Lambeth Council has been shortlisted for two categories of a prestigious award that recognises the trailblazing Kerbside Strategy and implementation of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) to make the borough safer, healthier, and more accessible.
The council has been recognised in the two categories by the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) for its annual awards that recognise leading transport and infrastructure projects.
The Kerbside Strategy has been nominated in the CIHT Sustainability category, while Lambeth Council and Sustrans have been nominated for the Streets Award.
Cllr Rezina Chowdhury, cabinet member for Sustainable Lambeth and Clean Air, said: “I am delighted that we have been shortlisted for two awards that both recognise the innovative approach to making our streets fairer, with equal access for everyone and space to walk, cycle, wheel, or scoot.
“The recognition shows that others are taking note of our approach to transforming our streets and I look forward to the award ceremony later this summer.”
The Lambeth Kerbside Strategy was unveiled earlier this year to reclaim vast swathes of the kerbside from car parking spaces to create new area for people to meet and socialise.
The kerbside is the largest public space that is controlled by Lambeth Council – equivalent to 194 football pitches – and the strategy aims to reclaim a quarter of that space for ordinary residents to enjoy.
The recognition of the council’s work with Sustrans to implement innovative street designs across five permanent LTNs has also been welcomed. Following the Covid-19 pandemic the LTNs were introduced in Railton, Oval to Stockwell, Tulse Hill, Streatham Hill and Ferndale. Three others have been established in recent months.
One of the first schemes to have been completed is a bus gate on Atlantic Road, where the junction has been transformed with wider pavements and seating outside local businesses, as well as bike parking and plant beds that help reduce localised flooding by absorbing heavy rainfall.
Low traffic neighbourhoods restrict vehicle through traffic to enable streets that are safer and healthier for people to walk, wheel, or cycle.
The CIHT awards will be held on June 15 when the winners will be announced.
Cllr Chowdhury added: “The Kerbside Strategy and implementation of the LTNs are examples of the bold decisions and careful policy-making that will help Lambeth transition from car dominance to a borough where people can breathe cleaner air and enjoy their own neighbourhoods.”
