A Cumbrian MP has spoken in favour of ’15-minute city’ plans that have sparked debates among politicians.

The idea of a 15-minute city is to make it so people are no more than 15 minutes away, by foot or bicycle, from essential amenities including work, shopping, education, health, and leisure, from any point in the city.

Late last year, a plan by Oxford council came in to restrict travel on six roads during certain times of the day to reduce congestion, popularising debate on the concepts.

The concept can be seen worldwide in major cities like Bogota in Colombia, Paris in France, and Lagos in Nigeria.

Proponents of the idea say it will reduce car dependency, promote healthy and sustainable living, and improve the quality of life for city dwellers.

However, critics of the idea say it will be economically damaging.

Some say the creation of 15-minute cities, which will be dense, walkable cores, often leads to gentrification and displacement, and associated price increases as a result may affect marginalised people and cause people to move out.

The debate hit parliament as MP for Don Valley, Nick Fletcher, called for a debate on the “international socialist concept of so-called 15-minute cities and 20-minute neighbourhoods".

He said: "Ultra-low emissions zones in their present form do untold economic damage to any city, however, the second step after these zones will take away personal freedoms as well.”

However, Conservative colleague and Penrith and the Border MP, Neil Hudson, is supportive of the idea as his constituency is one of the most rural in the country.

Dr Hudson said: “In my constituency, we are just on the edge of the city of Carlisle but the major geography for us is there are scores of rural villages and towns across a vast but sparsely populated area.  

“And indeed, the question of 15-minute cities goes straight to the heart of core issues I’ve been campaigning on in Westminster. 

"With significant connectivity challenges, both physical and digital, facing our rural communities, many people depend heavily on local services such as post offices, banks and community hospitals, and while a 15-minute walk to key amenities still remains unachievable for many Cumbrian villages, I have worked hard to retain public and local services to keep our rural communities alive, and boost transport and digital links to stave off rural isolation and get people connected. 

"Last year alone I helped secure Cumbria's £100million broadband rollout scheme, crucial funding to rebuild schools in Alston and Penrith, helped progress the £1billion A66 upgrade, a school bus and bursary scheme to get rural youngsters to school, a community pub in Bampton and many more local wins. 

“Rural communities like ours here in Cumbria have great potential that we must unlock through better connectivity and bolstered local and public services."