Southwark (Parliament Politics Magazine) – An open letter from over a dozen campaign groups demands new laws to prevent Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) without community consent.
The collaborative effort amongst 15 anti-LTN campaign groups, including Greenwich, Islington, and Lambeth, has been led by Richard Aldwinckle, an advocate of One Dulwich (a group of residents and traders in Dulwich Village who are opposed to the closure of Dulwich Village Junction) in order to combat “badly designed and socially unjust LTNs”, Issy Clarke stated.
A number of community organizations demanded rules requiring councils to get community agreement before implementing new traffic management plans in an open letter that was published in The Times on January 14.
Using road signs and barriers, LTNs seek to limit traffic flow in residential zones.
The letter continued:
“Our experience is that local authorities often impose schemes that do not have the backing of local people, and in many cases after public consultations showing that two thirds or more of respondents wanted them removed. This has eroded trust in local government.”
To guarantee that groups with protected characteristics, like the disabled, are not harmed by LTNs, the activists encouraged Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander to enact stricter rules.
How are the local authorities ignoring community opposition to LTNs?
Although local authorities are legally required to consult communities before implementing a Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN), plans can still move forward without public consent.
Residents in a number of places where LTNs have been implemented have claimed that the council disregarded strong local resistance highlighted during the consultation as a result.
Since the council designated the Dulwich Village intersection as an LTN in June 2020, it has been a contentious location. The News reported last year that Southwark Council had collected £26 million in fines from the area’s traffic cameras.
The LTN has been hailed by some for promoting the use of healthier modes of transportation and improving pedestrian safety, especially for kids.
On the other hand, some locals claim it has made life miserable for the elderly. The LTN has quadrupled the distance to their doctors and increased social isolation, according to older adults who depend on cars.
One Dulwich has previously claimed that the council’s LTN programs have not succeeded in promoting environmentally friendly transportation, citing official statistics that indicate very modest growth in walking and bicycling.
What are the main concerns of the local residents against LTN?
Citing “serious legal errors” in Lambeth Council’s approach, the Rosendale Road Central Residents Association vowed to sue the council over the West Dulwich LTN. The council would also face legal action from the West Dulwich Action Group in the High Court.
Sixty-seven percent of those surveyed expressed concern with the proposed LTN on Idmiston Road. According to Val Davison of the West Dulwich Action Group, the council doesn’t interact with locals or consider different approaches.
LTNs’ opponents contend that they increase pollution and the likelihood of accidents by forcing traffic onto already congested boundary roads, particularly close to schools and nurseries.