CITY Council chiefs have knocked back calls to pause the Earlsdon ‘Liveable Neighbourhood’ programme, despite a petition urging for the scheme to be temporarily halted gaining over 250 signatures.
The plans to make Earlsdon Coventry’s first ‘liveable’ neighbourhood aim to encourage more walking and cycling in the area.
The liveable neighbourhood aims to improve people’s health and well-being as well as reduce vehicles in the streets while also allowing easy access to homes, businesses and for those with mobility issues.
Liveable neighbourhoods usually group residential streets together around facilities such as schools, shops and surgeries, and are bordered by main roads.
However, Earlsdon residents said some didn’t understand all of the 18 schemes identified within the ‘complex proposal’.
The petition said, since the scheme was not time-limited, a delay was required to ensure the surrounding areas were aware of the ramifications of this scheme and were properly consulted.
It added: “The majority of the scheme proposed will do little to improve our ‘liveability’, and in some cases will make the environment and air quality far worse.
“We are unhappy with the lack of a public meeting, and the lack of overall engagement with Earlsdon residents, traders, and other stakeholders.
“It is felt this scheme is being rushed through without an opportunity for the community to fully consider the outcomes.”
A Council spokesperson said the authority was pleased with the number of local people who have taken part in its two consultations and rejected claims the scheme had been ‘rushed through.’
“The scheme has been a year in the making, and in the first consultation, people were clear about the traffic issues in their area and their priorities for action.
“The proposals that have recently been consulted on are intended to tackle these priorities as far as possible.
“Over 400 people have now had their say on the proposals, these will be analysed over the coming weeks and we will refine the proposals so we only deliver changes that have local support.”
The spokesperson added the next stage would involve a public meeting, after which it would have to raise traffic regulation orders allowing another opportunity for people to have their say.
