Two-thirds of residents oppose low-traffic neighborhoods

Grant Shapps is being urged to intervene to scrap a series of low-traffic neighbourhoods after a council survey found two out of three people wanted them abolished.

Between 64 and 69 per cent of people living in three areas of South London where roads have been closed to try to promote walking and cycling told a Southwark Council consultation they were against the schemes.

And, in a damning indictment of how low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) can hit local businesses, 58 per cent said they use nearby shops less because of transport problems.

Despite the research, town hall bosses want to keep the LTNs in Dulwich Village, East Dulwich and Champion Hill because they claim they have decreased traffic by 10 per cent while increasing “overall” cycling by 66 per cent.

'Undemocratic and unfair'

Now residents and businesses fighting the schemes have written to the Transport Secretary urging him to withdraw £770,000 LTN funding because the authority was being “undemocratic and unfair”.

The council’s consultations between May and July saw more than 7,000 people respond, 5,538 of whom were residents living within the LTNs.

A council report says “the majority of respondents, both within and outside the consultation zone, did not feel the schemes were achieving their aims” despite “some evidence of a shift from car use to walking or cycling".

It adds how “the majority of respondents” wanted the streets to “return to their original state”.

Key issues raised include “displacement of traffic and pollution onto other roads”, increased congestion and journey times, “difficulties for older people and people with disabilities” and “concern at loss of access for emergency services”.

Of those living within seven separate sections of Dulwich Village, East Dulwich and Champion Hill LTNs, more than 3,000 people (between 64 and 69 per cent) wanted the road closures scrapped, compared to about 800 (17 to 23 per cent) who wanted to keep them, around 400 were calling for a different scheme and 500 wanted the LTN modified.

Meanwhile, 4,087 people (58 per cent) disagree with the suggestion that road closures encouraged them to use local shops more, with only 2,080 (29 per cent) agreeing with the statement.

'Catastrophic downturn in sales'

The report says “a significant proportion of business owners and [their] staff would favour a reduction in restrictions”, after 4,157 people (64 per cent) said one LTNs had created a bad “trading environment” in the area, with just 1,403 (22 per cent) believing it had improved.

Hazel Broadfoot, chairwoman of the Dulwich Village Association which represents 30 local businesses, said 95 per cent tradespeople were against its LTN because they had caused a “catastrophic downturn in sales”.

She says the area is like a “ghost town” for five hours from 10am when tighter motoring restrictions are in place.

Councillor Catherine Rose, Southwark’s cabinet member for transport, said: “This was never a ballot, and there are strong views on both sides of the argument.”

She added that while restricting traffic and parking is “not popular” it was “necessary”.

A Department for Transport spokesman said: “Decisions on individual schemes are a matter for local authorities.”