Northfield and Walpole Councillors Pressed on LTN Promise

Had pledged to support removal if schemes proved unpopular

LTN planter defaced
Feelings running high in Ealing on LTNs. Picture: David Read/Facebook

Participate

Labour Councillors Will Say No To LTNs if Residents Oppose

Ealing Council Pays Ealing LTN Objectors' Legal Fees

Ealing Council Removes Green 'Road Open' Signs

Nearly 6,000 Fines Issued By Ealing LTN Cameras

Changes To Be Introduced To LTNs Following Interim Reviews

Consultation on Swyncombe Avenue Traffic Measure Begins

Council To Consult On New LTNs and Cycle Schemes

Ealing Council To Start Issuing Fines in LTNs

Details Emerge of Council's LTN Expansion Plans

Northfields Residents Act Against LTN Planter Vandalism

Claims Made That LTN Consultation Not Impartial

Labour Councillors Will Say No To LTNs if Residents Oppose

Sign up for our weekly Ealing newsletter

Comment on this story on the

Five ward councillors representing Walpole and Northfield wards are being pressed to justify their stance on Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) having previously pledged to support their removal if they were unpopular.

Over 1,700 of their constituents have signed an open letter to Cllrs Block, Driscoll, Conlan, Rai and Shaw reminding them of their commitment made back in August of last year that ’if after the end of the sixth month trial period, the consultation results prove both to be representative of our constituents as well as negative, we would support the move to remove LTNs.’

The council’s own consultation showed that over three quarters of local residents and businesses were against the schemes.

The councillors issued a collective statement in which they acknowledge strong feelings about the LTNs but argue that their position remains the same. They say the changes made as a result of the interim review mean the trial period has been extended and therefore a decision needs to wait until this is concluded.

They say, “We do believe in the principal aims of the LTN policy: encouraging more active travel by walking and cycling, reducing cut through traffic and safer streets. We also pledged to support their removal after the trial period ends if the consultation results prove to be both representative of our constituents and negative. Any decision made will be based on listening to residents’ feedback, the data collected during the trial period and the overall impact of the LTNs.

“The trial period of the Low Traffic Neighbourhoods was extended following an early review that we called for which was published in December. Feedback from the emergency services and results from the early review led to changes being made to allow improved emergency vehicle access, alongside access for Blue Badge holders. This means that the decision point at the end of the trial has not been reached yet. We have asked for and received assurances that there will be no further extensions to the trial period for LTNs.”

The open letter disputes that the alterations made to the scheme as a result of the review are ‘immaterial’ and will have no bearing on the final outcome of the trial and the overwhelming local opposition to the schemes.

It states, “We now look to you to implement your promise to remove the LTNs with immediate effect and restore our freedoms. If you are not willing to stand by your public commitment and implement the will of such a vast majority, then step aside and allow us to nominate councillors who will represent us.”

The council is pressing ahead with its programme of LTNs with five more being announced so far this month.

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.

Like Reading Articles Like This? Help Us Produce More

This site remains committed to providing local community news and public interest journalism.

Articles such as the one above are integral to what we do. We aim to feature as much as possible on local societies, charities based in the area, fundraising efforts by residents, community-based initiatives and even helping people find missing pets.

We've always done that and won't be changing, in fact we'd like to do more.

However, the readership that these stories generates is often below that needed to cover the cost of producing them. Our financial resources are limited and the local media environment is intensely competitive so there is a constraint on what we can do.

We are therefore asking our readers to consider offering financial support to these efforts. Any money given will help support community and public interest news and the expansion of our coverage in this area.

A suggested monthly payment is £8 but we would be grateful for any amount for instance if you think this site offers the equivalent value of a subscription to a daily printed newspaper you may wish to consider £20 per month. If neither of these amounts is suitable for you then contact info@neighbournet.com and we can set up an alternative. All payments are made through a secure web site.

One-off donations are also appreciated. Choose The Amount You Wish To Contribute.

If you do support us in this way we'd be interested to hear what kind of articles you would like to see more of on the site – send your suggestions to the editor.

For businesses we offer the chance to be a corporate sponsor of community content on the site. For £30 plus VAT per month you will be the designated sponsor of at least one article a month with your logo appearing if supplied. If there is a specific community group or initiative you'd like to support we can make sure your sponsorship is featured on related content for a one off payment of £50 plus VAT. All payments are made through a secure web site.

 

March 4, 2021


Bookmark and Share