Dear Supporters, It worked! We did it! Pinstone Street will remain bus and car free with space for walking and cycling! In the week of COP26 I'm delighted to be sharing some good news. I've just found out after a long conversation at the COP26 Regional Roadshow with Cllr Douglas Johnson, Green Group in Sheffield Council and Executive Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport (what a title!) So, the reason no trumpets or fanfares was explained to me by Douglas (to get my own back I told him how primary care organisation works in Sheffield and other cities- I'm amazed the poor guy didn't run away!) Douglas described the Pinstone Road closure as a test case in how the council can work better across the political parties and allow for a change in opinion with emerging evidence . He thought the letter played a key role and helped him and those in favour of keeping the space for walking and cycling. He described to me how in the meetings going back to July Labour and Lib Dem councillors had initially wanted the road re-openned to traffic. But, with due process & hearing from different organisations the case became increasingly weak & the wider implications of the reversal apparent. (These include not only the obvious effects such as on air quality, but also further funding such as for the Connecting Sheffield project https://connectingsheffield.commonplace.is/ ) At the final decision meeting at the end of October a transcript was read that I had written at the start of the meeting, I quoted some of the useful comments you had made (Thank you Ally, Claire Gail & Ollie!) Douglas was able to use this content in support of keeping Pinstone Street closed. So it worked! Douglas thanked me and I would like to thank you all for your contribution, there's nearly 1,000 of us now- which is fantastic. I never dreamed there would be so much support. This is the first time I have got involved in local government decision making in this way and my first petition. This week I also gave my first radio interview on active travel to Howard Pressman at drive time (ha!) https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p09yswcj at 15.14, immediately after I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For by U2 (quite apt!) I would encourage other campaigners to give it a try, it seems to be effective and we have receptive councillors willing to listen. A winning combination! Well done us!