SOUTHAMPTON needs more space for walking and cycling, not cars.

We need a Green Recovery from this health crisis, including massive investment in walking, cycling and public transport infrastructure.

The Government’s decision to spend £27 billion on new road building is now clearly out of date - social distancing measures mean that we need more space for people to walk and cycle safely.

Cities across the world, including Athens, Paris and Bristol have recently announced plans to cut traffic, and pedestrianise areas of the city centre.

Let’s do this here in Southampton as well.

The recent measures taken by Southampton City Council to improve and encourage active travel in the city are very much welcomed.

As a Portswood resident, I look forward to trying out the new cycle lanes on Portswood road and on behalf of Southampton Greenpeace as an active member, the group is pleased to see that the council is putting measures in place to help get people, who are able to, out of their cars and onto bikes or walking more.

This is a great start, but we need more investment from the central Government to get these up and running across the city.

Continuing to reduce traffic, widening the pavements and putting in more bike lanes will encourage people to walk or cycle, which will have a positive impact on health and wellbeing.

That’s why I, alongside the Greenpeace Southampton Group, call on our local council to lobby Government on the funding we need, and for the Chancellor to set out investment in clean, green transport in his upcoming budget speech.

It’s one of the easiest ways to tackle climate change, keep residents fit and healthy, and help rebuild our local community after lockdown.

We need to care more for our planet and city and keep our city a place that people enjoy living in. Rosie Newey

Portswood