It’s not clear how this document will help in making any real change in West Northants. To pick out two aspects:
ACTIVE TRAVEL
Page 22 states that “Over one in four adults in West Northants are classified as physically inactive, and almost two thirds are classified as overweight or obese.”
But there is nothing about how this will be addressed through everyday activity.
Many towns and cities are creating better walking and cycling infrastructure to encourage active travel. But West Northants is year behind nearby places like Leicester, Nottingham, Coventry and Oxford.
WNC doesn’t even have a Local Cycling and Walking Plan for Northampton. This has been repeatedly postponed since it was started in 2018, and recent government grants for infrastructure have been squandered instead of building safe routes into the town centre.
AIR QUALITY
Page 24 states: “We will support the work detailed in the air quality action plan through a collaborative working group”
But West Northants does not have an Air Quality Action Plan, even though the council knows there are unlawful levels of air pollution that is causing breathing problems, illness and early death. The Air Quality Action Plan is now 17 years overdue. It should have been produced in 2006 following the naming of the Air Quality Management Areas.
It’s hard to take anything that West Northants says about air quality seriously when you look at the total lack of action on this issue.
Living Streets Northampton 