Comment

Representation ID: 16555

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Friends of the Earth Stourbridge

Transport: (BC Plan pg. 174 – 200)
In Dudley 31% of greenhouse gas emissions are from transport. 41% of
the population use public transport, walking or cycling for daily travel.
There are currently only 34 electric vehicle charging points in the borough.
We want Dudley MBC to support the reduction of air pollution to meet World Health
Organisation levels, match European best practice in the use of buses cycling and
walking and ensure all vehicles are zero emission. Dudley MBC should commit more
Friends of the Earth Stourbridge: 11.10.21:
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investment in the walking and cycling infrastructure to join up routes and provide
extra cycle lanes.
We want to see a 50% increase in people using public transport, walking
and cycling in the Borough. Cycle parks should be strategically placed at bus and
railway stations.
Traffic calming measures should be introduced in all residential areas to slow traffic,
increase public safety and reduce emissions. For example, there are major problems
with traffic at all major arterial road leading to and from Dudley Town centre, on
Stourbridge Ring Road, through Amblecote, Wordsley an Kingswinford, Russells
Hall, Merry Hill, Quarry Bank Brierley Hill, Colley Gate and more. At Oldswinford
Cross, Stourbridge and similar sites there are no proper pedestrian
crossings. Halesowen Road, Netherton is identified among the top 10 most polluted
areas in the West Midlands and currently breaches air quality standards. Dudley
Borough has a major traffic congestion problem which must be addressed
immediately to ensure we can tackle the Climate Emergency and to ensure the
improved health and wellbeing of those who live and work in the Borough.
It is essential that Dudley Council work with West Midlands Transport Authority to
invest in a sustainable public transport network. Routes need to be accessible and
joined up. It has to be easy for people to leave their cars at home. Local bus
services should be fare free and go where people need them at the right times and
there is an incentive to not drive.
This is not just about commuting but also about social justice, health and well-being
too. For example, re-introducing Sunday services from rail and main bus depots to
places like Kinver or Clent so people can access nature and green space when they
have family time together.
We need to encourage parents and children to walk more to and from schools.
Currently many residential areas have poor air quality near schools as parents or
taxis drive children to school and leave engines idling in the street. This cause of this
behaviour is often that they don’t their children are safe to walk or cycle.
Reinstatement of existing rails routes for passengers and freight should be
considered rather than spending money on new metro track which does not even
join up the public transport network to Stourbridge and mainline rail junctions. Key
centres and national rail links need to be included in the transport network for
example the Brierley Hill to Stourbridge Junction rail link. Transport depots with
toilet /washing and refreshment facilities for freight drivers should be located at
suitable supply hubs in the borough and have electric charging points from
renewables installed.
Fleet vehicles such as those used by Dudley MBC should be sustainable and run on
renewable energy by 2030.
The FoE target for the installation of EV charging points in the Borough by
2030 is 1549.