10.05.10: Hackney Green Hustings: Additional questions and *video*

You can view a video of our hustings on the Hackney Voice website.

We had some additional questions from the hustings. All the panellists have now answered the questions, which are shown below. The panel was:

• Diane Abbott (DA) (Labour)
• Keith Angus (KA) (Liberal Democrat)
• Darren Caplan (DC) (Conservative)
• Matt Sellwood (MS) (Green)

1. If elected, what would you do to bring down the number of cyclists who die on London roads every year?

DA: Far too many cyclists die because of collisions with heavy goods vehicles, here in Hackney as well as in central London. I signed a motion supporting a ban on HGVs entering central London during rush hour, something which I believe will help cut accidents dramatically. We also need to make Hackney a safer place for cyclists. We can do this by providing more cycle lanes and education to both cyclists and drivers. The Labour council is addressing this by offering advice to drivers and one to one tuition for cyclists.

KA: The answer lies in a combination of solutions, including making cycling much easier and safer by supporting permeability and returning Hackney's streets to two-way cycling traffic. Training is also part of the solution - not just for cyclists but also other vehicles, which is why Hackney Lib Dems want to introduce a code of practice for businesses operating HGV's in Hackney. We also want to get a 20mph speed limit in place in the borough - this will be a key factor in cutting cycling accidents on the road [the Lib Dem's have a specific cycling manifesto].

DC: On 18 December 2009, London Mayor Boris Johnson said: "Cycling in 2010 will see a revolution - 6,000 hire bikes in central London, with the first 30 minutes free... You'll also see a safety blitz and the first cycling superhighways unveiled proposed routes for the first two of London's twelve Cycle Superhighways - the corridors for cyclists that are a key part of his policy to stimulate a cycling revolution in the capital. The two pilot routes, which will be up and running by summer 2010, are from South Wimbledon to Bank via the A24 and A3, and Barking to Tower Hill via the A13 and Cable Street."

The Mayor and TfL have been consulting closely with the eight boroughs that the routes will run through. The aim of the Cycle Superhighways is to provide safe, direct and continuous routes into central London from the outer boroughs, making life easier for cyclists and encouraging those who travel into work by other modes of transport to commute by bike, helping to cut congestion, relieve overcrowding, and cutting emissions. Another ten routes, spanning across London and greatly improving the capital's cycling infrastructure, are being developed ahead of 2012, with each route covering between 10 and 15km.

The Mayor said: "... these Superhighways are central to the cycling revolution I'm determined to bring about [and] should transform the experience of cycling - boosting safety and confidence of everyone using the routes and reinforcing my view that the bike is the best way to travel in this wonderful city of ours."

MS: Cycle safety is a vitally important part of securing a 'modal shift' towards sustainable transport, and is part of our integerated package of transport measures.

You can view our local, Hackney responses on all aspects of cycling policy here: http://hackney.greenparty.org.uk/localsites/hackney/news/hackney-greens-respond-to-hackney-cyclists-local-election-manifesto.html

And you can also read about the work that the Green Party's London Assembly Members have been doing on transport issues here: http://london.greenparty.org.uk/achievements_transport

2. There are 5 million people homeless in the UK, what are you and your party going to do to ensure there's enough decent affordable housing for the people of Hackney, without destroying our green public spaces?

DA: Firstly we need to prioritise getting families on the housing list into empty properties in the borough. Hackney Homes have come some way in addressing this but more could still be done. Secondly, we need to make sure we are building the right kind of housing. Many of the new developments in Hackney have been one and two bedroom properties which are not suitable for families who are stuck on the housing list. I will push for new homes that address the needs of those who are in desperate need.

KA: In relation to affordable housing, one of the main answers lies in bringing the number of empty homes in the borough back into use and up to scratch for people to live in them. This needs investment in them which in turn brings investment in jobs for those doing the work, and investment in environmentally sound homes as part of the process. There's no need to encroach on precious green space in Hackney to tackle housing problems. I have to say, social and affordable housing in Hackney is not in a good state and much more needs to be done to tackle this as it's not just about bringing empty properties back into use.

DC: The Conservatives have recently set out policies to "to give the [London] Mayor greater freedom on how he funds his priorities, [meaning] he has greater flexibility to respond to the needs of Londoners and to improve further the key services for which he has responsibility, like the provision of new affordable housing" - see page 7, http://www.conservatives.com/News/News_stories/2010/04/More_powers_to_the_Mayor_of_London.aspx.

The Mayor has delivered 20,000 affordable homes, despite the worst economic conditions for a generation, and with 37 per cent of the social rented homes having three or more bedrooms, the highest proportion this decade. The Mayor has a forward target of delivering more homes to rent and to buy, particularly affordable and family-sized homes with a target of 50,000 new affordable homes by the 2012 Games, the most affordable homes delivered by any Mayor in a single term.

Hackney will of course also benefit from the delivery of this ambitious target. The Mayor chairs the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) London Board, and has designated Hackney one of three pilot boroughs looking at what steps would be needed to create a London-wide delegated delivery programme. All three pilot boroughs (the other boroughs are Croydon and Westminster) will potentially be offered the opportunity to negotiate a delegated contract for the 2011 investment round.

The Mayor said in November 2009: "By giving boroughs greater autonomy and responsibility over how housing investment in their area, in return for solid commitments on delivery, we should not only see an increase in the number of homes being built but that the right sorts of homes are created, in the areas where they are needed most."

MS: I think that the 5 million figure is for people on the waiting lists for social housing, rather than people who are homeless. Nonetheless it is a shocking state of affairs! We believe that there is enormous scope for renovation and reclamation of empty properties - in Hackney alone there are over 2,000 empty residential properties, and nationally it is over 750,000. We would invest £4 billion a year into a programme of reclaiming empty properties for council housing, as well as constructing new-build social housing under local authority control. We would also introduce the 'Right to Rent', under which anyone whose home is repossessed can apply for their house to be bought by their council, and used as council housing without them having to move out - thus reducing homelessness and increasing social housing stocks.

3. The global meat and dairy industry accounts for 18% of global GHG emission, and is a major driver of forest loss in South America. Do you agree that the UK Government hsa a responsibility to reduce our contribution to this impact? And if so, would you support a new law to reduce the environmental impacts of meat and dairy production by helping Friends of the Earth support a Bill through parliament?

DA: I have pledged my support to encouraging sustainable farming practices. Should I be elected, ending our dependence on soy feed is something I would surely vote for. I have supported many Friends of the Earth campaigns in the past, and I would be willing to support more in the future.

KA: I agree that the UK government absolutely has a responsibility to tackle this and yes, if elected as Member of Parliament I would support a new law in parliament to reduce the environmental impacts of meat and dairy production.

DC: No position on this issue.

MS: Yes and yes! :)

4. Will you support the 'light later' campaign? The campaign is about switching to British Summer Time in winder and British Summer Time +1 in summer, and would lead to huge carbon emissions savings and cuts in road traffic deaths.

DA: I can certainly see the benefits of this campaign. Analysts have claimed an extra hour's daylight could be worth £3.5 billion a year to the economy, with 80,000 new jobs created because attractions would be able to stay open later. However, I think we would need to look into the impact on the farming industry, for example before we agree this. I certainly think it's an interesting idea though.

KA: In relation to the lightlater campaign, yes, I support it - for exactly the reasons outlined in the question.

DC: No position on this issue.

MS: The Green Party supports extending British Summertime, so that it applies from mid-February until mid-November. Further details can be found here: http://wales.greenparty.org.uk/region/easternregion/news/keep-summer-time-longer-says-green-mep-candidate.html