LTNS cause 264 delays for ambulance service

LOW-TRAFFIC neighbourhoods (LTNS) caused one ambulance service more than 260 delays in three years, a review has found.

A report ordered by Rishi Sunak last summer and published yesterday found active travel schemes have posed “significant challenges” to medical crews and police.

The Prime Minister ordered the Department for Transport (Dft)to investigate the impact of LTNS following complaints from paramedics that their response to emergencies was being thwarted by road closures.

It came as Mark Harper, the Transport Secretary, published new draft guidance stating residents affected by LTNS and cycle lanes must be properly

‘The implementation of schemes initially posed significant challenges for the service’

consulted and all projects kept under constant review.

A 79-page report published by the DFT yesterday found people in Birmingham, London, Wigan and York were more supportive of LTNS (45 per cent) than opposed to them (21 per cent), but identified a range of concerns.

One ambulance service which requested to remain anonymous experienced 264 delays in ambulance arrivals and hospital transfers because of LTNS between July 2020 and September 2023.

The report said: “The implementation of schemes initially posed significant challenges for the service – hasty introduction and minimal engagement resulted in ambulance delays, crews getting stuck, negative press, and a considerable reported increase in workload.” Mr Harper used an interview yesterday morning to suggest councils that ignore concerns over LTNS could face funding cuts.