‘Culture war’ breaks out as road closures provoke fury

ROAD closures imposed as a result of the pandemic are creating a “culture war”, it has been claimed, as Islington council in London has said motorists protesting the plans are “affluent people polluting working-class communities”.

Under emergency coronavirus laws, local authorities have been given extra powers to close roads, create pop-up cycle lanes and widen pavements without running consultations as part of a £250million government fund to create low-traffic neighbourhoods.

The initiative is facing growing resistance from residents across England who believe it has led to increased congestion and pollution – with hundreds taking to the streets in Islington, Crystal Palace, Oxfordshire and Cambridgeshire.

Protesters in Jeremy Corbyn’s constituency of Islington North have staged demonstrations in opposition to the council’s plans to turn one third of its roads into “people-friendly streets” by the end of the year.

The Islington demonstrations have been attended by Loose Women’s Linda Robson and the actress Su Pollard.

At one rally, Pollard – best known for her role in Bafta-winning sitcom Hi-dehi! – urged the council to think again.

“A lot of the side streets that we need, without telling us, the council sadly have made a decision to close all these off, so therefore we have to go miles around now,” she said. “And what do you do if you need an ambulance for people who aren’t well?”

Richard Watts, the leader of Islington council, hit back at suggestions the road closure plans were “anti-working class”, writing on Twitter: “Car ownership in inner London is linked to income. The richer you are, the more likely you are to own a car. The truth is

‘We have to go miles around now. And what do you do if you need an ambulance for people who aren’t well?’

we’re stopping affluent people polluting working-class communities.”

Eliska Finlay, who lives in Crystal Palace, claimed the changes have led to a “culture war”. “People are being singled out and targeted for having cars.”

In Cambridgeshire, more than 1,500 people signed a petition urging the council to scrap a road closure, while campaigners in Oxford are at loggerheads with the local authority over proposed temporary “bus gates” in the city centre.