Thread by @psimonk

@sarahjolney1 @friendsofkings1 @KingstonCycling @rogermerriman @HilaryGander @NKingstonFocus @RBKingston @ollywehring Few thoughts on this FWIW.
1. I'm very happy to *meet*, chat through all these issues w you, @KingstonCycling etc.
2. I'd direct you absolutely to @London_Cycling & @UM_Streets doc on engagement, consultation: lcc.org.uk/pages/engageme… I'm a bit biased, but IMO a cracker...

@sarahjolney1 @friendsofkings1 @KingstonCycling @rogermerriman @HilaryGander @NKingstonFocus @RBKingston @ollywehring @London_Cycling @UM_Streets 3. I know it's not really an MP's area to weigh in on local schemes in this way - that's really Cllrs job. So thank you so much for adding your voice, but would campaigners be better off talking to ward & cabinet Cllrs in your view?
4. That said, let's talk consultations...

@sarahjolney1 @friendsofkings1 @KingstonCycling @rogermerriman @HilaryGander @NKingstonFocus @RBKingston @ollywehring @London_Cycling @UM_Streets Consultations are not referendums. They never should be. We've got a recent history of how badly things go in this country when we try & boil consultations down to a vote on a single question. Very badly. So what is a consultation? How should highways schemes handle them?...

@sarahjolney1 @friendsofkings1 @KingstonCycling @rogermerriman @HilaryGander @NKingstonFocus @RBKingston @ollywehring @London_Cycling @UM_Streets Schemes should reflect council & national policies. They should be based in good evidence. And use residents as experts for their streets, not highways engineering. And consultations are an opportunity to both gather resident expertise and views but also improve schemes before...

@sarahjolney1 @friendsofkings1 @KingstonCycling @rogermerriman @HilaryGander @NKingstonFocus @RBKingston @ollywehring @London_Cycling @UM_Streets They go in. They should never be a veto based on one view being slightly larger or smaller than other view. And they should never assume the kind of folks who answer consultations are representative of all residents, nor are they engineers, transport planners, or experts. So...

@sarahjolney1 @friendsofkings1 @KingstonCycling @rogermerriman @HilaryGander @NKingstonFocus @RBKingston @ollywehring @London_Cycling @UM_Streets Consultations aren't a yes no. And when just over 50% of people say no to a one way, and just under 50% say yes, that doesn't mean "don't do the one way". What does it say? "Think hard about the views being put forward, why the community is split, and what common ground is...

@sarahjolney1 @friendsofkings1 @KingstonCycling @rogermerriman @HilaryGander @NKingstonFocus @RBKingston @ollywehring @London_Cycling @UM_Streets If residents are surveyed, do they generally think there's too much traffic on some roads nearby? Is it going too fast? Are there too many lorries? If so, *or* if there is good evidence of such, try and find a more palatable, uniting scheme. And/or just try the best scheme...

@sarahjolney1 @friendsofkings1 @KingstonCycling @rogermerriman @HilaryGander @NKingstonFocus @RBKingston @ollywehring @London_Cycling @UM_Streets That officers can work up that listens to concerns, but answers issues. That's the new way, and it's a good one. Because many residents are scared of any change. And many residents aren't expert at jargon and scheme diagrams, or predicting outcomes. So try stuff...

@sarahjolney1 @friendsofkings1 @KingstonCycling @rogermerriman @HilaryGander @NKingstonFocus @RBKingston @ollywehring @London_Cycling @UM_Streets Old way: officers work for years, consultants work up 10 schemes, goes to consultation, local residents' associations (made up of oldest, whitest, richest in area) get in a froth, 52% say no, scheme gets weakened, goes into long grass, dies. Nothing changes. Climate? Ignored...

@sarahjolney1 @friendsofkings1 @KingstonCycling @rogermerriman @HilaryGander @NKingstonFocus @RBKingston @ollywehring @London_Cycling @UM_Streets Pollution, congestion, inactivity, road danger? Nah. 52% means no change. Despite all the policies.
New way: officers work up scheme, build it, residents get angry, officers monitor scheme, make tweaks based on metrics, feedback, 3 months later, residents will fight to keep in...

@sarahjolney1 @friendsofkings1 @KingstonCycling @rogermerriman @HilaryGander @NKingstonFocus @RBKingston @ollywehring @London_Cycling @UM_Streets It's an incredibly short view of consultation. But there's one missing element: political leadership. Politicians who point at 52% consultation results as a reason for inaction IMO really aren't doing a great thing for their constituents. If there's a scheme to be had, Cllrs...

@sarahjolney1 @friendsofkings1 @KingstonCycling @rogermerriman @HilaryGander @NKingstonFocus @RBKingston @ollywehring @London_Cycling @UM_Streets Should get out & show data as to why it's needed, engage with residents on policy & champion schemes. Listen *and* lead. Not just reflect whatever the loudest residents say onwards. That is visible in all the councils forging ahead on reducing emissions, active travel etc...

@sarahjolney1 @friendsofkings1 @KingstonCycling @rogermerriman @HilaryGander @NKingstonFocus @RBKingston @ollywehring @London_Cycling @UM_Streets Right, that's my rant over. Again, v happy to meet campaigners, ward Cllrs, MPs to discuss potential schemes. But IMO it starts with data on issue, resident perception survey & real political buy-in to *do something*. When those are in place (they may be already) come get me.