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I pronounce debate on school run open
• AS Chair of the council’s School Travel Consultation Steering Group, I have been reading your coverage of the School Run debate (School Run Row, Feb 15) with interest.
I know at first hand that this issue arouses very strong feelings, but we mustn’t lose sight of the considerable areas of agreement. Everyone involved in the debate agrees that we want to reduce car-use on the school run.
Reducing car-use is good for the planet, good for the local environment and good for children. We also all agree that we want children to be able to travel safely to and from school.
The area of disagreement is about the best way of achieving those two goals.
In 2002 the previous Labour administration approved a policy of gradual reduction of parking permits allowing parents on the school run to park near schools.
I strongly support the new administration’s decision to conduct a review of that policy to see how far it has taken us in achieving the goals that we are all agreed on, and to consider how the council should move forward in the future.
The School Travel Consultation Steering Group has already had the opportunity to discuss the issues and consider some of the evidence. I was very pleased with the passionate but constructive way in which representatives of residents, parents, schools and nurseries have engaged in that debate.
The council is now about to launch a consultation process, opening up the debate to all Camden residents. I know that residents hate consultations that are simply rubber-stamping exercises for decisions that have already been taken behind closed doors.
Camden has seen too much of that in the past. The new administration is genuinely committed to listening to what residents have to say. Liberal Democrats, in particular, are suspicious of top-down solutions imposed from on high. We believe that if you listen to what residents are saying you actually get better decisions.
So I would strongly encourage all those who care about school travel: children, parents, schools, nurseries and residents to take part in the consultation and work with the council to achieve the best outcome for our children and our planet.
CLLR DAVID ABRAHAMS
Chair of the School Travel Consultation Steering Group
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