Posted: Sat 1st Feb 2020

Living Streets Cymru urges people to take their manifesto survey to improve neighbourhoods

News and Info from Deeside, Flintshire, North Wales
This article is old - Published: Saturday, Feb 1st, 2020

A national charity is asking people in Wales to give their views about walking and cycling ahead of the 2021 Welsh Parliament election.  ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Living Streets Cymru, which is part of the UK charity for everyday walking, has published its survey which will shape its manifesto asks to political parties in Wales.   ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Living Streets Cymru wants to “achieve a better walking environment for everyone and inspire people to walk more, to improve public health and air quality, and alleviate the effects of climate change.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

In the run up to the May 2021 election, the charity will campaign to ensure the next Welsh Government commits to prioritise walking by increasing investment and changing legislation.  ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The Living Streets Cymru survey asks people in Wales to share their experiences of their area so the organisation can show decision makers why change is needed.   ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Many people report problems with public transport, pavement parking, unsafe pavements and pedestrian crossings, speeding traffic and congested routes to school and work – and these can prevent people from choosing to walk.   ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Pavement parking is a particular problem, and in 2019, a Living Streets Cymru report revealed that 83 per cent of people in Wales want to see it banned, while a quarter of people aged over 65 in Wales are prevented from walking on their local streets because of blocked pavements.  ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Walking reduces the risk of heart disease, respiratory disease, certain cancers and Type II diabetes. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

It is also good for mental health and wellbeing, can reduce social isolation in older adults and can improve children’s performance at school. Despite this, a 2019 report revealed that only 44 per cent of children in Wales travel actively to primary school and just 34 per cent of secondary school pupils walk or cycle.  ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Rhiannon Hardiman, Wales Manager for Living Streets Cymru, said:   ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The 2021 Welsh Parliamentary Election is a real opportunity to ensure our future Welsh Government prioritises walking for the benefit of people’s health and the climate.”  ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

 “Walking rates continue to fall in Wales, so we need a government with bold ambition, in the spirit of the Active Travel (Wales) Act, with more investment and change at a national and local level. Air pollution contributes to around 2,000 deaths a year in Wales, with those in the poorest communities often worst affected, and it is a huge contributor to climate change. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

We must make walking more appealing and accessible in order to reduce reliance on cars and improve public health.”  ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

 The survey closes at the end of February and can be accessed here www.livingstreets.org.uk/senedd21  ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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