Traffic-calming barriers have fire crews fuming at record delays
Emergency call-outs held up more than 3,000 times as critics round on LTN schemes across London
LOW traffic neighbourhoods contributed to more than 3,000 delays to fire engines on emergency calls in London last year, the highest on record.
London Fire Brigade data show firefighters experienced slowed response times 3,035 times – equivalent to 253 each month – due to “traffic-calming” measures. That is a rise of 42 per cent on 2020, when there were 2,145 delays.
In 2021, roughly one in five delays to fire engine callouts was due to traffic calming measures – the second most frequent reason for slowed responses, behind congestion and roadworks, which were responsible for 7,433 delays.
Traffic calming measures were also more frequent than delays caused by incomplete or wrong addresses, which accounted for 1,739 delays in 2021.
In May 2020, Grant Shapps, the
Transport Secretary, provided councils with funding for slow traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) in an attempt to promote walking and cycling post-pandemic.
However, critics claim closing roads to through traffic simply shifts congestion on to main roads creating more gridlock and pollution.
There are numerous examples of police, fire and ambulances logging delays to 999 calls due to locked bollards and planters used in LTNs.
Videos posted online also show emergency vehicles making U-turns and officers grappling with locks on bollards to try to get past.
However, cyclist lobby groups claim LTNs make the roads safer for both pedestrians and cyclists.
While the fire brigade data cites ‘‘traffic calming’’ as the cause of the delays, that description may also include schemes other than LTNs, such as speed bumps, 20mph zones, rumble strips and narrowing chicanes.
Overall, traffic calming affected 2 per cent of the 158,972 callouts in 2021.
Fire engines in Hackney saw the most delays due to traffic calming measures, with 168 in 2021 – a 66 per cent rise. Lambeth’s delays jumped from 83 in 2020 to 160 in 2021; in Enfield it went from 102 to 158.
Bexley, Merton and Sutton saw the fewest delays, with 27, 35 and 43 respectively.
Ruth Parkinson, a Hackney resident opposed to the rollout of LTNs, said: “Since the introduction of the LTNs we’ve all seen ambulances and fire services being delayed. We’ve videoed it and uploaded it onto social media. But we have been ignored and even called liars. This has endangered lives and it has to stop. “
A London Fire Brigade spokesman said: “If we have any concerns that any changes may impact our response times, we will work with the local authority to find the best solution.”
A Department for Transport spokeswoman said: “Well-designed traffic calming schemes need not cause congestion. The detailed design of these schemes is a matter for local authorities.”