Local ambitions for liveable cities in UK grow, amid central government pivot on green promises

Conservative Party campaigner Tristan Honeyborne said it is inconsistent with the objective of a “15-minute city”.

“Public transport has to be a part of the solution, we need more electric buses, better train services and we do need changes to make our roads safer for cyclists,” he said.

The current transport secretary recently stripped central government funding for future schemes aimed at creating car-free zones.

The move aims to avoid punishing motorists, and instead offer more incentives for people to not drive.

The £250 million worth of funding will instead be diverted to develop more cycling networks.

Some argue that the pilot scheme should only be the beginning of a larger movement, with much bigger plans needed to make neighbourhoods truly more liveable.