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Government continues “angry rhetoric” against low traffic neighbourhoods despite its own report showing more people support LTNs than oppose them

Rishi Sunak’s Government was previously accused of attempting to bury the report which shows that LTNs have proven to be popular and largely effective

Weeks after it was reported that the official enquiry into low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) was subject to a cover-up attempt by the UK Government, the report has now been made public and it reveals that there are more people in favour of the traffic calming measure than in opposition, while they also prove to be generally effective in reducing motor traffic volume and result in behaviour change. 

However, London’s Cycling and Walking Commissioner Will Norman has attacked the government for continuing with its “load of angry rhetoric against LTNs, 20mph & even bus lane cameras”, despite its own research proving the benefits.

The said rhetoric came in the form of a new guidance from Department of Transport (DfT) under the government’s ‘Plan for Drivers’, titled ‘Crackdown on anti-driver road schemes and blanket 20mph limits to put local consent first’.

The guidance says that councils will only be able to implement LTNs if they have the support from locals. Failure to do so could see future funding withdrawn and the government could take control of an authority's roads.

> Government tried to bury report which found that Low Traffic Neighbourhoods are effective and popular

“Motorists are set to benefit from smoother journeys and reduced congestion, with local people getting a stronger voice on road schemes that affect them, thanks to a crackdown on anti-driver road schemes, over-zealous traffic enforcement, and strengthened guidance for councils on 20mph limits. These are among the latest raft of measures to be announced from the government’s Plan for Drivers,” DfT said in its press release.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper, meanwhile continued with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s “pro-car” stance by claiming that the government was “on the side of the motorists”.

Speaking on BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Harper said: “I think there are places where councils haven't taken people with them. There are examples during the pandemic when there was no consultation. Things were driven through for ideological reasons.

“I think what we're proposing is very sensible and if councils listen to our guidance that will be fine. If they don't we'll have to think about other measures about funding and things like that in the future.

“We want local people to have their voices heard, and any traffic schemes to have the consent of those they impact.”

Louise Haigh MP, Labour’s shadow transport secretary, said the publication of the guidance was “a blatant and desperate attempt to distract people from a government that has run out of road”.

> Rishi Sunak accused of seeking to exploit division over LTNs as he orders review of schemes

“Support for existing LTN schemes exceeds opposition”

The survey, conducted by French research and consulting firm Ipsos, focused on four LTN areas: Lozells Places for People in Birmingham, Arlington Road Camden in London, Worsley Mesnes in Wigan, and Navigation Road in York.

The survey had a very low response rate, with only an average of 14 per cent of the people living in the LTNs responding to the questions. However, one major takeaway from the survey was that most people — almost 60 per cent — weren’t even aware that they were living within an LTN.

Support for LTNs survey (UK Government/Ipsos)

When asked if they were in support or opposition of the measure, 45 per cent of the respondents said that they were in favour of it, with only 21 per cent claiming to be against it.

“Support for the existing LTN scheme in their area exceeded opposition to a similar degree among all age groups, among men and women, and those with and without a disability or health condition,” the report said.

> “Entitled motorists will stop at virtually nothing to drive where they want”: My week as a human bollard in one of Britain’s most controversial LTNs

Notably, it also mentioned that cyclists were more likely than car drivers to change their travel habits. Almost a third said they had been encouraged to cycle more and 19 per cent said that they now travel by car less.

A quarter of cyclists said that the scheme encouraged them to shop locally more often. Frequent cyclists with children were also far more likely to agree that the schemes would encourage their children to use active travel for (non-school) journeys than average.

However, those with a disability or health condition were significantly more negative about the impact of LTNs on traffic congestion; with 49 per cent thinking that it had made a negative difference compared to 38 per cent.

The report also reviewed existing evidence indicating that LTNs are effective in significantly reducing traffic volumes within internal roads. However, it noted that results for boundary roads were mixed, with some areas experiencing no impacts while a few experienced an increase in congestion.

Adwitiya joined road.cc in 2023 as a news writer after graduating with a masters in journalism from Cardiff University. His dissertation focused on active travel, which soon threw him into the deep end of covering everything related to the two-wheeled tool, and now cycling is as big a part of his life as guitars and football. He has previously covered local and national politics for Voice Wales, and also likes to writes about science, tech and the environment, if he can find the time. Living right next to the Taff trail in the Welsh capital, you can find him trying to tackle the brutal climbs in the valleys.

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35 comments

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ChasP | 9 months ago
9 likes

How can they claim motorists will benefit from reduced congestion by encouraging car use???!!!

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NotNigel replied to ChasP | 9 months ago
10 likes

Everything else is to blame except car use if you are to believe shouty Steve in the comments of the local rag.

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wycombewheeler replied to NotNigel | 8 months ago
6 likes
NotNigel wrote:

Everything else is to blame except car use if you are to believe shouty Steve in the comments of the local rag.

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to ChasP | 9 months ago
15 likes
ChasP wrote:

How can they claim motorists will benefit from reduced congestion by encouraging car use???!!!

War is peace.
Freedom is slavery.
Ignorance is strength.

Avatar
Rome73 replied to hawkinspeter | 8 months ago
5 likes

To which you can add;

Benefits of Brexit

 

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