Car Free Day 2011
West Norwood will host this year’s Car Free Day on Sunday 18 September. Norwood High Street will be closed to motor traffic and in conjunction with Norwood Feast we will be celebrating alternative transport. The fun day will also be an opportunity for residents to have a look at designs for local urban realm improvements.
Come and see how road space can be better used with music, food and entertainment from 12-5pm.
For more information email sustainabletravel@lambeth.gov.uk or call Suzy Harrison 020 7926 0686.
In order to celebrate European Mobility Week, we are putting on a yearly Car Free Day event in September. European Mobility Week aims to encourage walking, cycling and public transport use across Europe, including the implementation of infrastructure and soft measures to raise awareness. The aim is to put on an event with a sustainable travel theme which leads on to a permanent measure being put in.
2010 saw the whole of Clapham Old Town being closed to motor traffic and turfed over with real grass. The event ultimately demonstrated how such a space could be used if it is not a bus stand and vehicle gyratory system.
Turf was installed and a bandstand erected with a full programme of live music including a pop choir and a four piece saxophone orchestra. Deckchairs provided seating although many chose to loll on the grass where usually buses stand.
A children's area brought an element of play with a sand pit and face-painting in amongst palm trees.
Local traders were encouraged to take up a market stall which resulted in an array of stall holders offering everything from jewelry and clothes to jerk chicken and cakes.
Approximately 3000 people attended the event over the 5 hours and were also invited to get involved in a number of workshops including pimp my bike by Neuva Generacion, Clapham pottery and kid's art.
Lambeth Council worked in partnership with Veolia and FM Conway to make the day possible and the Car Free agenda was reinforced with a number of pay & display installations.
This was based on the idea that a great many things can be done with the space it takes to park one car for the day. Each space was transformed into a beach, a golf course, and even an animal petting zoo provided by Vauxhall City Farm, among others.
Car Free Day was also a perfect opportunity to unveil the latest designs for the Clapham Gateway project, a £3million package of public realm improvements planned for the Old Town area.
The project will see the current bus stand re-located, the eastside carriageway closed to traffic and creation of a new piazza area incorporating public artwork and a "rain garden" sustainable drainage system. Car Free Day in Old Town not only enabled us to get feedback from hundreds of local people, it was also an opportunity to showcase some of the potential activities that could take place in the new piazza area.
The event therefore provided the perfect marriage of consultation opportunity, potential public realm infrastructure and travel awareness event. The resulting piazza will provide an enhanced experience for pedestrians and cyclists whilst improving air quality in the area.
Look out for next year's Car Free Day in a different area of the borough where a permanent measure is proposed.