More traffic but no travel funds for us?
The subject of low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNS) is a relatively new one. Communities like Twerton and Southdown need time to
assimilate this topic and the issues involved.
It is a shame then, that council materials have not given residents a balanced presentation. A newsletter by councillors Crossley and Romero (Southdown) explains that the aim is to “reduce the dominance of vehicles in residential areas”. The same newsletter withholds the fact that LTNS can also increase traffic and pollution for main road communities. Instead, it signposts people to the council’s own Liveable Neighbourhoods brochure.
While many residents would warm to the idea of reducing traffic in local streets, I believe that they would have much sympathy for parents of children in the UK now exposed to higher pollution because they live on roads that border LTNS. Residents would take this point into consideration if alerted to it.
Another concern is the way that the related Active Travel Funding has been allocated. Although Twerton is the most deprived neighbourhood in B&NES, no money has found its way to walking and cycling projects in this area. Yet there are ways that walking routes in Twerton could be improved. For example, an alley at Connection Hill that Twerton residents use to walk into town or take children to Newbridge Infant School is dark and dangerous due to years of neglect and overgrown trees.
The layouts of Twerton and Southdown do not lend well to LTN schemes. However, LTNS introduced to Oldfield Park could result in a greater volume of traffic pass
ing through Twerton to access the Lower Bristol Road.
I do not dismiss the idea that some LTNS may work well. But I resent my community being used to generate “positive” feedback to support the bringing in of LTNS, while missing out on relevant funding and perhaps facing negative consequences arising from such schemes. Transparent consultation and decency are needed, but I have yet to see these feature in the council’s approach.
Joe Scofield Southdown