Forum Topic

LBH please note

https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/news/september-2020/low-traffic-neighbourhood-trials-suspended/

Colin Jordan ● 2240d32 Comments

“It is clear that the LTNs are not delivering the benefits we want to see. In fact it looks like the combination of changes in areas like Tooting, where TfL are making changes to the main high road, are unfortunately having the opposite effect'.Change the word Tooting for Chiswick in the above.

Paul Green ● 2240d

Article in Times today on the global discussion on the state of UK as shown by the Hammersmith bridge fiasco. Originally in the NY Times, its been in the press all around the world. Three London bridges out of action at one point, not even river traffic now allowed under Hammersmith. Paris had twice the number of bridges as London, before the closures! No plan, no accountability, no action. A metaphor for Britain under the most incompetent government in history. Sadly the article highlights the cancer patients who having deterioriated during lockdown now facing an extra 90 minute journey to get to appointments at Charing Cross. Strange as some posters on here claim that there is no problem and traffic has 'evaporated'. Madness.

Paul Green ● 2240d

And what about emergency vehicles being stuck in gridlocked roads? Cars can’t get out of the way. They have nowhere to go.

Martine Dismore ● 2240d

Advocates of Loony Traffic Networks (LTN) don’t care, they just want to close roads to screw up traffic.

Russell Pearson ● 2240d

And some are so wedded to their cars that they just can't possibly imagine doing anything without them. They've lost the cachet they once had.  Flexibility is now the thing.  It's a Tory Govt and isn't Wandsworth the flagship Tory Council?  It's why our system of first past the post doesn't work for us.

Philippa Bond ● 2240d

Many need their vehicle for all different reasons, you cannot treat all as one.

Janice Evans ● 2240d

Philippa, you say cars have "lost the cachet they once had".What does this mean and why is it relevant?

Phil Kay ● 2240d

It is very clear to all that the LTN is having an adverse affect on many people’s lives there is absolutely no justification for blighting the lives of so many. Let’s pray that someone steps up to sort out this mess.

Jayne Thorburn ● 2240d

Happening across London and elsewhere. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8724177/MARK-EDMONDS-Eco-obsessed-councils-spend-money-shut-roads-Britain.html

Russell Pearson ● 2240d

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/feb/21/high-court-rules-uk-air-pollution-plans-unlawful

Philippa Bond ● 2240d

Call me cynical but I reckon it’s about councils grabbing more money from central government, absolutely crazy and needs to stop!

Jayne Thorburn ● 2240d

Govt will have to find another way of getting what they want done that is unpopular then won't they?

Philippa Bond ● 2240d

Cannot blame the Government.

Janice Evans ● 2240d

JE > "Cannot blame the Government."You're absolutely right: this government is completely irresponsible.

John Whitworth ● 2240d

Nope

Janice Evans ● 2240d

No, they need to find a way that is popular. Ensuring permanent cancellation of a third runway would be one way. It's unlikely to be needed for years, if ever.  BTW the article you posted was over two years old. The mess that councils are making with LTNs all over the country, but especially in London, is not reducing pollution levels.  It is, as many others on here and in the media have said, simply displacing it.

Claire Moran ● 2240d

Agree Claire.

Janice Evans ● 2240d

London will not thrive for as long as you have an incompetent self centred mayor. He is determined to kill it off for personal political reasons.

Steve Taylor ● 2240d

https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10158597506733232&id=617698231&set=a.10152094336023232&source=48&ref=m_notif¬if_t=group_activityAgreed Steve, so sign the above

Loraine Pemberton ● 2240d

Wonderful scenes in Ealing today when, conservatively, 2500 people walked to protest against the LTNs in Ealing. The walkers were joined by cyclists protesting about the reduction in road safety caused by the LTNs, applauded by motorists and emergency services personnel.

N V Brooks ● 2240d

Great stuff.

Claire Moran ● 2240d

Video of the protestors in Ealing https://twitter.com/sarahkern101/status/1304801578893930497?s=21

Russell Pearson ● 2240d

Looks like a proper protest and underlines the depth of hostility these measures are causing. The zealots who brook no compromise need to realise they are undermining their own cause at present. One of the news articles pointed out many traffic planners are young fit cyclists, and that any non pro cycling groups are excluded from discussions. Seems pretty well to mirror what is happening here. A handful of proponents are given exclusive access to the decision makers. Anti democratic in the extreme.

Paul Green ● 2239d

"Paris had twice the number of bridges as London" seems wrong. Wikipedia lists 37 for Paris and 33 for London (assuming you are talking about crossings over the Seine / Thames). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bridges_in_Parishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bridges_in_London#River_Thames

Giles Ward ● 2239d

Do you have any details of who was granted exclusive access, and in what capacity they operated in the decision process?

Russell Pearson ● 2239d

I believe it’s local government that’s screwing things up for HB users. And H&F council is left wing Labour. Whose objectives are to cause chaos, corruption, mis-inform. I’m sure the Labour party conduct tours of HB. If right wing Tory’s were in control, HB would have been open a year ago.

c james ● 2239d

You still can't be sure that everybody has heard about any restrictions yet though can you?  It is very difficult to communicate information to residents.  The other day I was standing by one of these roads where the No Entry sign was beside the road.  The two signs on poles either side of the road at the junction showed the Flying Motorbike over Car sign.  There was a camera car on the other side.  How do you communicate information to people if they don't stop and think and read the signs?Personally I think the red No Entry sign on a pole with a blue cyclists only sign attached underneath may work better as I think it is better understood.  That is if car van and lorry drivers abide by them.  It isn't just cyclists who break the law.I suspect there is a shortage of signs as these changes have been put in all over the country.  Shame that there aren't Extinction Rebellion chalk signs to draw attention to changes.  Everybody in residential areas should be driving slower anyway.  Roll on a London wide 20mph max (and much lower for cycles etc on shared pavements). 

Philippa Bond ● 2239d

"I suspect there is a shortage of signs as these changes have been put in all over the country"Daft taken up a notch. As if it were possible.Here's a thought: make more.As to the type of sign that would be effective (I'll even call them fair in terms of giving motorists proper notification to changes made to roads some have used all their adult lives) we could go with those cute rented ones with the big light bulbs like we see now alerting us to CHR being closed for a day to those equally cute yellow A-boards that sit at the side of the road at actual eye level when in a car. What we do know is the new signs posted above eye level immediately at the junction are insufficient. And for a new initiative it smells of borderline entrapment.

David Lesniak ● 2239d

Good news for Hounslow and Ealing as money that would have gone to Wandsworth in future rounds of transport funding from the DfT will now be distributed instead to the Councils that are pro active-travel and taking positive steps to reallocate road space to walking and cycling and restrict motor vehicles.

Paul Campbell ● 2239d

The closure of THT and fishers lane is just plain wrong from every aspect. The sad thing is that people who work for councils it’s just a job, they will retire or move on but residents have invested to live in Chiswick, pay their taxes and have no say about their community. Neither Hounslow or Ealing care about Chiswick that is extremely clear & our local councillors have zero impact. In a democracy so called this is pretty shocking.

Jayne Thorburn ● 2239d

And there is a certain irresistible irony in a Conservative Council eschewing funds from a Conservative government and Labour Councils being the beneficiaries because they are complying with the instructions of the government.

Paul Campbell ● 2239d

You're wrong about that.  Several Councils have interests.  Money is also generally channelled through TfL from Central Govt.  TfL has not been receiving much money for fares when there are no or very few travellers recently.  Austerity meant that there was less money being stretched across the system.  A Labour Mayor has been a gift for a Tory Govt to blame.  That's the problem with our stupid and inefficient parliamentary system.

Philippa Bond ● 2239d