Ealing Council Removes Green 'Road Open' Signs
Drivers were using them as grounds for appeal against LTN fines
Ealing's green 'Road Open' signs have been removed
It is understood that Ealing Council have removed all the green ‘road open’ signs that were placed near road barriers in Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTN).
Council contractors were seen taking down the signs on 28 January after receiving a number of complaints from residents.
The signs were meant to indicate that the roads remained opened for cyclists, pedestrians and the disabled but it was claimed that they were confusing because some drivers took ‘Road Open’ to mean they could pass through the barriers. Blue badge owners said they believed that the disabled icon on the sign meant they had automatic exemption. Motorists who have received penalty charge notices for passing through a barrier where access is restricted are appealing their fines on the basis of what they claim is misleading and inadequate signage including the presence of the non-statutory green signs. It is believed that none of these appeals have yet reached the stage of being heard by the independent adjudicator.
Cllr David Millican, who represents Northfield ward which contains a number of LTNs said, “It’s becoming apparent that these signs were never approved by the Department of Transport, not specified in the Road Traffic Act and not endorsed by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. Rumour has it they were designed by a cycling activist. Many people had expressed how confused they were by the signs. These people include 1,000s who have received Penalty Charge Notices (£130) for driving through Ealing LTN road blocks.”
We asked Ealing for comment on the removal of the sign and if they accepted their presence might be grounds for an appeal against a PCN but have not yet received a response.
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.
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February 4, 2021
