How do the different party manifestos in Westminster compare when it comes to healthy streets?
With elections just around the corner on Thursday 7th May, there is one question we have all been discussing and thinking about – how do the different party manifestos compare on their policies to make our streets healthier? And what is each party planning in order to create streets that are safer for walking and cycling?
Westminster has the highest number of people killed and seriously injured in road collisions of any London borough, so this is a crucial issue for us here at Westminster Healthy Streets.
We have investigated and read all the party documentation we have found, and are pulling out the headlines to give you more information.
We go through the parties alphabetically:
The Conservative Party
The manifesto for the Conservative Party can be found on the Westminster Conservatives website.
The first thing the document says is: “Our Plan: Transport That Works For All”.
On the face of it this sounds promising. However, in our experience, when politicians talk about transport that “Works For All”, it can often mean “Transport that works for drivers”. We have seen time and time again that it’s not possible in practice to make sure transport works for absolutely everyone. It’s why we spend time campaigning for those who are vulnerable road users – those who are walking and cycling. If transport genuinely did work for everyone today, then we think far fewer would choose to drive.
Conservatives oppose the current plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street
They say: “We will fight to protect the bus routes that less mobile people depend on to reach Oxford Street, ensuring no routes are removed until step-free access is guaranteed at Oxford Circus”.
They also say: “We will demand a meeting with the Mayor to call for an Oxford Street u-turn and the release of the full consultation data. We will oppose any scheme imposed without genuine local consent”.
The Conservatives say they want to do “Genuine Consultation(s)”
They say: “Residents want to be consulted properly, and they want their views to count. We will ensure consultations are genuine: designed to listen, focused on local voices and followed by action that reflects what people tell us. We will prioritise the views of local people when making major decisions, not people from unaffected areas”.
Whilst on the face of it this sounds fair, it does present difficulties with establishing what “local” means. Is it only people who live on a street itself; is it people who live in adjacent streets; or is it anybody in the local ward or adjacent wards?
We would consider that a “Genuine Consultation” took place for the planned Bayswater Road improvements, where a majority of all respondents, a majority of those providing a Westminster postcode, and a majority of those providing a postcode in the local wards of Bayswater, Lancaster Gate and Hyde Park were supportive. So we would hope that these results are taken seriously and that the scheme is still implemented. It would, however, be countered with the bus-stop bypass policy (see below).
The Conservatives want to review all existing public realm schemes
They say: “We will review all major street schemes. Schemes that improve one part of Westminster while demonstrably worsening another will not be supported”.
It’s not clear which schemes such a review would entail – whether it’s schemes already underway, schemes already implemented or just those at the design stage. We’re also not sure what any review might consist of. We think it’s probably unlikely any such review would strengthen a scheme, and are concerned we could lose some of the infrastructure we already have. And here we’re campaigning for more – not less.
The Conservatives are against bus stop bypasses
They say: “We will not support street features like “floating bus stops” that disadvantage people with mobility issues”.
The Bayswater Road scheme that was supported by the majority of locals at consultation features bus stop bypasses (whereby bicycles are physically separated from buses), so we imagine this scheme would not go ahead (at least in its current form) under a Conservative council.
Position on Road Safety
They say: “Using evidence-based data, we will prioritise safety schemes that protect the most vulnerable road users, particularly around schools”.
Position on Cycling infrastructure
They say: “We will work with residents, businesses, schools and disability groups to ensure cycling schemes are safe, practical and respectful of pedestrians. We will expand cycle training in Westminster schools and colleges, and work with the police to target irresponsible cycling on pavements that puts pedestrians and other road users at risk. We will also address the growing demand for secure cycle hangar storage”.
We applaud working with residents, schools and disability groups. We are also concerned by irresponsible cycling on pavements, and are supportive of more cycle training and more cycle hangars.
More apparent though is what is missing, which is any mention of plans to continue to improve Westminster's cycling network. Whilst a lot of progress has been made over the years, there are still a lot of gaps in it, in order to open up cycling as a genuine choice to get around the whole of the borough.
The Green Party
We have contacted local green candidates, who have directed us to their 2024 General Election manifesto on transport. As far as we know, there isn’t a targeted local strategy in place as yet with specific goals for Westminster.
These are the headlines from the national Green Party General Election manifesto:
Investing £2.5 billion Nationally in new cycleways and footpaths
They say: “Walking, wheeling and cycling don’t just help reduce carbon emissions and air pollution – they can make us all happier and healthier too”. “Elected Greens will push for investment of £2.5bn a year in new cycleways and footpaths”.
This sounds promising on a national level, although we are unsure of what that investment would look like locally.
Tackling through traffic in residential areas
They say: “Elected Greens will push for: Reimagining how we use streets in residential areas to reduce traffic and open them up for community use”. We absolutely support tackling through-traffic in neighbourhoods.
Support for walking and wheeling
They say: “Elected Greens will push for: Adopting Active Travel England’s objective of 50% of trips in England’s towns and cities to be walked, wheeled or cycled by 2030”.
Subsidising and investing in public transport
They also talk about increasing public subsidies for rail and bus travel, with free bus travel for under 18s. In addition, they say they will “push to invest in an additional £19bn over five years to improve public transport, support electrification and create new cycleways and footpaths”.
The Labour Party
The Labour manifesto can be found on their website.
Focusing on child safety
Labour says they will: “Reduce to zero the children killed or seriously injured on Westminster roads by 2030 by designing for safer motor vehicle speeds, volumes and reduced rat-running routes. We’ll also make substantial (70%) progress towards the target of zero road deaths or serious injuries by 2041”.
They say they will: “Make the school run safer and more enjoyable by increasing the number of school streets in the borough”.
Here we like the idea that there are specific local goals to aim for.
1000 additional side zebras or other crossing treatments
Informal “side zebra” crossings have recently been introduced in Westminster. Labour say they will “make it more accessible and safer to walk/wheel your neighbourhood by installing 1,000 additional ‘simple’ side road zebras or other crossing treatments, including accessible paving, to create safer city-wide routes”.
They’ve also committed to providing new infrastructure for pedestrians, including shade and benches, and to keep pavements clear from obstruction.
Keeping pavements clear
Labour says they will: “Keep our pavements clear by continuing to enforce against all forms of pavement obstruction, including continuing to issue on-the-spot fines against badly parked cars, e-bikes and A-boards. We will provide more e-bike parking bays to match the demand for them, and work with the government and TfL to finally regulate shared e-bikes so they work better for everyone”.
Ensuring the majority of residents live within 400m of a high quality part of the cycle network
Labour says they will: “Enable all ages and abilities to safely access cycling by creating modern-standard routes designed using protected lanes or traffic filtered routes, so that the vast majority of residents (95% of homes) live within 400m of a high quality part of the cycle network. We will complete delivery of all in-construction routes across the city, all of which the Conservatives have opposed without any coherent alternatives”.
Again, we like the direct facts here, and the specific aims. We have seen routes that Labour have installed lately, and have been impressed with the cycle lanes and how they have kerbed separation from motor traffic.
Looking at neighbourhoods holistically
Labour says they’ll: “Deliver area-based transport plans that maximise benefits and consider neighbourhoods holistically – for example to bring together school street zones with wider traffic management, safer crossings, greening, shade, and seating provision, or developing local mobility hubs where transport modes and interchanges are improved”.
We like the idea of a holistic approach, and see that this could tackle through-traffic, which we would very much support.
Labour have made the London Cycling Campaign pledge to building a safe, connected cycle network across the borough
At the time of writing, only the Labour party have pledged with the London Cycling Campaign to build a safe, connected cycle network across Westminster
You can see who’s pledged on the London Cycling Campaign by opening the “Westminster” tab.
The Liberal Democrats
From the Liberal Democrats Westminster Manifesto (which we have a copy of but we are not aware of being published online):
The Lib Dems have outlined their approaches with bullet points so we will list the relevant ones to healthy streets below.
“Children, Families & Young People: Making Westminster a place families can thrive”
The Lib Dems say they’ll:
- “Create more safe spaces for children to play and be active”
- “Provide areas where children can kick a ball and enjoy outdoor activity”
Transport & Oxford Street
Around the Oxford Street pedestrianisation they say they will:
- “Secure the best deal for residents impacted by Oxford Street pedestrianisation”
- “Address traffic displacement into surrounding streets”
- “Protect air quality and local accessibility”
Walking and Cycling
They say they will:
- “Take a balanced approach to transport: Safer walking and cycling; Sensible traffic management; No schemes imposed without proper local consultation”
- “Encourage footfall through markets and community events”
As previously discussed, we are not hugely encouraged by words like “balanced” when it comes to an approach, and “sensible” when it comes to traffic management, as this can often mean too much prioritisation of motor traffic. We’d also say it isn’t too specific, so can be interpreted in different ways.
Practical action that improves daily life
They say they will:
- Tackle air pollution in residential areas and near schools
- Increase tree planting and green spaces
- Focus on practical, deliverable environmental improvements
The Reform Party
The following information is based on a Reform leaflet:
Current Cycle Lanes
In their leaflet, they write:
“We all want to see more cycling in Westminster but Conservative and Labour administrations have undertaken a war on pedestrians, disabled people and drivers through aggressive cycleway projects that make it difficult to cross roads, use cars or park”.
We think these words speak for themselves. They also say:
“We will ensure that those who live in Westminster get the final say on future schemes so they will work for all our road users”.
Inline with our previous comments above, we consider that it’s difficult to implement traffic schemes that everyone is happy with.
Reform are against the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street
They write: “We will oppose Mayor Khan’s plans which threaten congestion and mass disruption for local people and those looking to travel by bus or road”.
Some Reform candidates are open to dealing with through-traffic
Interestingly, a local residents association for the Hyde Park Estate, HyPER, asked local Reform candidates what they’d do to tackle the through-traffic and the answer was illuminating. They wrote the following in their response:
“Traffic remains a real concern, and previous measures have not delivered the improvements residents expected. We believe we need a more balanced and evidence-led approach, one that actually reduces through traffic without simply pushing congestion into neighbouring streets.
We would review what has worked and what hasn’t, using real data and resident feedback, and ensure any future interventions are properly trialled and evaluated. We would push for practical solutions based on real data and resident feedback, not one size fits all schemes.
We are open to revisiting low traffic neighbourhoods or alternative solutions, but only where there is clear evidence, they will improve safety and reduce congestion without displacing problems elsewhere. The goal should be safer, quieter streets without creating new problems elsewhere. Any changes must be transparent, with clear measures of success and regular updates to residents”.
We are pleased to see this answer from Reform.
Over to you!
There’s our round up, we hope you found this useful. Share it will local friends on socials or via email, and we urge you to keep it in mind when deciding who to vote for.