Chiswick LTN Review Call After Suppressed Research Revealed
Report showed that restrictions have not reduced car use
Queueing traffic on the A316 in Chiswick near the SCLN
September 18, 2025
Controversy surrounding Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) in Chiswick has intensified following revelations that Transport for London (TfL) withheld taxpayer-funded research suggesting LTNs do not reduce car use. The findings have prompted renewed scrutiny of the South Chiswick Liveable Neighbourhood (SCLN) and led to calls for a full review by opposition councillors.
The suppressed study, known as the Travel and Places project, was led by Professor Rachel Aldred at the University of Westminster and surveyed over 4,500 Londoners. While the research found LTNs encouraged more cycling—a result broadly welcomed—it showed no significant reduction in car use or walking levels suggesting that the schemes tended to merely displace motor vehicle traffic.
Internal emails obtained by The Times revealed TfL officials feared the results were “underwhelming” and sought ways to present them more positively. Ultimately, TfL cut funding and declined to publish the report.
In Chiswick, the findings have reignited criticism of the South Chiswick scheme. Some have long argued that the measures were imposed without adequate consultation and failed to address key transport challenges in the area.
Councillor Gabriella Giles (Chiswick Riverside) said, “None of the main problem areas—such as the A4 crossing, Grove Park Bridge, and the A316—were tackled. Much of the area isn’t served by public transport, and residents were repeatedly told this would ‘make lives better’ despite clear evidence to the contrary.”
Councillor Peter Thompson, Leader of the Conservative Group on Hounslow Council, added, “Encouraging cycling is good and something we should welcome. But residents were told LTNs would also cut car use and improve air quality. Now we learn that officials had evidence showing this isn’t true and tried to cover it up. That is unacceptable.”
Councillor Joanna Biddolph pointed to wider impacts across Chiswick and neighbouring areas. She said, “The closure of Fishers Lane has significantly affected Acton Lane, South Parade, and Chiswick High Road. Devonshire Road and other LTNs in the borough—including Swyncombe Avenue in Brentford—need to be reviewed. There has been too much denial of the realities.”
At the London level, Mayor Sadiq Khan has repeatedly defended LTNs, stating they reduce traffic and improve air quality. Yet the revelation about the suppression of the findings have led to calls for him to clarify his role in TfL’s decision not to publish the research. As Chair of the TfL Board, critics say he must either confirm he was not involved or pledge a full investigation.
City Hall Conservatives transport spokesman Keith Prince told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), “Sadiq Khan has spent years telling us LTNs cut traffic use and now it turns out covered-up data suggests otherwise. He needs to correct the record, immediately.
“The Mayor is the Chair of the TfL Board. He needs to come clean on whether he ordered this cover-up. If he did not then he must pledge a full investigation so he can tell Londoners exactly who did. If it was, in fact, his decision then Londoners will rightly see that as an utter disgrace.”
TfL paid University of Westminster £82,000 to research the impact of LTNs on car use. But when they didn’t like the results, asked them to stop work and refused to publish the report. 4,500 Londoners spent time answering a survey about their travel habits but their efforts were thrown away because the results weren’t what TfL or the Mayor wanted to hear.”
A spokesperson for TfL said, “We are committed to supporting high-quality research that helps us understand how our policies and programmes are working. This particular study was initially funded to explore the impacts of LTNs but following a review of the second year’s findings, we concluded that the data didn’t offer sufficient new insights to justify further investment in continuing the survey.
“We remain confident that LTNs can reduce traffic levels in the area, making streets safer and enabling more walking and cycling.”
The Mayor’s office was contacted for comment but had not responded at the time of publication.
Written with contributions from Kumail Jaffer – Local Democracy Reporter
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