2021 Manifesto FINAL DRAFT - Flipbook - Page 40
Congestion is a major problem in
our region. Hours are wasted as
people sit in cars going nowhere
fast. And while our roads are
choked with cars, our citizens are
choking on poisonous air.
Around 3,000 premature deaths in
the West Midlands are caused by
air pollution, which contributes to
cancer and heart disease. It’s so
bad that the European
Commission has issued a final
warning to the UK for repeated
breaches of air pollution limits for
nitrogen dioxide in 16 air quality
zones, including Birmingham.
We need to end road widening
schemes, which have been shown
to generate more traffic as the
extra lanes created fill up. Road
widening leads to a worse
environment for walking and
cycling and a deterioration in the
local centres through which these
roads pass. Wider roads increase
community severance, undermine
the attractiveness of local
centres, and generally make for a
more intimidating and less
pleasant environment. We should
make more efficient use of the
road space we already have
rather than proceeding with
damaging road widening
schemes.
We urgently need to build a
world-class public transport
system that enables people to use
transport methods that don’t
contribute to air pollution and
congestion.
We can then work at other ways
of reducing congestion and air
pollution and clearing our roads
and our air, such the continued
adoption of low-emission zones,
workplace parking levies, car
clubs, lift-sharing, getting diesels
off the roads and more.
We also need to recognise that
taxis help to fill the gaps left by
public transport and reduce the
need to own a car. I value the
region’s taxis, which provide a
well-regulated, quality service
that we do not want to lose.
Transport
Choked roads,
choking on air