Coventry City Council has reported on its website that residents living in Earlsdon are set to be asked their views on plans for Coventry’s first liveable neighbourhood which aims to encourage more walking and cycling and reduce the impact of vehicles in residential areas.
Liveable neighbourhoods are an important part of the Council’s plan to improve health and wellbeing as well as reducing the dominance of vehicles within neighbourhood streets, while maintaining access to homes, businesses, and for those with mobility issues, to create healthier outdoor spaces for everyone to share and enjoy.
Thanks to a grant from the West Midlands Combined Authority the Council has now invited people living in Earlsdon to a public meeting to introduce the idea and to start a conversation about local issues and possible solutions.
Councillor Patricia Hetherton Cabinet member for City Services said, “We know that less traffic in residential areas makes a real difference to our communities. Air quality improves and people naturally begin to walk and cycle more. Places become more social and this is all good for physical and mental health.
“Our plans for the city’s first liveable neighbourhood supports our ambition to create better conditions for walking and cycling so that people rely less on their cars, especially for short car journeys.
“But we know that the most successful liveable neighbourhoods are created with local people, who have the chance to be clear on the issues as well as being part of developing the solutions.
“By looking at how road space is used, we believe we can create vibrant and accessible residential areas – but all proposals will be developed in collaboration with local communities every step of the way and I hope this is the start of close working that will see spaces co-designed.”
Liveable neighbourhoods usually group residential streets together across an area around key amenities, such as schools, shops and surgeries, and bordered by a main road. The proposed Liveable Neighbourhood area for Earlsdon is shown on the map above.
The Council has also secured funding to improve cycle routes connecting Earlsdon and South Coventry to the railway station, which will see new crossings provided for pedestrians and cyclists on Albany Road and Spencer Avenue improving access to these entrances to Spencer Park.