Ask 4: People-friendly high streets to boost local business

Many high streets are struggling, due to many reasons including online shopping and the economic impacts from Covid-19. Making high streets pedestrian-friendly has been shown to revitalise them as people walking and cycling spend more money at local retailers. A welcoming shopping experience also keeps people on the high street longer.

Our Ask

We want Southwark to prioritise making its high streets people focused where people feel safe and relaxed when they shop. This means:

  • Wider, high quality pavements, greenery, seating and plazas to create more space for people with improved accessibility
  • More pedestrian crossings in the places that people want to cross
  • Easy access by bike and plenty of cycle parking, including ‘blue badge’ and cargo bike parking spaces

Read about Ask 5: A community safe from road danger and traffic harm