A CAR-free day will not take place in Winchester this year as it could cause 'congestion and confusion', say the city council.

Cllr Malcolm Wallace, who represents the Green Party, asked Winchester City Council what its plans were for International Car Free Day on September 22.

Cllr Kelsie Learney, cabinet member for climate emergency, said that having it as a one off would cause unnecessary congestion in the city centre.

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Cllr Learney said: “The council is, jointly with the county council, working hard to get the infrastructure needed to reduce traffic in place via the Winchester Movement Strategy, the so-called Mini-Holland programme and the district local walking and cycling infrastructure plan.

“I have carefully considered International Car Free Day and how we might use it to help us achieve our goals of reducing motor traffic and encouraging active travel.

“As a one-off day in the working week, the danger of any meaningful road closures is that we create congestion, confusion and cause public transport delays – reinforcing the convenience of the car and reducing support and resource for the longer term initiatives that will give people the low traffic experience we want to see throughout the district.”

In 2019, the city council used International Car Free Day as an opportunity to encourage people to use alternative forms of transport.

This included promoting the use of the city's park and ride services. It was n support of the local authority's drive to becoming a zero carbon district by 2030.

 

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