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Chester Home Zone wins the Institution of Highways and Transportation 2006 Environmental Award!
In partnership with Chester City Council, Cheshire County Council has set up it's first Home Zone in the Egerton Street, Crewe Street and Francis Street area of Chester. It was officially opened in May 2005.
For more in-depth information:
Home Zones are not a new idea. They have been popular in Europe for the past forty years, and The Brow (Runcorn) was the first to be set up in the UK in 1969. There are now Home Zones Morice Town (Plymouth), The Methleys (Leeds), Clifton (Nottingham), New England (Peterborough), Sittingbourne (Kent), Magor Village (Monmouthshire), The Caleys (Edinburgh), Tillydrone (Aberdeen), the former Royal Infirmary in Dundee, Ormlie (Thurso), Long Streets (Belfast), and West Ealing, Lambeth and Tower Hamlets in London.
More information on the above schemes can be found at Home Zone News.
- Reduction in accidents, car fumes, congestion and noise
- Improved physical health and independence of residents, particularly children who can play outdoors
- A friendlier place to live with increased neighbourliness
- Lessen social barriers, increase community awareness and participation
- Improved quality of life
- Greater use of the street by people leads to an increase in natural surveillance (looking out for each other) which can act as a deterrent to crime
There is strong evidence to suggest that people who are more socially active and participate in community activities are far less likely to suffer illness - far better for people to be socially involved with their community than isolated from it. Traffic can increase isolation, particularly for the elderly and children, and it is hoped that Home Zones will encourage people outside onto their streets, and enjoy a greater sense of well-being and community involvement.
The Egerton Street, Crewe Street and Francis Street area lies to the edge of the city centre but doesn't enjoy the same success, and has been left behind in terms of Chester's redevelopment. It is currently the subject of major new mixed-use regeneration proposals as part of a city-wide urban renaissance strategy. The residential parts of the area consist of mainly high density housing with limited open space offering little valuable recreational function, insufficient opportunity for vegetation to soften the harsh urban environment, and no play equipment. There has also been a problem with ‘rat running’ traffic and associated environmental and amenity problems.
The area occupies a pivotal location between major generators and attractors of travel (the railway station, the city centre, the major employers and local retail areas of Boughton and Brook Street) but is cut off from the rest of the city by a hostile road network, which is subject to a relatively high number of accidents and creates a sense of isolation from the city. The area is also bounded and crossed by a number of streets and corridors that are identified as key pedestrian, cycle and public transport links.
The implementation of a Home Zone addresses both traffic and open space related issues providing safer, calmer streets with new public spaces for play and recreation.
Richard Nickson, Principal Engineer (01244 973878 richard.nickson@cheshire.gov.uk) |
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