King's Speech outlines transport priorities – comment

King Charles III has outlined the new government's plans at the State Opening of Parliament today (17 July, 2024). 

Within the transport priorities were plans to bring train operators into public ownership; give more transport powers to regional mayors; and to support ‘greener flying’, while planning priorities included speeding up the delivery of new housing developments.

Ruth Billingham, Head of Campaigns and Public Affairs at Living Streets – the UK charity for everyday walking comments:

“It is good to see transport firmly on the new government’s agenda and we look forward to continuing our work with regional mayors and local authorities to support people to make healthier and cleaner transport choices.

“Rather than focussing on attempts to make flying ‘greener’, we need to make it easier for people to choose the mode of transport that is already the greenest there is – walking. National action on pavement parking, alongside innovative approaches such as side road zebras, would support local leaders with their targets to enable people to walk and wheel more.

“Thousands of people responded to the previous government’s consultation on pavement parking to detail the danger it poses to them. A quick win for the new government would be to publish the findings and take action to put an end to pavement parking.

“Speeding up the development of new housing must not mean walking provision is forgotten in haste. Car dependent developments would undermine the government’s mission to create safer streets and improve the nation’s health.”