Mayor’s funding boost for the capital’s Greenways

Londoners will be able to enjoy a greener, more peaceful side to the capital this summer, with a stroll or cycle along a series of new and improved pathways, thanks to a £1.3m investment by the Mayor and Transport for London.  

The Greenway schemes are flagship projects in the Mayor of London’s Great Outdoors Programme. They are usually in traffic free areas and include many routes through parks and along canals, with the aim of benefiting Londoners learning to cycle, and those who enjoy recreational cycling and walking.
 
London’s Great Outdoors is delivered for the Mayor by Transport for London and the London Development Agency working closely with the London Boroughs.  The programme is a pan-London plan to improve streets, roads, squares, and green spaces, supported by a commitment of £220 million over three years. It will see many areas of the capital transformed into community focused spaces with safer, greener and more accessible recreational areas.

Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, said: “We have a treasure trove of small parks and paths in our city that have been simply crying out for a little extra attention. By spending money on these schemes we can improve access to some of the most beautiful parts of the capital.”

The Mayor’s Transport Advisor, Kulveer Ranger, today will join the Mayor of Lewisham, Sir Steve Bullock, to officially open and cycle through a new Greenway scheme in Beckenham Place Park.  The new Ravensbourne River Route runs through the wildlife and woodland area of the park and connects with existing cycle routes in Lewisham and Bromley.  Pedestrians and cyclists in Lewisham can now enjoy safer and more pleasant journeys in the Beckenham area thanks to a new half-mile off-road path.

It replicates many schemes across the capital and this summer will see work completed on seven Greenway projects that pass through some of the capital’s most scenic and undiscovered spots. They include a disused railway line being transformed into a pedestrian and cycle path and the revamp of previously unused routes through canals and cemeteries.  Many of the projects support the Mayor's vision for a cycling revolution to turn London into a cyclised city where people can ride their bikes safely and easily in a pleasant environment.
  
The Mayor’s Transport Advisor, Kulveer Ranger, said: “This is exactly the type of scheme the Mayor had in mind when he created London’s Great Outdoors project. The route we open today puts Lewisham on the map for walkers and cyclists, and will contribute to our goal of making London a cyclised city.  We know that one of the barriers to people cycling is traffic so routes such as Greenways provide a great way for people to try out cycling in a comfortable environment while also bringing formerly disused or underused spaces back to life for Londoners to enjoy.”  
 
Ben Plowden, Director of Better Routes and Places at Transport for London, said: “Greenways such as the new Ravensbourne paths offer great opportunities for people to walk or cycle away from traffic and take in some of London’s quiet and beautiful areas.  By connecting with residential streets they also give good access for people living locally as well as for those making longer journeys on foot or by bike.”
 
Sir Steve Bullock, Lewisham's Mayor, said: "Lewisham Council is always looking at what it can do to encourage its residents out of their cars and on to their bikes and this new cycling route is not just a great addition to this wonderful park but also to the extensive network of cycling routes right across the borough. I'd like to thank all those involved for making it happen."
 
Carl Pittam, Director of Sustrans in London, said: “We know that people are often willing to make local journeys in healthier, more environmentally-friendly ways if there are safe and attractive places to do it in.
 
“This new Ravensbourne route is a step towards achieving that in Lewisham.  If more people in this borough start to travel in active ways for their everyday journeys, then the impact on their health and local congestion could be significant.” 
 
Today’s scheme is part of a larger Transport for London’s £4m 09/10 investment in Greenways to improve London’s network of walking and cycle routes running through parks, heaths and forests and alongside rivers and canals. 
 
ENDS
 
Notes to Editors
1. The new route, known as the Ravensbourne River Route, connects Bellingham and Catford to the north and Bromley town centre to the south and has been delivered by Lewisham Borough Council with the support of sustainable transport charity Sustrans and funded by Transport for London (TfL).
2. Work will be completed on seven Greenway projects across the capital this summer. Those schemes that have benefited from the £1.3m investment by the Mayor and Transport for London include:
- Ingrebourne Valley, Havering - a new 500m pedestrian and cycle path
- Hounslow Heath, Hounslow - a new 800m pedestrian and cycle path
- Brompton Cemetery, Kensington & Chelsea  - a 500m improved cycle route through the cemetery
- Parkland Walk, Haringey - a three km improved cycle and pedestrian path along a disused railway
- Hogsmill Bridge, Kingston - a new cycle bridge and 300m of approach routes to the bridge
- Danbury Street Ramp, Islington - improved access by providing steps to the canal as well as a ramp
- Grand Union Canal, Kensington & Chelsea - a 700m upgrade of the existing path alongside the canal
 
About the London’s Great Outdoors Programme:
‘London’s Great Outdoors - A Manifesto for Public Space’ is supported by two practical guides, ‘Better Streets’ and ‘Better Green and Water Spaces’. Together they set out the Mayor of London’s vision for improving public spaces in London. This will ensure that our streets, squares, parks and green and water spaces are fit for a great world city, are enjoyed by everyone who visits them and most importantly, help improve the quality of life in the Capital.
 
They are accompanied by an implementation plan that will see over £220 million invested in over 50 public realm improvement projects over the next three years, funding for which comes from Transport for London, The London Development Agency and London’s boroughs as well as other sources. The measures include redesigned streets, which can be shared by both the pedestrians and vehicles and reclaimed derelict green spaces and underused waterways.
 
The manifesto and guides have been written and produced by the Greater London Authority, London Development Agency, Design for London and Transport for London.  For further information please go to: www.london.gov.uk/greatoutdoors