Active Neighbourhood Schemes: Why Consulting the Community is Crucial
13th November 2023
By Maya Lubczynskyj
Across the UK, a growing awareness surrounding the safety and sustainability of how we get around has resulted in one government initiative gaining increasing attention and momentum: Active Neighbourhoods.
Active Neighbourhood schemes, primarily funded by the central government's Active Travel fund, strive to promote alternative modes of transportation to private vehicle use.
What are Active Neighbourhoods?
Schemes often aim to create safer, cleaner and more pleasant environments for residents and local businesses to enjoy, and in doing so make walking, wheeling and cycling more attractive options for travel. Local authorities typically implement measures to reduce through-traffic in the area to achieve their aims. Such measures range from road closures, one-way systems, modal filters, and the creation of pedestrian and cycle-friendly zones.
Although Active Neighbourhoods can offer a range of benefits to local communities, the process of implementing them is often fraught with challenges and controversies.
In this blog, I will explore the importance of engaging local communities in consultation before, during and after these schemes are put in place–and how doing so could help reduce the risk of controversy.
What are the primary aims of Active Neighbourhoods?
● Promoting Active Travel: Encouraging walking and cycling as preferred modes of transport within the neighbourhood.
● Traffic Reduction: Minimising the volume of non-local traffic travelling through residential streets.
● Improved Safety: Creating safer environments for pedestrians and cyclists.
● Enhanced Community Well-being: Creating more attractive public spaces.
The Importance of Local Consultation
Communicating Active Neighbourhood interventions utlising a broader narrative could help improve public perception.
Many councils have a vision of shared prosperity for their communities, and the implementation of Active Neighbourhood initiatives presents an opportunity to connect transport interventions with overarching council goals and visions.
Although it’s difficult to guarantee that a modified narrative would lessen local opposition to the initiative, the mobilisation of a larger set of stakeholders (public health, economic development etc.) will certainly help raise support in favour of action.
Effective consultation with local communities is therefore essential for the successful implementation of Active Neighbourhoods.
Robust public consultation will help:
● Community Buy-In: Engaging residents and local stakeholders from the outset encourages a sense of collective ownership and responsibility for the project.
● Identifying Concerns and Solutions: Local consultation provides a forum for identifying and addressing concerns which may not have been initially foreseen.
● Increased Transparency: A transparent and open consultation process enhances trust between local authorities and the community, ensuring that residents are informed and aware of the objectives and benefits of Active Neighbourhoods.
● Legitimacy and Compliance: Local consultation ensures that Active Neighbourhood projects are in compliance with local laws and regulations, making them more likely to withstand legal challenges.
Conclusion
Active Neighbourhoods offer a promising solution to address traffic congestion, improve air quality, and create more attractive and liveable urban spaces. However, change often encourages resistance, and their successful implementation hinges on effective local consultation. Engaging the community in considered dialogue can help build a collective consensus, ensuring that Active Neighbourhoods serve the best interests of residents and businesses alike. By empowering communities and giving them a voice in the planning process, we can create more sustainable, healthier, and safer neighbourhoods for everyone to enjoy.
