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Go for Gold!
Action on transport
Traffic congestion is so bad
in and around Watford that it is essential to provide realistic
alternatives to the private car. Our approach is to work for
improvements in all these alternative methods of transport - buses,
trains, taxis, cycling, and walking, so that people will need
to make fewer journeys by car. Likewise, we need policies that
bring fewer large lorries into the town and especially keeps
them away from residential areas. Our strategy will be in line
with this approach.
We will judge any proposals
for major traffic schemes on the basis of whether they will relieve
traffic congestion and improve alternatives to the private car
or whether they will make things worse. We will oppose all schemes
that would encourage extra traffic on our roads. Our record in
this area is strong: we successfully opposed the Wiggenhall Link
Road through Oxhey Park, which in the end all parties had to
agree would make traffic congestion worse.
We will:
- Support the proposed Croxley Rail
Link, which would connect Watford Junction with the Metropolitan
Line and provide a local train service for West Watford.
- Withdraw Council support for Park
and Ride at Stephenson Way as this will mean more traffic
on local roads in North Watford, destruction of Green
Belt land and increased traffic in the heavily-congested
town centre.
- Work with the county council to get
Arriva to improve their performance in providing local
bus services. Enforce standards in routes that are subsidised
by the council.
- Continue to provide free bus travel
for old age pensioners and seek to expand the range of
journeys covered by this, as resources allow.
- Subsidise further bus routes where
there is a proven need, but only if we can be guaranteed
that the bus company will provide a reliable service.
- Encourage walking and cycling as safe,
environmentally-friendly alternatives to the private
car.
- Continue to develop a network of cycle
routes so that all journeys within the borough are capable
of being made safely and legally by bicycle. Provide
more secure parking facilities for cyclists.
- Make rapid progress on implementing
the pedestrian strategy so that people feel safe to make
journeys on foot throughout the town.
- Improve pavements and provide better
crossing facilities, including, wherever possible, replacing
subways with surface crossings.
- Introduce an environmentally-friendly
passenger transport scheme for Watford High Street to
make journeys within the town centre easier.
- Implement bans on lorries using residential
roads, where there is public demand; work with the county
council and haulage companies etc to develop guidance
for lorry drivers to use appropriate roads when making
deliveries in Watford.
- Work with the county council to develop
further home zones and green zones to provide a safe
and pleasant residential environment, free from speeding
and rat-running traffic.
- Management of car traffic, for
example through 'green commuter plans'.
- Oppose the threat to the fast train
service at Bushey Station arising from the West Coast
mainline upgrade and use our influence to get improvements
to local rail services.
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