The London Cycling Campaign have said that Hounslow Council need to do more to reduce car ownership in order to reach their net zero targets. 

The non-profit organisation have published their New Climate Safe Streets Borough Report which assesses how each of the London boroughs are doing on improving active travel and reducing car use. 

Out of the 32 boroughs, Hounslow ranked 9th for reducing car travel, well above the average rate for Outer London but not performing as well as comparable boroughs. 

Ealing ranked 25th out of 32 boroughs. Photo: London Cycling Campaign.

The report said: "Hounslow delivered strongly at the start of the pandemic, and their work on Cycleway 9 and elsewhere has been bold, facing sustained opposition from some.  

"The borough has then taken a pause to consolidate its plans and strategies, but now needs to start delivering again and rapidly on those plans and strategies if it wants to hit the stringent net zero targets it has set itself. 

"Around a third of households in the borough have no access to a car or van, with the town centres heading towards 40%.  

"Particularly the denser, eastern parts of this long, thin borough absolutely should be able to easily decarbonise far more rapidly and it's surprising how rapidly car ownership drops just a few hundred metres down the road in Hammersmith & Fulham.  

"So, while it is welcome to see a descending level of private motor vehicle mode share on the graph below, that line isn't moving down as fast as it could (based on other similar boroughs) or should (based on Hounslow and London's climate targets." 

Private car mode share in Hounslow. Photo: London Cycling Campaign.

Hounslow Council was also picked up for not having made substantive action on car parking, but overall had made progress in all areas even if greater haste was required to reach their lofty targets. 

Simon Munk, Head of Campaigns, London Cycling Campaign said: "London must not be a postcode lottery for climate action or safe cycling and walking. 

"We need a lot more boroughs delivering 'Climate Safe Streets' like Hackney and Waltham Forest and fewer, like Tower Hamlets and Bromley, failing to deliver as our new report shows. 

"Every London council and the Mayor must deliver more streets fit for cycling, walking and children playing, and faster, if we're to help London escape the grip of car dependency and the cost of living crisis. 

"Our new 'One Year On, One Year To Go' report highlights what needs to be done, for future generations, and to make London now a better city today."