Dear Robert Moran

In my view there is one big omission: apart from the "more safer routes to school" target in the local business section, there is no reference to cutting traffic danger. This is a serious omission, given the national government's target to cut by 40% the number of people killed or seriously injured in road accidents by 2010 (Tomorrow's Roads: Safer for Everyone, DETR, 2000). The Mayor of London has set very similar targets. (The Mayor's Transport Strategy, 2001).

I would like to see additional target actions under the safe and green heading, for example: cut by 40% the number of people killed or seriously injured on Merton's roads by 2010. This I suggest would be achieved by introducing homezones to residential areas, and 20mph zones in shopping centres and outside schools for instance.

Generally, our streets must be made safer and more attractive - they are an important part of people's lives and should be developed as social spaces where communities can interact. This philosophy of "streets-for-people" is well developed in chapter 4G of the Mayor's Transport Strategy, where the Mayor expresses a desire to work with the boroughs to develop the concept. I strongly recommend that you introduce the above themes into the Merton Community Plan. Safer and more liveable streets will be key to achieving many of the other targets of the plan (e.g. graffiti, vandalism, disorder, burglary, community involvement, neighbourhood networks, cutting car use, etc.)

Lastly: Issue number 11, we support reducing traffic congestion, and would point out that improving public transport is not the only route to achieve this. Therefore we suggest that you add to the heading: "improve conditions for walking and cycling". There should be an associated target. The National Cycling Strategy aims to increase the use of bicycles for all types of journey and has a target to quadruple the number of trips made by bicycle by 2012 on 1996 levels. In line with this, could we suggest a target in the Merton community plan of 10% of all trips in Merton to be made by bike by 2010.

Yours sincerely

Richard Evans