Cycle-friendly ‘green’ roads risk chaos on school run

THE school run may descend into chaos as road closures and new cycle lanes introduced as part of Grant Shapps’s green transport revolution risk causing gridlock across the country, campaigners have warned.

Motoring organisations fear traffic congestion in towns and cities could spiral out of control this week as parents shun public transport to drive children to school amid concerns about the spread of coronavirus.

The start of the autumn term is coinciding with many people preparing to go back to work in what is expected to create a “perfect storm” on the roads.

Both the AA and the RAC have said new road layouts created as part of the Department of Transport’s £250million scheme to promote a “new era for cycling and walking” may cause motoring weeks.

Several areas have seen the vandalisation of newly installed “modal filters” – planters and bollards which are fitted to restrict access to roads.

In Ealing, west London, planters bearing “road closed” signs on a residential street were ripped up from the concrete and toppled over. Another was daubed with the slogan “abuse of power”.

A government source hinted that ministers had become concerned that some new road layouts or closures had been carried out in haste by some councils.

“Temporary Covid-secure wider pavements and other active travel measures were brought in to ease pressure on public transport at the height of the pandemic, but in some cases this seems to have gone to the heads of local councils,” he said.

“Where these measures are excessive, in terms of impeding the emergency services or unnecessarily stifling car access to high streets, they will be reined in.”

Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, warned that public anger about the policy could reach a peak as parents embark on the school run.

“Discontent with closed roads and narrowed streets has been bubbling away for some weeks, but is now in danger of boiling over,” he said.

“There has been an ongoing backlash from residents, businesses, taxis and traders, but while councils have introduced restrictions with the best of intentions, the lack of consultation has been very poor. We understand why councils wanted to increase space coming out of lockdown to allow social distancing, but now we appear to have reached the point where that is becoming impractical as schools and workers try to return to normality.”

He added that the use of cameras to impose fines on those breaching new traffic restrictions “has raised temperatures” and made residents and businesses “less tolerant of what councils are trying to achieve”.

A recent survey by the AA showed that a fifth of parents would stop their children taking public transport to schools because of coronavirus fears. The AA fears that traffic could rise on roads by at least 10 per cent.

Nicholas Lyes, RAC’s head of roads policy, said: “While low traffic neighbourhoods are well intentioned, the speed of implementation and lack of local consultation has meant residents were not informed of changes and weren’t able to advise local authorities of any unintended consequences those particular schemes might bring.

“The irony is that schemes that were originally designed to reduce traffic might end up increasing congestion if badly thought out. The real litmus test will come when some form of morning rush hour returns, which could be as early as this coming week when schools fully reopen.

“Councils should be monitoring schemes closely and should be prepared to make change if gridlock ensues. It should also be remembered that the reality for many people is that there is no real alternative to using their cars for certain journeys.”

Petitions have been set up opposing local authorities that are accused of rushing through changes under the emergency powers without any consultation.

Some business people complained that motorists had been effectively banished from some high streets, making it difficult to kick-start the economy after lockdown.

A Government spokesman said: “Making sure all children are back in the classroom full-time in September is a national priority as this is the best place for their education, development and well-being.

“Dedicated home-to-school transport will play an important role in making that happen, which is why we are providing more than £40million to help local authorities create extra capacity outside the public transport network.”