NRP’s Director and Traffic Engineering Service Lead, Keith Firth recently appeared as a guest on BBC Radio 4’s “Rethink” programme. The episode, titled “Rethink City Streets,” is now available to listen to on BBC Radio Sounds.
Presented by Ben Ansell, the programme examined a question that matters to everyone who lives in or moves through our towns and cities… who are our streets really for? The panel discussed how the design of streets and public spaces is changing, with a growing emphasis on inclusivity, well-being and the more effective management of essential traffic.
During the episode, Keith spotlighted the award-winning Strand-Aldwych scheme in the City of Westminster (working with Westminster City Council, FM Conway, LDA) which stands as a leading example of how our streets can be redesigned to give pedestrians priority over vehicles, creating spaces where people can meet, rest, and move freely. Rather than treating streets purely as routes for getting from one place to another, the scheme demonstrates how they can become destinations in their own right.
Keith also addressed one of the programme’s more debated ideas: the possibility of replacing traditional traffic signals with softer forms of traffic management. This approach encourages drivers to pay closer attention to their surroundings, with the aim of improving safety for pedestrians while easing congestion. As the discussion made clear, such changes raise important questions about how confident all road users would feel navigating streets without familiar signals.
The episode brought together a range of voices on the subject. Contributors included campaigner Martin Cassini, who argues for removing traffic lights altogether, and Sohanna Srinivasan, Head of Urban Planning Design at North Hertfordshire Council, who set out her vision for building space for people into our neighbourhoods. Dutch author Marco te Brömmelstroet offered a further perspective, suggesting that we need to rethink the language we use when we talk about cities.
Keith’s contribution reflects NRP’s ongoing commitment to designing healthy, inclusive streets and places that serve our communities to the highest standard.
Presenter: Ben Ansell
Producer: Phoebe Keane
Editor: Damon Rose
Listen to “Rethink City Streets” now on BBC Radio Sounds here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002xp70
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