Leonie Cooper, Assembly Member for Merton and Wandsworth

Leonie Cooper, Assembly Member for Merton and Wandsworth gave an update on her work. Leonie said she is happy to attend local meetings on Zoom and can be contacted by email.

City Hall is usually buzzing and active but most members and staff have been working from home since 19 March. Chairs of committees still need to attend City Hall but most others connect from home. The economy in London has a huge issues, for individuals and businesses, and the Economy Committee investigation into the high street has continued. On Housing Committee members are looking at what happens to homeless who were housed as an emergency measure. The Environment committee also looking at impacts from pandemic.

A resident asked about the cycle lane on CS7. Leonie responded that Department for Transport funding was offered to councils to quickly change spaces to encourage walking and cycling, and make social distancing easier. This included introducing wands on the cycle lane along the A24 from Balham to Morden, and through Colliers Wood, in order to create a safe segregated space for cycling. The changes have been implemented to allow for increased walking and cycling, which people are choosing due to COVID, but to allow this, the changes were required due to a history of accidents on this road. More walking and cycling also helps improve air quality, which is a good thing, as poor air quality has been associated with more serious COVID illness. This is an 18 month trial and Transport for London welcomes views on the scheme and residents can email as well. Leonie has received comments supporting the scheme, some would like to see an extension of the segragation, and others feel the changes are awful. Leonie is in contact with Will Norman and Heidi Alexander to raise concerns on behalf. Changes have been made to address serious injuries and air quality. A lot of parking has been removed, London Fire Brigade and Met Police have said there is no impact on response times. More adjustments to bus stops will be made to make it easier for passengers, especially those with visual impairment.

A resident asked about the Mayor of London’s view on changes to parking provision. Leonie said the Mayor has been consulting on changes to the 5% of roads under TfL. The Mayor has been offering schools money to install green walls, and is encouraging boroughs to address air quality. TfL is also addressing polluting buses. Cleaning up London’s air has become even more important to help prevent serious illness from COVID. We also need Londoners to improve their cars. The Ultra-Low Emission Zone expansion will expand to South Circular in 2021, and this will help across London as owners change their cars. Also all new taxis need to be electric. There are no plans to expand the ULEZ beyond the South Circular but this will need to be reviewed over time.

Cllr Gretton asked about Uber drivers not being supported by the Mayor of London. Leonie said TfL have engaged Uber and other similar companies but Uber have not behaved as well as others. The main issue was with passenger safety. Leonie also explained that the extension to congestion-charge was a condition of the central government financial support to TfL. That agreement also included ending Zip card for under 18s. London politicians across all parties are working together to keep the concession.