Changes To Be Introduced To LTNs Following Interim Reviews

More cameras to be installed and trial may be extended on some schemes

More ANPR cameras to be installed affer emergency services feedback. Picture: Kim Newson

Ealing Council’s cabinet is due to consider a report into the operation of LTNs in the borough which is recommending that they all continue but that a number of changes are made to the way they operate. This is despite the report showing that 77.5% of feedback on the Commonplace system was negative.

The Experimental Traffic Orders (ETOs) under which the LTNs were set up require that an interim review is made. The report concludes that all the current schemes should be kept in place at least until the completion of the 6 month trial period.

In addition more bollards are to be replaced with ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) camera enforcement and an exemption will be made for disabled Blue Badge holders to access through camera-enforced points in an LTN they live in as well as for council-authorised vehicles transporting mobility impaired persons.

So far nine LTNs are operational in the borough with , with the remaining LTN delayed due to further discussion with TfL.

The interim assessment allows for the schemes to be reviewed in the light of feedback received and any available data collected. The council have undertaken the review with the support of an independent consultant who will also help collate the formal review into the schemes which will take place at a later date.

The report reveals that there have been around 3,250 emails with feedback and questions sent to the COVID transport inbox (a dedicated inbox set up for this purpose) and about 1,500 emails to the Traffic Notices inbox (the inbox for statutory responses to the ETO consultation).

It is stated that there has been strong support as well as strong opposition to the introduction of LTNs. The report shows that, of the 4,416 people commenting through the Commonplace system where an opinion was expressed either way on an LTN, 77.5% were against the schemes with just 22.5% in favour.

The COVID transport inbox received 668 emails from individuals of which 73.5% expressed opposition and the Traffic Notices inbox received 1,181 emails expressing a view either way, of which 69.2% were against the schemes.

Five out of the nine schemes are the subject of a legal challenge currently listed for hearing at the High Court in February 2021.

The report’s authors state, “As is usual with Public Consultations on traffic schemes where an element of behavioural change is required, the majority of comments were negative or opposed to the proposals. All comments will be considered as part of the assessment no matter which method they arrive by and there is no weighting applied.”

It adds that. “There have also been conscious attempts to create misinformation, particularly on social media in order to influence the consultation.”

All the bollards are to be replaced with cameras in LTN 32 where it is felt that roadworks on South Ealing Road may have caused more rat running through the area. The left turn from Radbourne Avenue junction on to Little Ealing Lane will be banned and there will be no entry for all vehicles (excluding emergency services) at Birkbeck Road from Ealing Park Gardens except for cycles

These changes will be implemented by means of a new ETO which comes into force in February 2021 extending the operation of the trial to August. 73% of residents responded negatively on the Commonplace platform to LTN 32 according to the report presented to the council.

Changes are also planned for LTN 20 – West Ealing North where the LTN created an issue for traffic going from Drayton Road to the Uxbridge Road. More traffic surveys are to be carried out within the LTN and the design will be reconsidered.

Proposals are to be considered to eliminate the cut-through at Lawrence Road and Ealing Park Gardens.

The location of the barriers for the Adrienne Road LTN 48 are to be moved to allow access for larger vehicles to the trading estate.

Some of the changes proposed will require a new ETO to be issued which will effectively restart the clock on the objection period and extend the operation of the trial.

The council has sufficient funding to implement the changes which will cost £140,000. The cost of the schemes has been increased by vandalism which is estimated to have led to around £30,000 in additional expense but this is likely to be mitigated once bollards are replaced by cameras.

The Cabinet report and recommendations can be found on the Ealing Council website on this link under item 14.

You can make comments on the revised proposals to Cllr Jasbir Anand, the senior Councillor responsible jasbir.anand@ealing.gov.uk and TrafficNotices@ealing.gov.uk.

Residents can visit the low traffic neighbourhoods' page of Ealing council’s website for further information on the schemes it has already implemented.

You can email feedback to TrafficNotices@ealing.gov.uk, or post them to the Highways Service, Perceval House, 14-16 Uxbridge Road, W5 2HL, quoting reference ORD XXX.

An online petition against LTNs in Ealing has been signed by over 11,000 people. A counter petition in support of the new schemes has, at the time of writing, over 800 signatures.

January 14, 2021