Making our neighbourhoods cleaner, quieter, safer for pedestrians is good for us all. Come along to the Over 50s Forum's discussion

Referring to Dept for Transport figures, the 2021 Enfield Healthy Streets Framework reported that "annual motor traffic in Enfield has been increasing in recent decades, with faster growth experienced since the early 2010s”. It goes on “Between 2008 and 2019, the number of miles driven on Enfield's roads increased by 313,000,000 - an equivalent of travelling over 650 times to and from the Moon".

To Enfield Over 50s Forum this indicates that pedestrians share the high streets with more, and larger, motor vehicles than ever before, risking more collisions, injuries and air pollution.

The results of a Freedom of information request to NHS Trusts recently revealed that 313,736 children were admitted to hospital or A&E last year with serious breathing problems which are being attributed to air pollution. 14,587 children were admitted to North Middlesex University Hospital with breathing difficulties in 2024.

Brake dust and tyre wear are significant sources of air pollution, which increases with the cycle of acceleration / braking urban driving, heavier cars and higher temperatures. Electric cars are not exempt from causing air pollution.

What we are discovering is that far from the cleaner, quieter, safer streets that we seek for the good of everyone's health and wellbeing, the situation is deteriorating.

Many older people walk, using pavements/footpaths/footways: for pleasure, exercise, to access public transport, visit local shops, amenities and friends.

Pavement users are walkers, wheelchair users, parents and carers walking with toddlers, pushing a buggy or carrying a baby, those with disabilities including visual impairment, those using mobility scooters, walking frames; those carrying heavy shopping, using a wheely shopping basket, running for a bus, maybe just running or walking the dog.

Much of this pavement use is functional, necessarily using Enfield’s high streets, obliged to share them with motorised vehicles.

In 2021 almost one third of Enfield households had no cars or vans, rising to more than a half in the south and eastern parts of the Borough such as Edmonton Green. And yet, judging by the quality and safety of the environment in which pedestrians move around, it feels that, in policy terms, they are invisible.

Hence, we welcome the council’s consultation on introducing 20mph limits on residential roads, and some high streets, as an important means of Enfield residents sharing their perspectives as users of our neighbourhoods and high streets.