Warwick campaign group set up to improve air quality and reduce traffic

A campaign group has been set up in Warwick to help improve the air quality and reduce the amount of traffic in the town.

'Clean Air Warwick' has been set up off the back of the 'Clean Air Leamington' campaign group.

The group aims to persuade residents to leave cars at home and walk and cycle for commutes after seeing less traffic during the lockdown.

Jon Grey, from Clean Air Warwick, said: "Everyone is talking about how nice it has been without the endless streams of traffic.

"The air has been so much cleaner and this has encouraged many more local residents to get out walking and cycling to enjoy our town and surrounding area.

“We think there is a big opportunity to keep these benefits after lockdown ends but this means doing everything we can to help people to ditch the car for the school run and daily commute and make those local journeys either on foot or by bike."

One of the first initiatives the group is urging residents to get involved with is the cutting of their where they border and encroach on pavements to help pedestrians and cyclists.

Jon said: “At this time of year everything is growing so fast and we need as much of the pavements available as possible to allow pedestrians and cyclists to safely pass and maintain social distancing.

The group also aims promote the changes in behaviour and local infrastructure, to reduce the number of journeys residents make in their cars.

“Nearly 70 per cent of all journeys are under five miles", said Jon. “There is a big opportunity to make many of these trips by more active travel and drastically reduce the amount of traffic, which is both greener and better for our health.

“Lets start by cutting our hedges so we can pass safely on the pavements this summer."

However concerns have been raised about the group encouraging people to cycle on pavements.

Alan Sullivan, a resident in Warwick, said: "Whilst I am sure everyone will support the need for clean air, I feel that the request from Jon Grey to homeowners asking them to keep hedges trimmed so that cyclists and pedestrians can pass safely and maintain social distancing is misleading.

"I would also like to point out that he has mentioned pavements and not mentioned cycle lanes.

"It gives the impression that the pavements are there for both the pedestrian and cyclist, unfortunately that is not what the law states.

"During the last ten weeks I have done a fair bit of walking around Warwick in an effort to keep the pounds off and am absolutely fed up of having to make way for cyclists.

"Do they know that it is an offence to cycle on the pathway unless it is designated for dual use?

"Do they know that a one way street doesn't mean that they should be bombing along it in the opposite direction,such as Swan Street and Castle Lane in Warwick.

"Do they know that a red traffic light means that they should stop?

"Why do they not use the road? After all that it is what it is there for.

"No bells, no horn,t hey just push by or think you've got eyes in the back of your head.

"A campaign for more cycle lanes is one thing but let the pedestrians have the pavements so they can walk in safety, because as things are going, it won't be too long before someone in Warwick is seriously injured by a cyclist."

To find out more Clean Air Warwick go to: https://www.facebook.com/cleanairwarwick/