Council makes U-turn on LTN
RESIDENTS HELD PROTEST MARCH AGAINST ‘UNDEMOCRATIC’ LOW TRAFFIC SCHEME
EALING Council is the latest west London authority after Harrow to make a U-turn on the introduction of its Low Traffic Neighbourhood scheme (LTN), following a backlash from residents.
More than 2,000 people marched on Ealing’s town hall last month in protest at the traffic restrictions, forcing the council to rethink the move.
At the weekend Ealing Council heeded the calls of local residents and announced the end of a trial neighbourhood at West Ealing South.
It also promised to give residents “the final say” on future schemes.
Ealing Council confirmed that the scheme was being removed at Swyncombe Avenue, a key road linking Hounslow and Ealing, which was being closed for at least two months for roadworks.
A spokesperson for the campaign group One Ealing said the council had “divided our community by installing CCTV cameras, bollards and placing planters in an unsafe and undemocratic manner”.
“We are all for cleaner air, but not at the expense of the residents and schools on the main roads,” they added.
This is the latest in a number of ongoing battles over road closures agreed by town halls since the start of the pandemic under the Government’s
£250 million emergency active travel fund.
Harrow Council recently announced the removal of its TfL ‘Streetspace’ cycle lanes, which were set up during lockdown.
Residents in boroughs with the scheme have become increasingly alarmed at traffic and congestion being forced onto neighbouring roads.
Many claim it has also made access to residential streets more difficult and has been a cause of major disruption.
Ealing councillor Deirdre Costigan said: “Implementing active travel initiatives without community support is unsustainable – we can’t do this without the support of local people.” Residents are also warning drivers about “cash cow” traffic cameras set up to police the schemes and some being poorly signposted.
Drivers have paid 250,000 fines totalling £14 million for driving into the cycle-friendly LTNs in just 10 of London’s 32 boroughs, according to figures obtained under a Freedom of Information request.
Croydon residents, in Parsons Mead, held a protest last weekend calling on the local council to scrap its new traffic restrictions, saying signs were unclear.
Local resident Shakeel Yousaf, who uses the road to drive to his mosque, successfully appealed after receiving 13 fines, one of which was issued on Christmas Eve.
The scheme continues to be controversial with many councils encouraging residents to give feedback on the schemes in their areas following a six-month trial period.