Express & Echo (City & East Devon Edition)
City LTN opponents hopeful as northern scheme is scrapped
RESIDENTS opposed to Exeter’s low-traffic neighbourhood (LTN) trial say they are ‘living in hope’ after it was announced a similar scheme in Newcastle would be scrapped.
Last week, Newcastle City Council announced LTN restrictions, which were intended to prevent drivers using residential streets as cutthroughs, would be lifted when the trial period expires on April 23.
It’s reported that local opinion on the measures had been “evenly split” but officials concluded it had resulted in too many vehicles rerouting to other residential areas and back lanes.
Traffic data from the north eastern city found that more than 700 vehicles per day were using back lanes during the trial, the local authority said. It also said there was “no data to suggest there had been a significant shift to walking and cycling during the trial”.
The news rapidly travelled to Exeter,
where the Heavitree & Whipton Active Streets Trial has become a contentious issue. With the closing date for the statutory consultation period fast approaching next month, opponents say the axing of Newcastle’s LTN scheme has given them optimism.
Ian Frankum, who has been a vocal member of the Stop the Block protest group, said: “Labour MP Ben Bradshaw, his successor (as Labour candidate in the next general election) Steve Race and the current crop of candidates for the upcoming May 2 elections have a pretty stock answer to enquiries about the LTN trial and that is to complete the official consultation which closes May 8.
“I hope this feedback, when released, is acted upon alongside the data of course, which early indications show success measures are failing. The latest guidance from the Department of Transport puts great store in consultation, consensus and the will of the community, something many of us feel was flawed; we live in hope.”
The Heavitree and
Whipton scheme came close to facing the axe earlier this year, when a report submitted to Devon County Council suggested it was only performing well in two out of its 10 targets. It said conditions for walking and cycling had improved inside the trial area but that traffic had increased on some boundary roads. It also said the results were so far inconclusive on other measures.
While some councillors called for an end to the scheme, others raised concerns that the data was too limited to make the “massive” decision.
The Exeter highways and traffic orders committee concluded that more information was needed and allowed the trial to continue.
Supporters of the LTN welcomed that decision, saying it has achieved its aims of making residential streets safer and quieter. Some of them acted as ‘human bollards’ in February as they stood in the bus gate on Ladysmith Road, calling for it to be better policed. They said some drivers had been flouting the rules and passing through the bus gate, which is only meant to be used by buses, emergency vehicles and taxis.
One mum at the protest said: “You can’t trial a scheme effectively unless it’s actually being followed. It’s all very well traffic monitoring but if there’s 50 cars driving through the gate an hour then you don’t really know what impact the scheme is having.”
Following the protest, Devon County Council and Devon & Cornwall Police announced they would be cracking down on LTN rulebreakers, following “unacceptable” behaviour by some drivers.