheshire highway authority’s two year road safety records are recently available and show a substantial reduction in casualties, while vehicle flows have been maintained, congestion controlled, street quality considerably improved and businesses regenerated.

The statistics chime with the results of similar schemes, including the de-cluttering of Kensington & Chelsea’s High Street which saw a 40% reduction in road traffic accidents and a 60% reduction in pedestrian accidents. As a coalition we are calling on the Government to consider research and examining this further.

Andrew Hugill, Director of Policy & Technical Affairs, CIHT said: “We believe that through guidance such as this we can encourage local authorities and other stakeholders to work with communities to highlight the benefits of investment in street design. We are working with the Department for Transport to promote good practice in traffic signing through a ‘Reducing Sign Clutter Award’ which will open for entry in the New Year”

The coalition believes:

Colin Davis, CEO of PRIAN, finished by saying: ‘The book is intended to help local civic societies and community groups have the confidence to work with their highway authority to make a real difference to their own streets”.

 

You can view the publications here:  Street Design for All 2014

Ends

Notes for Editors

1 - Street Design for All is a document produced by Department for Transport, Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation, Civic Voice and Public Realm Information and Advice Network. It was prepared with the kind assistance of: English Heritage, Institute of Highway Engineers, Living Streets, National Heart Forum, Transport for London, Urban Design Group

Civic Voice is the national charity for the civic movement.  We work to make the places where everyone lives more attractive, enjoyable and distinctive and to promote civic pride.  We speak up for civic societies and local communities across England.  We believe everyone should live somewhere they can be proud of and we know how people feel about places because we feel the same way.  Civic societies are the most numerous participants in the planning system.  Since its launch in April 2010 Civic Voice has been joined by over 290 civic societies with 75,000 members.  Further information is available at www.civicvoice.org.uk including how to join Civic Voice (£10 individuals) and contact details for local civic societies. Contact details: Ian Harvey on 0151 707 4319 info@civicvoice.org.uk

Colin Davis Is a member of the Royal Institute of British Architect, the Royal Town Planning Institute and a Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Highway and Transportation. Colin has held senior positions in architecture and town planning and has for twenty years been involved in the practice, training and production of publications on street design. Contact: 07885 474140

Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation

CIHT is a membership organisation representing over 13,000 people who work in the highways and transportation sector.

CIHT members plan, design, build, operate and maintain best-in-class transport systems and infrastructure, whilst respecting the imperatives of improving safety, ensuring economic competitiveness and minimising environmental impact.

CIHT supports its member's professional endeavours by:
• offering training, information, professional development and support
• promoting the value added to society by the profession
• being the focused voice to Governments and other decision makers on transportation expertise and knowledge.
 

For more information please contact:
 

Daniel Isichei, Director of Communications
e: daniel.isichei@ciht.org.uk  t: +44(0)20 7336 1567 m: 07912 122573 www.ciht.org.uk