News from Marylebone

The Association has long campaigned against motorists who contribute to air pollution by sitting with their engines idling and we are pleased Westminster City Council taking further measures to enforce the law. The Council is seeking volunteers for an 'Idling Action Day' on 12th July to reinforce the message. Before participating, volunteers have to have attended one of two training sessions at Westminster City Hall. One session is on 5 July and the other on 7 July, both between 12noon and 2pm. If you are interested in taking part please contact Christel Quellennec-Reid This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

This year has again been characterised by many meetings, with much discussion and argument, but very few results. As I write, at the end of April, an election period has once more intervened to delay matters, including publication of the results of the second consultation on the Baker Street Two-way scheme. We hope to see final plans emerge which will appeal to all stakeholders.

Poor air quality in Marylebone is a major and rising concern. The area suffers from regular beaches of EU limits, with implications for the health of those all that live, visit and work here. 

Various key stakeholders in Marylebone, together with Westminster Council, have now come together to apply for something called a Low Emissions Neighbourhood (LEN) for Marylebone. If we achieve LEN status we will get one million pounds funding to implement proposals to tackle air quality. 

The LEN Bid process therefore offers us the chance to help improve matters. It would put additional resources into the area to enable behavioural and place changes. Equally importantly through, if we were to get a LEN, it should become more difficult for schemes to be introduced in surrounding areas that result in traffic displacement into Marylebone. The Marylebone LEN Funding Bid was submitted in April 2016 and we should be notified of the outcome sometime during the Summer.

See below for the Marylebone LEN Funding Bid Summary 

The Marylebone Association has been working with Westminster City Council in bidding to be one of two boroughs to receive £1m of funding from the Greater London Authority and Transport for London. This funding is to create a Low Emission Neighbourhood, to include behaviour change and green initiatives to help improve air quality.

Watch a video of how Crossrail will operate when it fully opens in a few years time. View video here

The Marylebone Association is concerned that the current proposals to improve safety for cyclists by introducing Cycle Superhighway 11 will actually have the opposite effect in neighbouring streets.