Pompey Living Streets: Portsmouth residents urged to create more cycle and pedestrian-friendly roads

Members of the public are invited to join the launch of Pompey Living Streets - a group that will promote and improve safer streets - as a branch of a national movement.

The local group hopes to build on some of the beneficial knock-on effects of lockdown, including reduced traffic and cleaner air.

Nick Sebley, one of the co-founders of Pompey Living Streets, said: 'We want to change the perception of what residential streets are for. They’re not just places to drive through, but also somewhere our communities can flourish.

'Streets then become safer for kids to play together in, neighbours can socialise more easily and we build stronger, better connected communities.'

It comes as a bid was made in 2019 to create more play streets in Portsmouth - which are residential roads closed to through traffic for a period of time to allow children to play.

Pompey Living Streets co-founder Laura Mellor, who set up the first play street in Francis Avenue, said: 'Play streets enable children to play freely outside their own front door, with huge benefits for their physical and mental health.

'Living streets can support residents to set up play streets and take action to make our roads safer for pedestrians. We also have an opportunity to create cleaner, greener outdoor spaces in our city where nature can thrive.'

SEE ALSO: Portsmouth sees improvement in air quality during first lockdown

Charlotte Gerada, another of the group’s co-founders, added: 'Cycling provision in Portsmouth is very patchy and not enough of us feel confident to get on our bikes, despite Portsmouth being so flat and compact.

'Pompey Living Streets provides a focal point for residents to come together to build a city-wide, resident-led movement calling for a network of low-traffic neighbourhoods and joined up and safer cycling routes.'

Portsmouth residents can share their ideas and views on living streets during a Zoom meeting for the group’s launch on Wednesday, February 24 between 7pm and 8pm.

For the meeting details contact [email protected] and for more information search Pompey Living Streets on Facebook.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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